I've been shaving for over 20 years now, and this particular process works for me and my skin/beard type, but it may not suit everyone.
Here is what I do.
My Step-By-Step Process for a Clean Shave
The first step is to soften the growth, so I splash my face with very warm water (a bit of steam from the bowl can't hurt either). Next, I apply a shave cream (currently using Monsieur Barbier Better Shave). Using a wetted synthetic-hair brush (Monsieur Barbier), I work the cream into a thin lather. After that, I am now ready to shave.
Having moved to using a Safety Razor a few years back (it does give you a smoother shave, currently The Brighton Beard Co. Safety Razor), my technique suits this system.
The Safety Razor technique is the opposite of a disposable razor. I:
- Never press the safety razor into my skin
- Hold the handle lightly with 3 fingers
- Let the weight of the razor fall and glide over my beard
- Use many short strokes at 30 degrees to my beard
- Rinse the Safety Razor frequently to remove clogged-up hair
- Use my other hand to stretch the skin, particularly the neck and chin areas
Once finished with the shave, I thoroughly rinse my face with cold water. For an after shave care, I then apply a serum (currently using Blu atlas VIT C ), followed by an SPF moisturiser(currently using Recipe for Men). And I'm good to go.
Let me know what your tips are for a clean shave.
