Complete your perfect shave with these simple steps.
Step #3: Time to Shave
Now that you have prepared your face appropriately for the main event, it’s time to get down to shaving. I hope you enjoy shaving because you are going to do it thousands of times over the course of a lifetime. If you don’t enjoy it now, you should do whatever you can to make the process more pleasurable. Don’t forget to keep the blade at a 30 degree angle, and never apply pressure when pressing the blade against your face. Let the weight of the razor apply the only pressure you need. An ultralight razor may be applied to the face with gentle pressure, only as much as needed to make firm contact with your skin without scraping or dragging.
Test drive several double-edge blade brands with a blade sampler.
Make sure you use a sharp blade. Price is less important than you think. If you are looking for the sharpest blades on the market, they are the yellow and the black Japanese Feathers, Astra Platinum, and Dorco Platinum. Mid-range blades include Personna Super Plus, Merkur, Precision, Astra Stainless Steel and Regular Dorco. However, if you care about your skin, you will want to stay away from 7 A.M, Red Personna, Lord, and Sputnik, as they are far too dull to suit your needs.
Step #4: Finish by Cleaning and Moisturizing
You may be done shaving, but you’re not really done until you have cleaned and moisturized your face. Wash any lingering lather and residue with warm water, then rinse your face in cold water. The cold water will close your pores and get your face ready for moisturizing. Another great way to close the pores is by using a product called an alum block. Unfortunately, if you have scraped, nicked, or otherwise cut your skin, an alum block will burn and sting more than you can imagine. Some people will argue that an alum block shows you if you did a good job shaving, so try it if you are feeling particularly adventurous. Follow up with a moisturizing aftershave splash or balm, and your shaving process is finally complete.