OK hands up who’s let the old shaving rituals fall be the wayside over the festive season ? Yep, thought so, me too, as much as the hipster facial hair growth is perfectly acceptable and offers a different look when the mood so takes us, a fresh clean shaven you is equally as appealing. So as the New Year is fresh and our resolutions are as yet, relatively, unbroken, let’s get back to the grindstone, off that sofa and look at the ancient art of shaving.
Stelios Nicolaou is Aveda’s Master Barber, leading the Aveda Men grooming destination with over 20 years of experience, offers us his three essential steps to remember when shaving;
- Prep the Skin
- Don’t shave against the grain
- Invest in good blades
With this mantra fresh in our heads let’s look at some tools which can ensure each shave is the best a man can get !!!
So as Stel advises us, invest in good blades, well as the leading Market brand the Gillette Fusion ProGlide with FlexBall Technology responds to contours for maximum contact and gets virtually every hair. The razor is specifically designed with a 4-way flex for superior contact to respond to the contours of a man’s face, allowing for maximum contact on the curves.
If your after a little more luxury, then look no further than Acqua Di Parma’s Barbiere Collection which presents a well-balanced synthesis of elegant design, refined textures and stylish packaging designed with the modern man in mind.
For those not so keen on the more traditional of shaving rituals, the Braun Series 7 is a high performance shaver, designed to deliver greater comfort and efficiency due to its three-stage cutting system and fully flexible head that adapts to the individual contours of your face. The Series 7 does in one stroke what others shavers need to do in two. It delivers precision and a close shave, Braun was inspired by the quality results usually associated with wet shaving when creating the Braun Series 7. The foil shaver travels in straight lines, in keeping with the shaving habits of 80% of the world, which is not possible when using rotary shavers. The result is maximum control, precision, and less irritation.
Lab Series Electric Shave Solution Optimised for gents who prefer electric razors, this fragrance-free liquid preps skin and lifts facial hair for a clean, burn-free shave. It builds a protective layer that lessens the likelihood of nicks and is formulated with vitamin E to cool and refresh your complexion.
From personal experience Clinique for Men Post Shave Soother is a product which should be in EVERY man’s bathroom cabinet, no matter your skin type. It’s Aloe-rich formula helps soothe dryness, comforts just-shaven skin and leaves a pleasant calming feeling to the skin.
An all important and all to often forgotten step when it comes to shaving is prepping the skin before a shave to loosen up dead skin cells and soften beard hair, but also proper skin preparation will assist in preventing you from everything from razor burn to irritation, bleeding, sensitivity and ingrown hairs. NIVEA MEN Sensitive Face Wash is a specially developed, mild cleansing gel with Vitamin E. It cleans skin, removing dirt and excess oil, reduces impurities and doesn’t dry out skin or leave it feeling taut.
Never tried a scrum and alway use a foam or cream, well think again, a large number of foams and cream can be soap based which can result in drying out of your skin. Plus, a face full of lather may look great, but is it really helping, or is it just hiding your stubble ? Aesop’s neroli-infused serum has a low-foaming texture that facilitates the perfect shave. Formulated with a blend of gentle hydrating botanicals, this product allows razor-close precision without assaulting or aggravating skin.
Lastly, if this is something you want to take a little more seriously, this makes a perfect gift either for someone or yourself even. This is a comprehensive kit from specialist grooming company Pankhurst London who has your whole routine covered. After cleansing, use the perfectly weighted brush to apply the shaving cream and finish with the soothing Ice Gel for a confident start to the day.
