By Sander - The Beardmen The first beard hairs are showing themselves and it’s time to tackle those long stray hairs. As with anything we do for the first time, it takes time to master a skill. The same goes for shaving.
As a newbie, how exactly do you use such a razor or shaver? No worries, The Beardman has you covered!
First Time Shaving: What Shaving Products Do You Need?
Primarily, you need the right shaving products. Chances are you haven’t purchased a shaver yet. A shaver can be quite pricey for a teenager. How about borrowing your father’s razor?
With both a razor and a shaver, you need the same shaving products. Consider:
- Razor or shaver
- Shaving cream
- Lukewarm water
- Clean dry towel
What You Should Know Before You Start
When shaving, there is always the risk of developing irritated skin. Annoying, because you obviously don’t want bumps and red skin to show on your face. As a teenager – or when shaving for the first time – the chances of getting irritated skin is even greater.
This is because the underlying skin is not yet used to it. In addition, skin irritation is likely to occur after shaving when using a razor. This device basically cuts the hairs tightly against the skin. It may give the smoothest result, though, so if you can, start with a razor as it is highly recommended.
First Time Shaving: Step-by-Step Tips
- Wet your face with lukewarm water: this opens the pores which makes shaving easier and reduces the chance of irritated skin.
- Shaving cream: apply some shaving cream in your palms and spread it over your face.
- Using razor: pull the skin tight and gently pull the razor from top to bottom. Always shave in the same direction as the hair grows. Proceed slowly because a razor can be awfully sharp.
- Shave in the right direction: with a Philips shaver, slowly rotate the shaving head in circles. If you use a Braun shaver, work from the top down.
- Rinse in between shaves: With both a razor and shaver, rinse the loose hairs under the tap between shaves.
What To Do After Shaving
When finished, rinse the face with cold water and pat dry with a clean towel. When using cold water, the pores close. Afterwards, use an aftershave or a good beard oil to soothe the skin and prevent skin irritation. Finally, it is important to note that you cannot use razor blades more than 1 -2 times. Before using, always disinfect the blades to prevent nasty inflammations.
TIP: When drying off, it is important to always dab and not rub. This will prevent irritated skin.