Guides

First, make sure to exfoliate. The best way to do this is to take a shower or bath. Scrub the area to remove any skin cells. One of the main causes behind ingrown hairs and razor bumps is a razor pushing dead skin cells into a pore, blocking the hair. Plus, when you let your skin soak in hot water, it helps open up those pores, making it easier to shave.

We suggest a bath because you’ll get audible feedback from the razor as you shave, which can’t be heard as clearly in the rushing flow of a shower. As you develop your technique and don’t need to “hear” your shave, you can transition to the shower. It can also be taxing/dangerous to stand on one leg in the shower while you perfect your strokes.

Learning to create a voluminous, dense froth takes a bit of practice. There are many videos and how-tos, but essentially you’ll swirl your brush on a soap puck or cream and “load” it into the head. When the tips are pasty, you can proceed to develop your lather in a bowl/mug or directly on your leg/underarm. It can take a few minutes to whip up a decent lather, so don’t rush this. Add water slowly and watch it build. You want to make sure you achieve a state where the lather will provide glide and protection.

Take your time as you get started. In general, you’re looking to create an angle where the blade glides along the skin, mowing down the hair as it goes. One rule of thumb is to place the head perpendicular to the skin and then tilt it to about a 30 degree angle until the blade makes contact. Razor heads are rounded to help with this process. Apply little to no pressure. Let the weight of the razor do the work. Proceed with short strokes, a few inches at a time (not one long stroke).

If you notice any irritation, consider shaving "with-the-grain", in the same direction that the hair grows. This will provide a much milder shave and achieve the same level of closeness—it just may take a few extra passes. Irritation may also be a sign that the skin and hair might require additional lather.

This last step is when you get to apply your favorite lotion or balm. Aftershave balms are perfect for this as they restore moisture & nutrients to the skin, and also tighten & tone.