At the moment I’m sporting quite a bit of gruff around my chin, which is quite unusual for
me as I tend to shave often. I think I’ve decided to go for a bit more of a rugged look, something the girlfriend is definitely appreciating, although given take it takes me an age to grow anything worthwhile on my face it’s probably going to take quite a while. I’ll no doubt get bored with it pretty soon and decide to shave it off, particularly because I’m really not used to the hair being there and it might get quite irritating.
So, normally I would shave at least every two days, but at the moment it has been 4 days. It’s obviously up to you how often you shave, and some will start growing a beard sooner than others. Stick to what you feel comfortable with, but be aware that shaving too often may irritate your skin. Again though, it all depends on how susceptible your skin is to that. As much as we shave though it’s amazing how many men aren’t that clued up on how to shave correctly, so take a look at the following shaving tips to make sure you’re doing it right and successfully avoid any nicks and cuts.
Before You Begin
The majority of us shave over our sinks, although I have been known to shave in the shower when I’m in a bit of a rush. Of course, if you’re shaving over the sink it’s most likely that you’re going to have a bathroom mirror somewhere nearby. If I shave in the shower I obviously don’t have this luxury, which will probably explain why I seem to have patches of stubble that I missed!
So from a practical standpoint a bathroom mirror over the sink is great for shaving and fixing your hair, but you also want to consider how it looks from a design perspective. There are a massive variety of bathroom mirrors available on the market today, so choose one that will fit in nicely with the rest of your bathroom design.
Aside from a mirror on the wall you could opt for a bathroom cabinet instead, which not
only allows you to successfully eliminate that stubble but will also provide you with some storage space (and a place to put your shaving kit of course). Bathroom mirrors and cabinets with lights will also provide extra illumination for your face, and demister mirrors won’t mist up and obscure your dashing good looks!
Finally, extending bathroom mirrors are perfect for shaving as they allow you to be more precise and get to those parts that are harder to see in a standard mirror.
Shaving Tips
Check your blades – One thing I’m quite prone to doing is using a dull blade and then wondering why I’m having such a hard – and irritating – time at getting rid of my stubble. The more you use a dull blade the more your skin will feel irritated, and the more prone to small nicks and cuts you are. It’s worth replacing your blade as often as you can. I’ve held off buying new razor blades to save money, but my skin has definitely paid the price for it. You don’t need to go for premium priced blades; you can get a pack of disposable razors for cheap that will last you at least a few weeks.
Don’t press too hard – Try not to apply too much pressure when shaving, keep your strokes light and let the razor glide across your skin. Shave with the grain (the direction of the hair growth), or you’ll end up getting razor bumps (ingrown hairs) and the irritation of razor burn.
Shave in the shower or just after one – Although you don’t get the benefit of a mirror, I love shaving in the shower because the warm water running down your face makes it an easier and more comfortable shave. Shaving in the shower also saves time, which is why I end up doing it a lot, but for a slower more precise shave you’re best off doing it in the mirror. If you shave immediately after the shower the pores on your skin will have opened, with your skin remaining damp and helping you have a better shave. The biggest issue with shaving in the shower is that you’ll be using more water than usual, as water out of the tap for a shave won’t use half as much as continually running shower.
Soothe your skin after shaving – Once you’re done shaving apply a facial wash or aftershave balm to ensure your skin remains free from irritation. You’ll look and feel better just by carrying out this simple step, and you won’t go through the day feeling like you have dry skin.
Have you got any tips for shaving? We’d love to hear them! Let us know over on our Facebook, Twitter or Google Plus pages.
Shaving kit image by David Hart on Flickr. Used under a Creative Commons licence.












