Beginners Guide to Wet Shaving

Shaving Is Not Rocket Science, But...

Doing it incorrectly may cause razor burns, nicks, cuts and ingrown hairs that could result in lasting damage to your skin. Sure, shaving can be a hassle at times and may be the most annoying part of getting ready for the morning. A shaving routine will absolutely make the process easier.

A shaving routing will help you get through your shaves much quicker and trouble-free!

Over time, the routine will become second nature to you, which will make each succeeding shave more enjoyable and therapeutic. Pre-shave preparation, lathering, shaving best practices, and post-shave skin care are all part of the routine. With proper shaving techniques, shaving soap or cream, a well-balanced razor, and a good shaving brush, you will have a great shaving experience every time.

Skip to Pre-Shave Preparation if you just want to know how to get a better shave with what you already have.

Contents

Shaving Hardware
Shaving Lather
Pre-Shave Preparation
Shaving Tips and Techniques
Post-Shave Finish
Maintenance

The Shaving Hardware You'll Need

Choose a Razor That Fits Your Style and Comfort

Cartridge Razors

Pros

Not much learning curve.
Do a decent job.

Cons

Require many passes.
More friction (each pass x number of blades), not good for sensitive skin.
Blades clog easily, need frequent cleaning between strokes.
Bacteria can build up between blades.
Cartridges are expensive to replace.

Double Edge or Single Edge Safety Razors

Pros

Give closer, cleaner shaves in fewer passes.
Less friction with a single blade, great for sensitive skin.
Do not clog, needs significantly fewer cleaning between strokes.
Very affordable, blades are very cheap to replace.

Cons

Have a bit of a learning curve.
Finding the right blade for your skin requires some testing, but cheap enough to try a few brands.

Straight Razors

Not recommended for beginners.
Has a very high learning curve.

Try a Few Blades and Find the One That Suits for Your Skin

Applies to double edge, single edge safety, and certain straight razors only.

Beginner

Gillette 7 O’Clock (Russia)
Wilkinson Sword Classic (Germany)

Intermediate

KAI Stainless Steel (Japan)

Experienced

Feather (Japan) Gillette 7 O’Clock (Russia)
Shark Super Stainless (Egypt)

All Levels

Astra Platinum (Russia)
Derby Extra (Turkey)

Get a Shaving Brush That Brings the Best out of Shaving Soap or Cream

A good shaving brush will...

Generate a rich and thick lather.
Soften and lift up hair for a closer shave.
Help open pores and lubricate the skin.
Exfoliate the skin to remove dead cells.

We recommend synthetic hair brushes because they...

Are not affected by hard water issues.
Performs well in any condition.
Cruelty-free, no animal harming involved in the making.

Horse hair brushes are good as well

Costs a little more than synthetic brushes.
Cruelty-free, horse mane and tail is part of their regular grooming.
Can perform poorly in hard water.
Take some time for the hairs to soften (break-in period).
Some find the smell of hair off-putting.

Boar and badger hair brushes are not recommended

Hair is harvested by killing.
More expensive than synthetic and horse hair.

Protect Your Skin With Good Shaving Lather

Avoid aerosol can goo

They are made from chemicals.
Do not provide much protection from the blade.
Bad for your skin.
Bad for the environment.
Compare the ingredients against natural formula.

Use natural shaving soap or cream

Shaving soap

Best if you want the most comfort out of your shave.
Takes extra steps to produce lather, though.
But, the lather is more luxurious.
And, hard soaps last longer.

Shaving cream

Simply apply to face and lather.
May not produce lather as rich as shaving soaps.
Since not as dense as shaving soaps, will finish quickly.

Learn the proper way to lather

Pre-Shave Preparation is Very Important

Showering before shaving is best

Cleans and hydrates your skin naturally, which helps blade glide more.
Steam opens up pores and relaxes skin that minimizes skin irritation.
Hair softens and lifts up, allowing the blade to cut more with one pass.

Use the hot towel method if you shower at a different time

Wash your face with warm water and face cleanser first to hydrate and soften the skin.
Microwave a clean, damp towel for 20-30 seconds, then hold it on your face for 10 seconds.
Gently pat and wipe to soften and lift the hair.

Pre-shave oil is good as well if the options above are not possible

Again, wash your face with warm water.
Apply pre-shave oil and massage in circular motion thoroughly.
Even better if combined with a shower or hot towel method.

Follow Shaving Tips and Techniques to Avoid Skin Damage

Use this blank face saving map to plan your shave start to finish. Make note of the direction of your hair growth (grain of the hair) in each section, as you may not be able to see the grain after lathering. Shaving with, across and against the grain is a discussion carried out at length in the wet shaving community, but the result and comfort are subjective. The only way to know which method works best for you is by trying them.

Here are some shaving tips we recommend for beginners:

Let the blade do all the heavy work

Good sharp blade need not much pressure from you.
If you have a heavy razor, let the weight of the razor be the only pressure applied.
Light to medium weight razors may need gentle pressure to help blade catch hair and cut closer to the surface.
When using a double or single edge safety razor, hold it at a 30-degree angle.

Shave with the grain (in the direction your hair grows) to avoid friction and ingrown

Gives the least amount of friction and resistance.

Against the grain pulls and tugs, especially coarse hair, which can be painful.
And, may cause you to apply unnecessary pressure, adding to the friction

Prevents ingrown hair, as the hair is not cut too far from the surface.

Take short strokes to avoid razor burn

Cuts hair more evenly in small sections.
Less likely to apply extra pressure over pits and valleys.
Gives you the chance to adjust grip, angle, and pressure if or as needed.

Don't do more than 3 passes

Never do a pass over a lather-less surface.
Complete a full shave, then feel out around your face to determine if and where an additional pass is needed.
Re-lather areas that need another pass and shave that only.
You may shave the whole face, but do keep in mind that fewer passes equal less friction, which equals less chance for razor burns.
More than 3 passes generally cause razor burns.

Post-Shave Finish Will Leave You Irresistibly Touchable

Close your pores by rinsing with cold/cool water

It will also calm your skin.
This is the only step where cold/cool water is recommended.

Use aftershave balm or lotion to protect your skin

If you use our shaving soaps, this step may not be necessary as our ingredients include Coconut Oil (SPF 4-6 protection), Hybrid Safflower Seed Oil and Sea Butter (SPF 4-6 protection) that are great natural moisturizers.

It's easy to forget that our skin is a living organ

Based on your skin type, weather, and environment, your skin may need extra care after shaving, which is essentially scraping away dead skin cells, exposing a new layer under it.

Keep your skin feeling smooth and soft all day

Carry a specially formulated balm stick to apply to patches that need extra care.
Also, chapsticks are readily available in many stores.

Maintenance Between Shaves will Ensure Better Experience

Wash your face at the end of the day, every day

Your face may become dirty and oily throughout the day from natural or environmental factors.
Simply washing and exfoliating with your hands helps prevent clogged pores and ingrown hair.

Moisturize as often as you need to prevent dry skin

Flaky skin is an indication that your skin is not well hydrated.
May cause ingrown, rash, bumps, acne, wrinkles, etc.