How To Properly Shave Your Beard
I've been getting a lot of questions regarding beard grooming and shaving tips. We at Johnny Slicks are big proponents of showing off your facial hair in all its glory! If you are simply looking to get rid of the beard because of itch, unruliness, and frustration, then please discover the beard maintenance products that will change your life! If you are, for some reason, looking to shave your beard, however, here are the steps you need to follow to avoid nicks, irritation, razor burn, and more.
Tools You'll Need:
- 3 Clean towels
- Razor
- Shaving cream or Shaving Soap
- Light facial cream or moisturizing lotion
- Toner or mild astringent
Estimated Time: 10 Minutes
Proper Shaving Tips:
- Sanitize/Disinfect the razor and wash your hands
- Use a clean towel or cloth
- Avoid shaving any infection or pustules (It could spread to other parts of your face)
- Use a styptic pen or powder to clean and clot any nicks that may occur
- Learn your hair growth pattern in order to shave in the correct direction
- Keep your skin moist while shaving
- Use the cushions of your fingertips to stretch your skin in the opposite direction of the razor
- Always use hot water when preparing to shave or shaving
13 Shaving Tips
1. Place a clean towel in hot water
This will allow your pores and follicles to open and reveal more of the hair shaft. Check to make sure the hot towel won't burn you.
2. Apply the hot towel to your face until it is no longer hot
If the towel is too hot, let it stand for a minute or until it cools down. The hot towel will soften the cuticle layer of your hair and it'll stimulate the sebaceous glands. Sebaceous glands produce sebum which lubricates the skin to help protect against friction.
3. Place the hot towel back into the hot water and allow it to soak again
You'll be using this hot towel again after you apply shaving cream.
4. Apply shaving cream (or shaving soap) in circular motions to your skin
Rubbing time should be between 1-2 minutes. Lathering will clean your face, make the hair you're about to shave stand up, and create a smooth surface for your razor to glide upon.
5. Utilizing the hot towel from before, lay the towel over where you just applied the shaving cream
Completing the hot towel usage twice will only prepare your hair and skin more for the shave to come. Dense and coarse hair benefits most from this.
6. Apply your second lathering of shaving cream the same way you applied it the first time
7. After you have completed preparation, prepare your razor for the following shaving steps
8. There are 14 beard shaving steps. Follow the picture guide for proper shaving directions
Performing these steps in the direction shown will prevent cuts, nicks, razor burn, ingrown hair, and irritation. Shave with the grain of your hair!
After you have completed the 14 shaving steps, it is optional but not recommended to re-lather and shave in the opposite direction. It is not recommended because the closer the shave you get, the higher the chance pathogenic bacteria will spread. Pathogenic bacteria are bacteria that cause disease; a common concern is Staph aureus, which is found on our skin. As such, it is suggested you keep to just one round of shaving to avoid the possibility of infection.
9. Massage a light facial cream or moisturizing lotion to the skin you just shaved
10. Prepare a moderately warm towel and apply it to your skin
Do not rub the skin roughly or apply a high PH astringent. That will cause the skin to become irritated and overly sensitive.
11. Apply a toner or mild astringent to the shaved area
The toner or mild astringent will “close up” the pores and follicles. You want to help close up those pores and hair follicles to ensure bacteria and dirt don’t find their way into your pores.
Dirt in pores = Pseudofolliculitis Barbae or “Razor Burn”
Dirt in follicle / Too much pressure applied while shaving = "Ingrown Hair"
Such an amazing post. Thank you so much for sharing this post with us, It’s very inspiring when you are thinking you need to shave :)