Shaving can be a real challenge and can affect the look of your skin. Here are some helpful tips on how to achieve a clean shave and avoid shaving nightmares. Even if you have been shaving for years, you still may learn something that could benefit your shaving routine.

Don’t rush a good shave:

Spend necessary time preparing your skin to for shaving. Begin the process by washing and exfoliating your face. These steps can help remove oil, dirt and dry skin, that can clog up your razor. Just a few minutes of prepping your skin can help you achieve a thorough shave.

Wet your skin and hair follicles before shaving to soften them:

A really good time to shave is following a shower. This is because your skin will most likely be wet, clean and warm, making it easier to achieve a clean shave. If you don’t have time to shower before shaving, make sure to wet your face down, avoid shaving completely dry skin.

Keep your skin warm:

As mentioned above keeping your skin hot and moist is key to a quality shave. Many barbershops use moist hot towels on the skin before shaving. Heat is another great way to soften the hair follicles.

Apply shaving gel or cream:

Make sure to lather up with a quality shaving cream or gel. If you have sensitive skin check for products that say sensitive skin on the label. Leaving the cream or gel sit for around 2 minutes helps soften the hairs and prepare for shaving.

Purchase a nice shaving brush:

If you want to take your shave to the next level get yourself a quality shaving brush. A good brush can push the cream into the hair and make it easier to get a clean shave.

Shave in the direction that the hair grows:

When you shave against the natural direction of hair growth, you can cause you to get razor bumps and ingrown hairs.

Rinse your razor after each swipe:

Rinsing your razor removes the stubble and cream that has collected in your razor. This makes it easier to achieve a clean shave on each swipe.

Store your razor in a dry area:

After you have finished shaving make sure you more your razor to a dry area. Leaving your razor in a wet and warm area can really encourage bacteria to grow on your razor. Bacteria on your razor can cause you skin issues that will take a while to improve. Avoid storing your razor in your shower, or by a wet sink.

Change your blade frequently:

It is important to change your blade or throw away your disposable razor. It is recommended that you change your razor after 5-10 shaves. This can help minimize irritation and avoid your blade from becoming dull.

Go to a professional:

If you want to learn how best to shave, treat yourself and let a professional give you a quality shave. This is a good opportunity to ask some questions and see the process a pro takes to achieve a clean shave.

Take extra precautions if you have acne:

Shaving can irritate your skin and make your acne worse. Test out different blade types like electric or disposable to see what works best with your acne. Also make sure to shave lightly and don’t apply too much pressure to avoid nicks.