Ask Aaron Q&A: Do you have any tips on how to get as close a shave as possible?
“Do you have any tips on how to get as close a shave as possible?” asks Simon Buckland.
AARON SAYS:
“Use quality products that give a smooth, slick shave. If you have not already done so switch to using a safety razor. A safety razor allows you to control the angle of the blade giving you as close a shave as you want. Shave in three passes; first going with the direction of hair growth, the next going across, and the last going against the direction of hair growth. This will give you the closest shave for an incredibly smooth feeling.”
Do you have any burning questions you would like ask our wet shaving expert Aaron Wolfenbarger? CLICK HERE TO ASK AARON YOUR QUESTION
How to make a great shaving lather
For many people who don’t make the time to prepare when shaving, they may not be getting the most out of the experience. The application of the shave cream to work up a lather is, in fact, an important part of the wet shaving process and should not be taken lightly.
If you put a bit more thought into this, you can perfect your shaving performance and get the close shave you desire. You need to start by looking at your pre-shave preparations.
The Bluebeards Revenge lather after twenty minutes - Photo taken from Wet-shavers.com
By working the lather into your face you can offer your face protection from the razor and the lubrication allows the blade to glide smoothly across the skin. Once you get this right, you will also notice your skin looks great as the lather moisturises and exfoliates the skin.
The process should begin with the use of a badger brush as this type of shaving brush can get the best results. Choose the brush carefully for a more luxurious and softer feel on the skin. Also, be sure to select shaving soap that allows for a moister and richer lather. This does three things; moisturises your face, lubricates the beard and softens it, giving it the best preparation for the shaving experience.
If you have followed the advice so far, you will have gathered all you need to make a good lather which is ideal for getting the most out of wet shaving.
The next stage is to run the hot water, getting it as hot as you possibly can. If you have bought a decent badger brush that holds moisture well then you will find that as you turn the brush slowly in the water, it absorbs and holds plenty of water.
Making a great lather is the key to an enjoyable shave
After this you need to use the tips of the badger brush to permeate the ends with the shaving soap. A lot of force does not need to be applied here, so only do this until lather starts to form in the soap mug.
There is not much more you need to do now until you begin the shaving process. First, you just need to check that the badger brush is warm and full of water and soap, and that your face is still warm and lubricated. If this is the case you can now apply the soap using just the tips of the brush in an unhurried circular motion on the facial area.
As you start to build the lather, the soap is worked deeper into your skin, achieving what you wanted at the outset: a clean face that is exfoliated and protected from the razor blade. Make sure you work the lather evenly on the face to get the best shaving preparation.
If you follow these tips for a good lather technique you can get a much closer and better shave, plus you reduce the need to spend your hard earned money on an excess of other shaving products. However, a pre-shave moisturiser may still be required and a quality aftershave.
Choosing an effective shaving cream (Part 1)
The trick when looking for a shaving cream to use in your daily wet shaving routine is to find a product that will work well with your skin. This formula may not be as easy as it sounds though, as a person’s face is individual to them and so what works great for one man may not be suitable for another.
We will now be looking at how best to go about finding a shaving cream that proves to be effective and makes the whole wet shaving process much more pleasurable and enjoyable, leaving your skin feeling fresh and looking good too.
With so much choice on the market, it is hard to identify a suitable men’s shaving cream without a bit of old-fashioned trial and error. However, this can cost money – and a lot of it too – so it is certainly worth narrowing it down a little first before taking the plunge.
Instead of going into things blindly, trying out every product under the sun, the following is what you should look out for.
Firstly, it is recommended that those with sensitive skin should opt for a moisturising shaving cream. This is also a major pointer for those who struggle with razor burn as keeping the skin moist when wet shaving is essential.
No matter what products you eventually decide to go with, don’t ever give in to the temptation to just use regular soap. This is a big no-no as it will only dry out your skin even more, unless it is a specialist shaving soap, and will most definitely not result in a closer shave.
We will publish part 2 on Tuesday, so please check back.
How to shave without getting razor bumps or ingrown hair
Razor bumps and ingrown hair is a problem faced by many men who wet shave. It can become irritating to keep on experiencing an adverse reaction from shaving, especially when you know that this method is ultimately giving you better results than any other method you have tried in the past.
A smooth shave
The best way to overcome the inflammatory reaction to the condition, pseudofolliculitis barbae or “barber’s itch” as it is commonly known is to look at ways to prevent and minimise the effect of ingrown hairs in the first place. Once these unsightly bumps are present on the face, it is easy to aggravate the situation and make it worse.
One easy solution may be to just let the hair grow, but this is not always practical, especially those professionals who need to keep their beard well groomed for their job. However, you could try shaving every other day to see if this improves the situation. Here are a few tips to help you counter this common issue.
Make sure that the razor blade is in optimum condition and not well worn as this can affect the effects of wet shaving on the skin. Try shaving with the grain, in downward strokes.
One lesser acknowledged fact ignored by many men who use a straight razor, is that a shaving brush can become a pivotal tool in wet shaving. If you wish to reduce the number of ingrown hairs on the face as well as the chances of getting any nicks or cuts, you should consider preparing using a shaving brush. This will help to lift the hairs effectively from the face.
The products you use before and after shaving can impact on this situation. Using a facial scrub before shaving can also help to raise the hairs from under the skin. The shaving soap can have an effect on skin irritation, so make sure you choose one accordingly, and ensure it is suitable for your unique skin type.
Shaving myth 2: Do you need to use a lot of foam when shaving?
Over the next few weeks we’re going to debunk some of the myths of wet shaving. In our first shaving myth article we asked the popular question? Is it always necessary to shave downwards, or ‘go with the grain’? Click here to read it.
In our second article on common shaving myths, we explore another frequently asked question: Do you need to use a lot of foam when shaving?
This is asked a lot by men who think that by using more foam, they will benefit from a smoother and more enjoyable shave.
Well, the simple truth is, you don’t. All that using more foam does is to add more product to the skin and thus get in the way of the razor.
The razor’s job is to perform through touching the skin and excess foam just hinders this.
Also, by using products without alcohol or harsh ingredients, it will reduce the chances of you getting any nicks or cuts to the face.
Please check back on Thursday when we take a detailed look at another common wet shaving myth.
If you have a question for our shaving team, please leave a comment below. Happy shaving!!!
Men’s grooming tips: A guide to wet shaving (part 3)
When wet shaving, if you try and follow the tried and tested approach we have been talking about, you are more likely to have a pain-free experience that goes easy on your skin. However, there are a few extra techniques you can use if you are a more experienced shaver, while there is also help out there for blokes with sensitive skin.
Post-shave
Immediately after you have finished shaving you will usually rinse the shaved area with cool water. If you find that this approach frequently leaves you suffering from razor burn and dryness, you can always try a final rinse with hot water instead, before dabbing a cloth soaked with witch hazel across your face.
The British male beauty market is worth £920m
There is also a number of soothing after-shave treatments available to buy which contain aloe to help calm the effects of shaving and alleviate any dryness. These creams, gels, balms and lotions can also encourage the healing of any minor nicks and cuts. You can apply a small amount of lotion evenly onto freshly-shaven skin straight after shaving.
A few final points
While you are shaving it is important to regularly rinse your razor in hot water.
As you become more experienced shaving with the grain, you can always experiment by passing the razor against and across the grain. These techniques are only really advised for those who are skilled at shaving and willing to try different combinations to find out what works best for them.
Everyone’s hair pattern grows differently, therefore it is often only through trial and error that you can determine what gives you a great smooth shave, by finding the right combination of passing the razor that works for you.
The pressure you apply, the amount of lather used and the angle of the razor are other factors that can influence the quality of the shave.
Again, it all depends on your skin, and smoother shaves often come at the expense of skin irritation.
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