Blade Runners: Six Good Shaving Practices

It's hard to break old habits -- especially ones that are passed down generation-to-generation -- and shaving is no exception. But few of us look at the process with anything but dread, or, at the very least, mild annoyance. A Sisyphean task at its core, shaving demands we shred our face each morning (less often if we can get away with it), only to find that the face is nothing if not a fertile field for follicle growth.

Shaving can be sexy. And the allure of its transformative power is not to be easily dismissed. But most men, I imagine, would just as soon not have to bother with the blade at 7 a.m. It's a pain in the neck.

The bad news is that there is no stopping it. In fact, the more you shave, the stiffer your beard becomes. The good news is there are better ways to do it. All it takes are a few slight adjustments.

PRODUCT:

Flick the Bic
I'm amazed to find otherwise-fastidious gay men who still use disposable razors. They're sharp, unforgiving knives with little or no flexibility. Spend the money and get a real double- or triple-bladed razor with a pivoting cartridge. Schick and Gillette both make great triple-blade razors that save time and aggravation. There's nothing better on the market. Presidents and kings may have sterling silver or ivory handles, but they can't find more cutting-edge technology for their blade. Gillette: the great equalizer.

Cream of the crop
While you can't purchase a more advanced razor, you can certainly upgrade your shaving products. Ditch the Edge, the Barbasol and anything that promises a thick, rich lather from an aerosol can. It'll look full and foamy, sure, but it shaves like the generic junk it is. Instead, check out Clinique's Cream Shave ($16 for a 4.2-ounce tube), Neutrogena's Skin Clearing Shave Cream ($5 for 5.1 ounces) or a tub of soothing lavender shaving cream from the Art of Shaving ($16 for 5.3 ounces). Unlike mass-market foams, these applications are thick with moisturizer and lubricants to make the process of dragging a knife across the face almost enjoyable. They go on thick and come off clean. Your skin will thank you.

Aftershock
Macaulay Culkin, prepubescent and home alone, got it right about aftershave: "AAAAAAAAAhhhhhhhhhhh!" (complete with hands slapped to face and the appropriate in-pain wince). The memorable scene resonated because it's true. But again, think: You've just sheared off layers of dead skin, leaving newer, tender skin exposed; throwing alcohol-based aftershave on your precious punim is like salting a wound. Instead, look to products that will remoisturize and soothe your poor pelt. Clinique's Post Shave Healer ($14 for .75 milliliters) is aloe-packed salvation after a tough cut, though Neutrogena, Kiehl's and the Art of Shaving all make restorative, alcohol-free balms and lotions.

PRACTICE:

Can't afford to splurge on oils, lotions, balms and creams? Try some quick, recession-friendly tricks for a more comfortable caress.

Shave in the evening
Sure, it runs contrary to everything we've been taught, but hear it out. By the end of the day, your beard softens considerably as oil glands nourish your skin and hair follicles. On the other hand, while you sleep, your 300-thread-count pillowcase absorbs much of that natural moisturizer, leaving your morning skin rough and your facial hair bristly. So if you can break a culturally ingrained habit, shave at night. As an added bonus, it leaves lips in the clear for scratch-free smooching in bed.

Shave after showering
The steam and heat from a shower open your pores and make the hairs easier to catch. But avoid soaping before shaving -- it, too, will strip your skin of its natural lubrication.

And if you do nothing else ...
Go to a barber and get a real shave. With a machete-like straight razor. And hot towels. And buttery cream shave lotion. Not only is it butch and dangerous, it's surprisingly affordable. And once you see exactly how good your face can look, you'll have a hard time rationalizing looking or feeling anything less than your best.

Photos: Getty Images

Written and originally posted by Michael Stabile

Comments

[John]

All and well but what about those of us that use an electric shaver??