Home shaves can have the same professional results as a barber or esthetician with the right preparation, tools and patience.
To duplicate a professional shave at home, follow these steps.
What you need
Have the proper tools on hand.
- face cloths
- basin of hot water
- commercial straight blade or drug store razor
- facial cleanser
- shaving cream or gel
- facial moisturizer
Make sure razor is clean and sharp to reduce nicks, irritation, ingrown hairs and razor burn.
Preparation
- Fill basin with hot water
- Soak face cloth
- Gently wipe the gentleman’s face with a hot, wet face cloth, cleansing with a facial cleanser. A clean face can prevent infection or irritation if the razor nicks the skin.
- Remove face cloth and wipe the skin tenderly, ensuring any cleansing residue is removed.
- Place a second hot, wet face cloth over face and neck for 5 minutes. Treat the gentleman to a sensory experience by soaking the face cloth in a scent such as Paul Mitchell’s Tea Tree Special Shampoo or American Crew’s Citrus Mint Refreshing Body Wash. Both offer an olfactory event that relaxes, refreshes and stimulates. The heat and shaving product softens hair and opens pores to let the razor cut right at or even below skin level.
- After removing the face cloth, applying a shave oil like American Crew’s Essential Shave Oil also softens the beard and minimizes irritation to the skin by providing a barrier between the razor and the skin.
Getting a Close Shave
- Smooth a shaving cream or gel over the facial and neck area, such as American Crew’s Classic or Herbal Shave Cream, or Paul Mitchell’s (Tea Tree) Shave Gel depending on the fragrance that appeals to the gentleman. The Classic Shave Cream has the same masculine fragrance the American Crew Classic grooming line offers, and the Herbal Shave Cream gives a botanical alternative with natural oils, vitamins and anti-oxidants to condition particularly dry or damaged skin.
- Gels and creams are better than soap. Soap promotes bubbles, which cause nicks. When there is no product on the skin—such as under a bubble—there is no barrier on the skin that protects it from the blade.
- Position blade at the lower neck, angled slightly. Firmly graze the skin with the blade in long, consistent strokes in the opposite direction from which the hair grows.
- Repeat over facial hair, stroking in the opposite direction from which the hair grows. This cuts the hair at the follicle site.
- After shaving, wipe any remaining cream or gel off the face and neck.
- Splash cool water over the face and neck, or drape a cool face cloth to close the pores. Pores close over the follicle site when cool air hits the skin, creating a smooth surface.
- Follow up with an after-shave moisturizer to calm irritated skin and condition. Men’s skin needs moisturizing as much as women’s.
Benefits of a Daily Shave
American Crew suggests that daily shaving is good for exfoliating the skin, which helps regenerate new, fresh skin cells that create a clean, youthful look.
For unique shaving ideas, combine carving or tattooing techniques for individual styles shaved into beards and sideburns.
The copyright of the article Professional Men's Shave at Home in Hair Care is owned by Jill Nessel. Permission to republish Professional Men's Shave at Home in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.
