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TIPS
3 Steps to a smooth face
STEP ONE: PREP
- Always shave after or at the end of a shower. The warm water and steam softens the hair and opens the pores. If rushing to a meeting or important date, you can substitute by putting a towel under a faucet running with hot, hot, hot water and leaving the towel on your face for a couple minutes. Scrub face with a exfoliant. We use a Woodys Pre-Shave. An exfoliant sloughs off the dead skin cells and removes all the funky grime and oil from your mug. This sets up a smooth and clean canvas for you to work with.
- Apply a good shave cream or shave soap. Areosol foams and gels generally suck, as they are mostly air and puffy lather, which means more product in the foam and less product on the face and in the hair. If you have a tough beard or very sensitive skin, you may wish to apply a pre-shave oil before you apply shaving cream. Many guys use pre shave oil, instead of cream, give it a try. The best and most economical method is a good shave soap applied with a brush (badger hair is best) to soften and lift the beard. A good shave brush is a face’s best friend. The brush gets the lather up, around, and under the hair and helps the hair stand up, so it can get whacked down. A good prep is vital to soften the beard and minimize irritation. Also, try to change your blade at least once per week – a happy blade is a clean blade.
STEP TWO: SHAVE
- Use a clean, sharp razor. Avoid disposables and stick with cartridge razors (Mach 3 or Fusions work well). Start by shaving WITH the grain (the direction the hair grows). This will minimize cuts, irritation, in-grown hairs and razor burn. Glide the razor gently over your face. The mistake most guys make is pressing to hard on the blade in a misguided attempt to get a closer shave. Pressure leads to razor burn, rashes, and in grown hairs-not a pretty sight. Avoid applying pressure and rinse your blade often. A clean blade is a happy blade. If you must have a closer shave, re-lather and shave lightly (LIGHT pressure) against the grain. If you cut yourself, apply a moist alum block or styptic pencil on the area to stop bleeding. After shaving, close the pores with a rinse of cool water. If using a shaving brush, always hang the brush to dry with the bristles facing downward.
STEP THREE: PROTECT
- You will need to hydrate and protect the skin. Do not use heavy lotions that will clog your skin. Do not use harsh alcohol after shaves, which will dry your skin. We like Woodys Post Shave, a greaseless lotion specifically designed for mens skin. Leaves it baby smooth, with a built in natural anti-inflamitory that soothes skins and reduces razor burn. 80% of the problems we encounter at the shop are due to men with dry skin. Dry skin irritates easier and is more prone to razor burn.
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