The Epic Guide on Wet Shaving and How to Shave Your Face

This is a a full guide on how to shave your face. It is in itself a wet shaving guide, and it includes the method to use along with the wet shaving products. It would be great if this would also become a wet shaving discussion with contribution from the barbers in the forum and other shaving experts.

The manly art of shaving the face is a technique that has become a habitual nuisance to the common man instead of the pleasing ritual it once was. In the modern world, a man is often rushed into shaving his face and completes his task as if he was in a race with somebody, not caring if he runs into a few obstacles as long as he gets it done. This hurried state of mind is what often causes facial lacerations which sting and can produce an unwelcoming spot on the collar of a shirt. In addition to the hurried state of mind is the “cannot be bothered” state of mind whereby a man will forgo shaving until he is needed to do so, often for work or for a woman.

So what is the trick for bringing back the pleasure of shaving and being able to shave without scratching all of your face and ending up looking like Freddy? Well it is simple, slow down and take the time to complete your shave while following these next steps and tips to get an ultra close satisfying shave. This ‘how to shave your face’ guide is divided into several sections that are part of the whole process of wet shaving. Make sure to follow each section in the same order as described in our wet shaving guide.

Starting the shaving ritual

So what is first? Take about ten minutes of your time in the morning to dedicate to a shave without interruptions so that you can slow down and do a good job. Next fill the sink with hot water, do not make it so hot that you scald your face but get at least a little steam. Splash this water on your face, this will open up your facial pores and help give you that close shave. It also moistens the face and so helps prevent cuts.

Shaving mug, brush and shaping soap

What next? Well it is time to select a shaving cream, reaching for the can of Gillette, think again. One of the best ways to make shaving a satisfying ritual is to use a shaving mug and brush (also known as a badger) with shaving soap. Having a shaving mug and genuine beaver hair brush is essential to the shaving ritual so throw out the can and make the switch. You can buy a wide variety of shaving supplies at Amazon and see some of the shaving reviews that are already posted in the shaving section of the forum.

So now you have your mug and brush, what about the soap. You can get any kind of shaving specific soap you want but any facial soap will do. If you have a sensitive face, try something with shea butter in it. Just never use regular body soap because it will dry out your face and make it feel tight. You can also choose a good shaving cream instead of a shaving soap.

Create and spread the lather

Okay now you have your brush, mug, and soap, now what? You have to make a lather for your face. To create an extra thick lather like you see in old movies wet your brush slightly with water and swirl it in the mug with the soap in it. If it is to wet it will not be thick and if it is to dry it will not create a lather at all. Using the right amount of water for a thick lather takes practice but eventually you will get the hang of it.

Coat the brush in the lather you created inside the mug and now spread the lather in the brush across your face on the areas to be shaved. Take your time although this will take you a minute at most.

Type of razor to use

Great now you have the lather and you have smeared it on your face with the brush. It is time to take one step closer to the razor itself. What to use? With so many razors on the market it can be difficult deciding what to use. You could use a razor sharp straight edge or do as they did in medieval times and use a dagger but if you are afraid of slicing your face off use a straight razor. Use a straight razor with at least three blades but there is really no need for the twenty blade razors you might see on television. Remember though that this is the only face you will ever have in this life and so spend more than seventy cents on a razor and get one like Gillette three blades with aloe.

The only exception to the straight razor to buy is if you’re buying a premium safety razor. Then a single blade coated in platinum will suffice and will cause less irritation than a three blade razor or a razor with more than two blades.

Using a straight razor does follow pretty much the same shaving method as described in the next step, only that the chance of cutting yourself with a straight razor increases. Having said that a straight razor will provide you an extremely close shave in the same manner as a single blade safety razor.

How to shave with a razor

Okay so the preparations are done, you have soap all over your face and a razor in hand it is time to finally put the blade to the face. Start in a downwardly direction at the sideburns and stop at the lower jaw. The best way to shave is to take long even strokes not short choppy ones which can cut the face. Continue in the downwardly direction overlapping strokes from the lower lip to the bottom of the chin until you get to the other side of the chin. Then again in a downwardly direction from the side burns to the lower jaw. Next tackle the upper lip starting from the left and going to the right in a downwardly direction using even strokes.

Now let us handle the neck. Suppress the impulse to start on the lower part of the neck and work upward toward the chin. Instead start at the lower part of the chin and work down to the lower part of the neck. Always follow the natural grain (direction) of the hair on your face when shaving at first. You can instinctively see the direction of growth of your facial hair by letting your facial hair grow for 3 to 5 days and then looking at it in the mirror.

Alright now you have shaved your face but it is not as close as you would like. To get the ultra close shave that was promised follow the same procedure as before but working in an upward motion very slowly and carefully. Remember to always go over your face once in the downward direction and if your face can handle the ultra close shave then you can go against the grain after you have followed the grain. Also remember to apply a second coat of lather between the first shave and the second.

Finishing your shaving ritual

Now the act of shaving the face is complete but the final touches are still needed. Rinse your face of any left over lather with cold water. The cold water will close your pores and prevents shaving bumps. Rinse the whole area that you shaved with the cold water. Then release the water from the sink and wash your equipment under the facet and wash down your whiskers so as to be a proper gentleman. Pat dry your face with a soft towel. Never rub dry your face since it will irritate the skin and make you all red. So now you are shaved and clean and dry.

What next, aftershave? Not! Most after shaves are as gentle as rubbing alcohol and burn the face. Instead use a moisturizer or a moisturizing after shave like the Nivea for Men after shave balm to replenish your face and not make it feel tight all day. Don’t get carried away by how much a after shave stings or burns when you apply it, just make sure that it contains moisturizing ingredients so as to give your skin that extra fresh start of the day without feeling like your face is on fire!

Congratulations on that manly shave

That is it. You have finished your ultra close manly ritual shave. The satisfaction of a clean face washes over you and envelopes the senses. Just remember these simple rules and tips and your shaving will stop looking like a horror film and you will save money at the dry cleaners since you will not have stained collars anymore. What more can a man want from a ritual than a clean smooth face and more money in his pocket? Nothing so start shaving the right way now.