It’s National No Beard Day, get ready to shave your beard! If you’re not a fan of shaving, or you feel like you haven’t mastered the art of getting a clean-shaven look that you’ve been eyeing, there is hope for you. With these five tips, you’ll get that cleaned up look that drives women crazy.
Take the Time to Prep Your Skin
Prep the skin before shaving. Prepping the skin helps you protect your skin and facial hair. It’s one of the most important steps in the entire process; it’s also the one step that most men skip. While it can be time-consuming, if you’re prone to ingrown hairs, this step will ensure you get as close to that clean-shaven look as possible.
So how do you prep your skin? Start by either taking a hot shower or you can hydrate your skin by placing a warm cloth on your face and neck. Then, cleanse your face and neck with a hydrating scrub to buff out dead skin. Make sure to rinse off all of the cleanser so no soap remains on the face.
Use Pre-Shave Products
Pre-shave products exist for men and it is a growing trend in the grooming market. Pre-shave oils, lotions and balms are hitting the market at a variety of price ranges, from affordable to luxury products. Even high-end beauty boutiques are carrying pre-shave collections just for men.
A pre-shave product is a balm or oil that is put on the beard in order to soften it prior to shaving. While a variety of ingredients can be found in these products, use organic plant extracts and essences for the best results.
Pre-shave products go on before shaving. Give the product time to absorb into the skin and hair follicles. Wait about five to ten minutes before shaving.
Moisturize Your Skin
Moisturizing, isn’t just a tip for shaving, it’s something that you should do all of the time. The more moisturized your skin is, the smoother it is, which will make shaving easier.
There are a lot of ways to make sure that your skin is moisturized. A key component of any men’s skin care routine is to use a product that is created for your particular skin type. If you use the wrong product, you run the risk of having skin that is too dry or too oily which can impact how close of a shave you can get.
Find out Your Skin Type
Go to a beauty counter and test out moisturizers that you could use on shave days. Skin beauty experts can give suggestions on which products you should use depending on your skin type. If you’re not comfortable with that, there are articles and tutorials online that can teach you how to determine your skin type and which moisturizers are best for your face.
Avoid Shaving Against the Grain
You probably knew that shaving against the grain causes ingrown hairs and irritates the skin.
If you don’t know how to tell if you’re shaving against the grain, try the palm test. This is a test you can do by simply rubbing the palm of your hand on your beard. If you feel a tug or a scratching sensation in the direction your palm is moving, it is going against the grain.
Since hair grows in all directions, take your time and let your shaving gel or oil truly set in before you begin to shave. Then, gently move your razor in the direction of the beard growth, leaving the chin section for last (it’s the toughest area and can lead to irritation.)
Pay Attention to Aftercare
So you’ve shaved your beard and rinsed off your face. That must mean you’re done, right? After shaving, your skin is sensitive and may be a little irritated, so you’re going to want to do some aftercare to soothe your face. After all, what’s the point of shaving your face if it’s irritated?
The best thing you can do after shaving is a short aftercare routine. Spritz your face using ice cold water to close the skin pores and hair follicles. Follow up with a moisturizer and a post-shave lotion to soothe your skin and you’re all set.
The clean-shaven look is loved by women all over the world, so it is no surprise that they will want to see it even if it’s not National No Beard Day. Using these tips listed above, you’ll be able to get a close shave without irritating your skin, leaving you to question if you ever want to go back to the bearded life.
