How to Shave

This age old technique of facial hair removal will forever be passed from generation to generation, from discerning father to son and so on and so forth… Some of us however, don’t have a Dad, or perhaps he left you and your mum to fend for yourselves whilst he ran off with his smoking hot secretary. Although the popular saying “Don’t hate the player, hate the game”, may not strictly apply to a child pensive over his abandonment by the only tangible paternal figure in his life, MGTE are happy to step into the daddy shoes and provide some basic big boy advice.

Photo Credit: Designlazy.com

Steps

1- Boil the kettle. Hot blades cut better! It’s best to put the boiling water into a sensible container rather than the sink as rapid heating/cooling can damage some sink surfaces. Keep the blades submerged but not the handle!

2- Wash. Don’t be a dirty boy, wash! Exfoliating or washing with warm water and gentle soap will soften the hairs allowing for easier shaving. Open pours also allow for a closer shave.

3- Apply shaving gel. Ensure that all areas to be shaved are covered with foam or gel (some gels are designed to be lathered into a foam before applying so be sure to read the label.

4- Hold the shaver correctly. Shake excess hot water off of the blade before putting it against your skin! The head of the shaver should be flat against your skin with the handle roughly 30 degrees or so. Keep the razor against your skin but do not apply pressure.

5- Shave in the right direction. Shaving against the grain (against the direction of growth) will provide for the closest shave but will also result in the most irritation. If you tend to get bumps, rashes, or ingrowing hairs, consider shaving with the grain instead. Always draw in a straight line perpendicular to the angle of the blades (don’t run your razor across your skin in the same direction of the blades as you’ll cut yourself!). Try and draw over each area only once to avoid irritation.

6- Rinse out the blades after each stroke in the very hot water. Be sure to remove all hairs from the blades before drawing another line.

7- Pat dry and moisturise. Do not rub your face with a towel as this will result in irritation. Moisturise thoroughly.

8- If you’ve managed to cut yourself, then either MGTE has failed you as a pseudo father, or you’ve rushed the process! If you do have a couple of nicks however, using a thin, small corner of tissue to place over the cut, will ensure that you don’t continue to bleed and then scab.

Tips

Keep your skin taught at all times, this avoids nicking your skin and allows for a smoother shave.

Take your time shaving. Do not do it in a rush!

Thoroughly wash your razor after every time you use it in order to prolong its’ life by preventing rust. Depending on the thickness of your hair and how often you shave, a decent blade, such as a Mach 3, should last at least 6 shaves.

If you feel the blade scratch your skin or it isn’t cutting effectively, replace the blade.