Hair Removal – How To Shave The Right Way

Shaving Tips

There is hope… even when shaving Snuffleupagus.

Shaving blows goats, but if I don’t shave everyday then it doesn’t take long for me to turn into a woolly mammoth. Even if I skip a day, my neck suffers badly after I finally do shave, ie. neck vomit. Maybe I’ll just have laser hair removal done, but then no more sexy unshaved look.

If your own scruff has gotten to the point of painful shaving, you should trim it first with an electric trimmer, not an electric shaver. Trim it as short as possible, and remember to take short slow strokes. Cramming a bunch if chin whiskers into a vibrating blade causes jams and subsequent cussing, but we’re trying to avoid the pain.

How To Shave and Not Get Razor Burn

Shaving the wrong way is probably the biggest cause of ingrown hairs. When hair is agitated, it causes dead cells that form papule, containing the white puss. This neck vomit sticks around while the skin heals. During this process, any hair in the area can get trapped and be prevented from exiting the skin. The only hope we have is in prevention. If shaved correctly, your face has a much better chance of staying smooth and pain-free.

• First, wash your face with a a facial scrub or something that will exfoliate.
• Apply a hot (and wet) towel on your face, like in an old barbershop movie scene. Leave the towel on your face for at least 30 seconds. You could also use a pre-shave oil instead. They both soften and loosen the hair and skin, preparing for an easier more comfortable shave.
• Lather up with a good shaving cream. Apply in an upward circular motion, working it into your skin and hair. Grab a good razor, it can make a big difference. Everyone knows there are more razors to choose from than strippers in Vegas, so I ended up trying the one with 47 blades — too much. The 4 blade vibrating razor seems to work for me; although, I made fun of it at one time. Just remember to use a new, or at least sharp, razor. An electric shaver pulls and tugs on your beard to get a “closer shave”, but they have never been good to me and I do not recommend them. They have given me the absolute worst breakouts.
• Shaving should be done like you were working with wood — with the grain. Going against the grain will get you a closer shave, but it can cause infected or ingrown hairs — very unsightly. Some pull on their skin to get a closer shave, but I wouldn’t do that. You should never tug on your face unless you want wrinkles — gravity doesn’t need any help.
• I like to start with the sideburns and work my way down, taking short strokes and rinsing the blade often. Rinsing the blade from the backside usually loosens up the mass of stubble and readies the blade for a second rinsing of the front side. Keeping your razor clean and free of obstructions is important.
• Puffing up like a blowfish renders a closer shave on the cheeks. With the ’stache, you can tense your upper lip over your teeth. The chin can be shaved closer with a Jay Leno push, tensing your bottom lip while pushing your chin down and back.
• I’ve read instructions that say to shave upward on the neck, but this only works if your neck hair grows upward. Maybe it’s just me, but my neck hair grows downward, just like the rest of my face. So, depending on the grain direction, shave your neck accordingly. If you have a pronounced Adam’s apple, then some finessing may be in order. A slight angle can help get the stray “apple” hairs, but use caution.
• After shaving, rinse clean and immediately apply a toner (at the very least). Toner shrinks the pores and definitely helps me, but I need a little more help found in a post-shave healer. Follow up with your daily skin treatment, and you’re good to go.

Peace and no turkey necks,
Trent

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