How To Clean Shave

Shaving is a fundamental part of life, whether it’s your face, legs, or the nether regions you’re going to spend an awful lot of time in your life with a razor or shaver in hand. A clean shave is a popular and efficient cut as it gets rid of all the hair and leaves you looking silky smooth.

But we all know that’s easier said than done. How many times have you shaved and been left with red marks on your skin, irritation, or red razor bumps that make you itch?

No matter how carefully you shave, or how much aftershave you apply after you’ll always have those times where your sensitive skin ends up looking less than divine after you’ve finished shaving.

But to reduce the risk and make these occurrences a rare thing just read on and follow our step-by-step guide on how to clean shave so you can avoid razor burn and other nasty side effects of removing your facial hair.

Clean Shave: A Step By Step Guide

1. First things first, you need to wash your face or shower. This rids the skin and hair of excess oil, gunk, dead skin, and debris. Do this with warm water as the warm water relaxes the skin and opens the pores, making it more receptive to a razor blade and less prone to ingrown hairs or razor bumps.
2. Ensure your razor is clean, ideally use a fresh one but if not you should thoroughly clean and dry your razor after every shave. A disposable razor should be replaced every few weeks as the blade will get blunt and this leads to more nicks and cuts on the skin as well as uneven shaving.
3. (optional) A pre-shave oil conditions the skin and softens the hair, making them both more receptive to a razor blade shave. The oil also creates a nutrient-dense layer over top the skin, so that the blade glides smoothly and with little resistance
4. Apply your shaving cream in an upward motion, this will lift hairs up and away from the face making the shave much easier. Lather it on but make sure you can still see hair and that your face isn’t completely covered in it.
5. Find out the way your hair grows and shave in the direction it grows. This is called going with the grain. this reduces the risk of skin irritation however if you want a smoother face then cut against the grain. We don’t recommend this unless you’re more experienced though as it can lead to cuts and nicks.
6. Just as the warm water opened your pores, you need to splash cold water at the end of the shave to flush away debris and to tighten the pores so that they shrink to their normal size and help defend from trapped debris and bacteria.

Cleaning Your Razor

Rinse Before – When getting ready to shave, rinse your razor under warm water. This will make sure the blades are free of any hairs and shaving gel from a previous shave. While rinsing, look in between the blades and behind the blade cartridge to make sure everything is clean before you shave.

Rinse During – While you shave, rinse your razor blade after each stroke. This helps keep your blades sharp and protects your skin from razor burn, bumps, and irritation.

Rinse After – Rinsing off your razor after you finish shaving is important because it can prolong the lifespan of your razor blades by keeping them cleaner and sharper for longer. Plus, it reduces the chance of you picking up any leftover dirt on your next shave.

Replacing – There is no set rule on how often to change your razor blades; however, they typically last five to 10 shaves. Always replace your razor blade at the first sign of dullness. If your razor blade pulls at your body hair, feels rough on your skin or you have more irritation post-shave, it’s time to replace it.

Storage – After you rinse off your razor, try to store it in a dry place in the shower to help avoid any rust or dulling of the blade. If you have a plastic guard then use this to help prevent your blade from giving out sooner than necessary.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I shave at night or in the morning?

Unless there’s a requirement that means you need to do otherwise, shave right before you go to bed. First thing in the morning is the absolute worst time to shave your face because as you sleep, fluid and blood accumulate in your head due to laying horizontally for hours.

Does shaving age your face?

On the contrary, shaving your facial hair makes you look younger and will knock off a few years of your real age.

How many times should I shave in a week?

In general, we recommend shaving every two to three days if you want a clean shave. However, the answer can vary depending on how quickly your hair grows back. If you’re not bothered by a little stubble then you could even swap over to an electric shaver as these save money in the long run and are better suited to short beards or stubble.

Is it good to put Vaseline after shaving?

Shaving causes stress to the skin, as it not only removes hair but the top-most layer of skin, too. After shaving, it’s perfectly viable and beneficial to use Vaseline Petroleum Jelly to soothe skin and replenish moisture, as well as add a layer of protection to prevent irritation and further damage.

Can shaving often be bad for me?

It depends on how you’re shaving. If you shave in the correct way then it can actually be very beneficial for you as shaving exfoliates your skin and removes dead skin cells, dirt, and debris.

Summary

Wet shaving with a manual razor is the best way to get a clean shave. But you have to be careful when going clean-shaven as you run the risk of getting ingrown hairs and causing irritation.

If you don’t want a clean-cut then dry shaving is probably better as there’s much less risk involved and there are numerous other perks to shaving with an electric razor.

Remember though, manual razors don’t last forever and you should replace the blades fairly often otherwise you’ll run the risk of developing problems while shaving. Use shaving cream as well as an aftershave too as these are important parts of the shaving process that are too often forgotten about or ignored by the average person.

Cut carefully and good luck with the clean-shave!