Stubble is a no-go because you have a representative job and need to look sharp and driven. Unless you have a neatly groomed beard, shaving is usually an essential part of your morning routine.
The shaving result can often be a bloody battlefield. Sometimes you unintentionally become a tormentor of the skin. You simply don't know any better. But ingrained patterns are there to be broken. You can also turn shaving into a sultry SPA ritual.
Many Alpha brothers have gone before you and now know how to handle the blade in an almost academic way. Then shaving suddenly becomes the highlight of your morning!
Adequate tools & shaving soap are of course very important, but also: the right order! In this article, we will clearly explain how you can elevate shaving to an art form as smoothly as possible and without damaging the skin, and thus really start to enjoy it.
OK Captain Smooth!
You are missing the right pre-shave routine
Try to take a little more time before you get started. So don't immediately apply the soap to the (dry) unheated skin because that is asking for an uncomfortable shaving moment with a heartbreaking outcome.
To achieve a perfect shaving result, you must first warm up your face. So pamper the face with warm water before you get started. A hot shower is, for example, the perfect start to prepare the skin for a comfortable shave. Covering 'da face' with a warm towel for about 3 minutes is also excellent. Hot towel treatment. Barber Style! Although that does require some preparation.
These ways get you off to a good start because after warming the face, the pores open, and the beard hairs are noticeably softer. This makes it much more pleasant to remove the stubble painlessly and comfortably. After warming, applying a preshave is also recommended to use. It makes the skin even more supple and ready to go for a pleasantly comfortable shave.
Your current razor blade is not sharp enough
In general, we shaving worldwide with the plastic razor including attached disposable cartridges. The well-known disposables. Not very environmentally friendly. These systems have various gadgets on board such as rubber strips, grouped blades, and a light grip.
Highly praised in commercials by top athletes. In itself, you can also shaving quite well with them, and many men swear, out of habit, by these tools for years. Although you can still get skin irritation with these disposable blades because hairs can shoot back under the skin due to the multiple blades in the cartridge, and thus you run the risk of shaving pimples, ingrown hairs, and even infections.
An alternative is the safety razor , also known as a safety razor. You can make your skin, with the right technique, (also) mirror-smooth shaving. The same applies to an open razor that a barber typically uses. But you really need to learn how to handle it because there are no safety features included.
Most important part: razor-sharp steel! Always make sure you are working with a super sharp blade. It prevents those painful bumps, ingrown hairs, and skin irritation. This applies to the disposables, safety razors and open razors. Just so you know.
Low quality shaving products
As we mentioned above, you simply don't achieve an ultimate shaving experience with low-quality blades or a worn-out example. You think you're doing well because you're not aware of the sharpness of the blade. That you occasionally cut yourself is an occupational hazard.
That you still feel a stubble here and there after a shave is part of the game. Tip: invest in good blades and change them on time! This applies to a disposable as well as the old-fashioned razor slash safety razor with double edge blades. These are considerably sharper than disposables but also require a different shaving technique.
A good safety razor is initially an investment but you quickly earn it back with the double edge blades. They are much cheaper than the disposable cartridges. And you save on waste. Just like the disposable versions, these sustainable instruments have an ever-growing fan base.
Also a significant part of a less successful shave: The standard cans with shaving foam or gel. The spray cans you buy in the supermarket simply contain too few fats and oils to allow a blade to do its job comfortably.
You also need relatively a lot of it to get reasonably prepared. And what about the material itself. Such an empty can also needs to be thrown away. Nowadays, it's actually hard to justify. There are cheaper and much higher quality alternatives such as the shaving soaps or creams that you apply with a brush.
They come in various (vegan) types and qualities. A quality shaving soap may initially seem more expensive than the standard cans, but it lasts much longer and is ultimately (much) more economical and so much better for the environment.
Rushed shaving
If one mistake is made, it's rushing through the shaving session in a hurry. Not only do you risk cuts, but the shaving result is usually nothing to write home about. So make sure you take a few extra minutes when you start with the blade.
If you show more concentration, you prevent cuts and the result is simply much better. It also prevents those fine Blood stains on the collar of your precious shirts. You usually find out when your colleague points it out to you. Nasty! Tip: of course, you can also calmly brush and glide the razor over your skin the evening before you go to bed.
Then you'll look spotless the next day.
You shave against the grain
One way to avoid cuts, irritation bumps, and other unjust painful spots is to always shave with the hair growth shaving. So never against the grain. The chance of cuts, follicle inflammations, and other discomforts is very high otherwise. If you handle the razor this way, you prevent irritation, razor bumps, ingrown hairs, or other types of skin damage. Check!
How to care for the skin after shaving
After shaving, you need to give the skin a proper aftercare so that the pores close again. One way is to rinse with cold water. You'll also be really awake immediately. Additionally, a cooling tonic, cream, or aftershave is the solution. We, of course, have very nice aftershave balms that make your (after) shave an extraordinarily pleasant experience. SPA like!
Starter sets for a perfect shaving routine:
To save you from choice stress, we have put together 4 very nice safety razor sets for you. From beginners to experts. We can't make it any easier.
Good luck refining your shaving tools and technique!
En garde!
Your friends, The Alpha Men.