Alpha Male

Shaving can be a tedious chore. All that scraping leaves skin red, irritated and unhappy, but why? It isn’t like you don’t get enough practice. Just a few adjustments could yield super smooth results like you have never seen before. Check out our 5 step guide to a perfect shave.

Step One – Prepare
Before you even think about picking up a razor, it is important to prep the skin and hair for shaving. A cloth saturated with hot water and placed upon the face will open pores and soften facial hair, making for an easier shave. Just don’t scald yourself.

Step Two – Protect
Pre-shave oil will not only protect the skin by creating a thin barrier between the razor and face, but it will lubricate the blade and allow it to smoothly glide through hairs. REN Tamanu High Glide Shaving Oil (£15.00) guarantees a close shave without the associated redness and irritation.

Step Three – Product
You might be surprised by the extent to which high quality products improve the shaving process. A good shaving foam shouldn’t dry out the skin or leave it feeling irritated. If you are on the sensitive side then look for shaving cream that doesn’t include alcohol, which can cause flare ups. Lucky tiger liquid shave cream (£12.50) is applied as a lotion which then builds to a frothy lather. Besides creating more emollient foam, applying shaving cream with a brush minimises the spread of bacteria and is a must for blemish prone skin. The Tweezerman Deluxe Shaving Brush (£14.00) follows barbershop tradition and is made from real badger hair.

Step Four – Process
Once your mug is lathered up it is finally time to start shaving. Don’t be afraid to splurge some cash on a high-class razor. The Wellington MIII: Ebony/Chrome Razor from Truefitt & Hill (£55.00, available to pre-order at HQMan.com) is not only a joy to use but it looks superbly handsome perched on the bathroom shelf.

If you mindlessly attack facial hair without so much as a thought to your technique, you need to rethink your game plan.