Here’s Everything You Need to Get a Cleaner, Better Shave
A recent study shows over 50 per cent of North American men are shaving wrong. Which means there’s a high likelihood you look like a hormonal teen after your morning routine – all red bumps and blotches. No, the solution isn’t to resort to the regimen of your Palaeolithic forebears (the lumbersexual is dead, guys). With the right arsenal, shaving can be a pain-free and (relatively) enjoyable process.
The Tools
1. King’s Crown Double Edge Safety Razor ($125)
Those amped-up, multi-blade cartridges you’ve been using could shear the wool off a goat — or, as a dermatologist will tell you, the skin off your face. A simple, quality safety razor — like your gramps had — will minimize irritation. This one, crafted from chrome in Germany, is weighted so perfectly it’ll do all the work for you.
2. American Crew Ultra Glide Shave Oil ($10)
Keep the alcohol in your snifter — shaving creams containing the stuff can severely dry
out your skin. This no-grease solution from American Crew cushions the skin for a close, easy shave. Beneficial oils like eucalyptus and clove penetrate the pores to counter nicks, razor bumps, and ingrown hairs.
3. Kent H12 Horn Shaving Brush ($165)
Yes, the shave brush actually serves a purpose beyond looking swell beside your sink. This one, boasting 100 per cent silvertip badger hair (trust us, it matters), helps create a nice lather while softening and lifting the hairs off your face, making them easy to lop off.
4. Midnight & Two Citrus Island Aftershave Balm ($34)
Keep those dastardly ingrowns at bay with this all-natural aftershave balm made with aloe vera, witch hazel, argan oil, and hemp oil. The unique blend repairs damaged tissue caused by shaving and re-moisturizes the skin, sans any gross residue.
5. Braun Series 9 9095CC Shaver ($400)
If you’re prone to abusing the snooze button, this is your running-late, stubble-slaying saviour. It boasts intelligent SyncroSonic technology, with 40,000 cross-cutting actions per minute, designed to capture different types of hair. What’s more, it cleans, lubricates, and dries itself.
Stop Being a Pain in the Neck
If you follow Internet slang at all, then you’re likely familiar with the word “neckbeard.” It’s used to denote a rather unattractive, socially inept man, particularly one who spends an excessive amount of time on message boards railing against…women mostly. Don’t be a neckbeard. You can start by never forgetting to shave with extreme intolerance any follicles on your neck. Those unsavoury tufts of hair rising above the top of your shirt collar are the quickest way to ruin a fresh-faced look. They are attractive to no one. A rule of thumb: shave any patch of hair you see on your neck all the way down to the collarbone. You’ll know you’ve done it right when you look less like Jonah Hill.
You’re Shaving Wrong
Don’t worry, hirsute men. We haven’t forgotten about you. Even those who rock facial hair still need a tune-up here and there.
Beard
DO: Trim your entire beard to its desired length. With an electric razor, fade your cheeks and neck. Make sure to trim from your Adam’s apple to where your jaw meets your neck. Anything below the Adam’s apple should be hairless as Bieber’s chest.
DON’T: Shave a hard line into your beard’s neckline. It won’t sharpen the outline of your face or make you look thinner. It will give you a double chin.
Moustache
DO: Comb your moustache straight down for an even trim. With scissors, clip the bottom of it along your lip line. Shave the areas above and to the sides of your mouth for more definition.
DON’T: Use an electric razor. It creates an unnatural shape and makes it too easy to go a little overboard with your cleanup.
