Wet shaving is the process of cutting hair as close to the skin as possible with a razor. It involves wetting the skin with hot water or a shaving gel, foam, or cream.
Although there is no formula to a perfect wet shave, there are many things you can do to enhance your results. In this article, we will discuss the various stages of a proper shave to help you minimize the risk of cuts and nicks and enhance your overall grooming regimen.
Let’s start by looking at what you need for a traditional wet shave.
Shaving Brush
People view the shave brush as a non-compulsory tool, but it’s crucial if you want to get thick foam and apply lather with ease. Among experienced shavers, a brush made out of pure badger hair is considered the best as it is easy on the skin and absorbs water more effectively. It also provides light exfoliation and a superior massage effect compared to synthetic brushes.
Shaving Cream
Shaving cream softens your stubble or beard and serves as a protective barrier between the razor blade and your skin. Today’s shaving creams double as moisturizers. If you have dry skin, consider getting a cream that has both moisturizing and lubricating properties.
Shaving Scuttle
Shaving scuttles are double-walled ceramic bowls used to keep lather warm and prep it for multiple passes. A shaving scuttle allows you greater control over the foam as compared to applying the lather directly on your beard.
Shaving Razor
The market provides you with a plethora of options when it comes to shaving razors. You can go for a classic straight razor or a safety razor primary based on your beard shape and skin type and texture. You will also need to consider the shaving style and your face shape and size. We invite you to visit cutthroatclub to learn more about straight and safety razors.
Aftershave
Shaving dries out your skin, making it tight, prickly and susceptible to after-shave bumps and irritation. An aftershave provides the required hydration and reduces the risk of bumps and acne.
Pre-Shave Preparation –
For many people, preparation is the most important part of a wet shave. A proper preparation ritual helps soften the hairs and make them pliable for a smooth, seamless shave.
A hot shower minutes before the shave will make this happen naturally, though you can apply a hot towel to your skin and achieve the same results.
Regardless of your hydration technique, the bottom line is to ensure your facial hair strands are in their softest form and your skin is clean and free from dust and dead skin.
Most wet shavers round out the hot water treatment with a lotion, gel, or oil and use a shaving bowl to keep the lather warm all through the process.
For the best results, always give your skin and hairs time to absorb the water and heat before descending on them with a razor. Also, ensure you get a slick, shiny lather with yoghurt-like consistency both in the shaving bowl and on your beard.
The lather might feel more like melted ice-cream or thick smoothie at the beginning, but it will eventually come good with continuous stirring.
Applying shaving cream
You should consider applying shaving cream immediately after washing your face with hot water. Lather up various sections of your face one at a time and ensure the layer is thick enough to completely obscure the skin underneath.
The Shave
If you don’t shave regularly, the skin under your beard will feel sensitive to the touch of a razor and will be more prone to razor burn. For this reason, you need to use a shaving razor with flexible blades and ensure you shave with the grain, i.e., glide the razor in the direction of your facial hair growth.
You might also want to trim the hairs down with a set of clippers or a beard trimmer if you have a thick beard. This will help you shave less forcefully and even increase the effectiveness of individual strokes.
The idea is to shave each area of your beard or stubble with the minimum number of strokes without pressing the razor too hard on your skin.
Another useful tip for effective razor strokes is to stretch your skin tightly, lower your jaw, and tilt your head up when shaving your neck. Also, ensure you shave in a well-lit room, in front of a large wall mirror and using a razor that complements your skill.
After the shave
Once you are done shaving off your beard, rinse your face with clean, hot water and check yourself in the mirror for any remaining hair patches and injuries. Next, apply cold water to close your pores and soothe your skin if it feels irritated. You can stand under a shower or use a wet washcloth for this.
Ensure your skin is dry before applying aftershave. Remember, your skin will likely be more sensitive after the shave so consider using a microfiber towel instead of a cotton one.
After ridding your skin of all water and hairs, apply a moisturizer or baby oil before it dries up. A lotion containing aloe Vera can help minimize razor burn in sensitive areas. Keep off creams or lotions that have fragrance as immediate post-shave treatment as the harsh chemicals can yield a stinging effect if on small cuts.
Aftershave is optional, depending on whether or not you moisturize and how well you apply it. You can also use it on top of a layer of moisturizer for good measure, but it’s advisable that you use only one product to avoid creating an adverse reaction on your face.
Note that most aftershave products contain fragrance. If you are choosy or just don’t fancy the smell of cologne, consider a fragrance-free product or natural option like witch hazel.
Conclusion
Getting a wet shave down pat takes time and patience. However, that doesn’t mean testing potentially risky ideas on your face’s sensitive skin and blaming the outcome on naivety. Hopefully, this post provides you with the head-start you need to get around preventable mistakes and skip the novice phase.
