How To Shave

$C:\Documents and Settings\Nick\My Documents\My Pictures\How To Shave\blade1.jpg$

Men, we are all going to be shaving frequently throughout our long lives, and whether you like it or not, it is best to know a proper technique to get the cleanest, closest, and bloodless shave possible.

I do not know how women shave, so I left that for the women of Instructables!

Shaving makes you look clean and nicer looking all around. For men. Sure, you can go all natural, but personally, I like to keep a clean shaven face.

You want to look good for the ladies dont you?

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Step 1: Clean Your Face

$C:\Documents and Settings\Nick\My Documents\My Pictures\How To Shave\Washing Face Step 1.jpg$

It is important to maintain a clean working area. This being, your face. This will get rid of dirt, bacteria, or anything else that can cause infections, or zits on your face. Shaving zits isnt a good sight.

If you already have a beard, or you just want to get rid of your stubbles, you can use a tiny bit of shampoo to clean it to ensure a clean shaving experience.

atejer says: Aug 7, 2011. 1:57 AM

Excellent guide on shaving, people often underestimate the use of shampoo on a beard, but I can tell you first hand that it really helps. I would also recommend using an electric razor, despite what everyone says, if you pick one that is of high quality, it can make your life a whole lot easier.
I would suggest using an authentic rating site like http://www.topratedelectricrazors.com to find one that suits your needs.

Esmagamus says: Mar 21, 2011. 1:04 PM

Seeing the gilette bottle there reminded me of how we can be deceived by a brand.

I had always been advised a certain foam from Nivea. I did get reasonable results, for a price. One day I tried the supermarket brand and not only was it a lot cheaper, it also makes my skin a lot smoother and the blade glides like it's not cutting at all.

JakeTobak says: Jun 3, 2007. 11:32 AM

Shaving is for women. Real men wear beards.

Esmagamus in reply to JakeTobakMar 21, 2011. 1:02 PM

Married men do. But single?

Gage987 in reply to JakeTobakDec 20, 2009. 7:57 PM

Yeah.
Real OLD men wear beards.

fenris in reply to JakeTobakMay 2, 2008. 8:44 PM

JakeTobaksays:
"Shaving is for women. Real men wear beards." I agree with the second part of that, and I know I am in the minority in these oh-so-enlightened days, but I would simply delete the first sentence of Jake's post and modify the second to say, 'Real people don't shave anything, nor cut their hair either.' (I look just like my avatar, and you can bet your *** I am not about to change that.)

tippmannphreak in reply to JakeTobakOct 21, 2007. 5:29 PM

(removed by author or community request)

looking4ideas in reply to tippmannphreakJan 26, 2008. 2:38 PM

WTF? LOL

ker-boom101 in reply to tippmannphreakDec 28, 2007. 12:18 PM

lol

Tool Using Animal in reply to JakeTobakJun 3, 2007. 7:00 PM

Damn straight!

mattface in reply to Tool Using AnimalJun 25, 2007. 7:45 AM

i hated beards, but then they grew on me

bowmaster in reply to mattfaceSep 3, 2007. 5:18 PM

LOL

Cryptonat in reply to mattfaceJul 5, 2007. 8:08 PM

Beards RULE! But unfortunately my jobs says I have to shave.... I can't even have a neatly trimmed beard. *cries*

fenris in reply to CryptonatMay 2, 2008. 8:46 PM

If you sit still for that, then you don't deserve any better treatment than that. Try standing up on your hind legs once. You might find you like it.

texabyte in reply to CryptonatOct 29, 2007. 6:46 PM

I would quit that job or tell your boss it's your face not his

Cryptonat in reply to texabyteFeb 12, 2008. 8:32 AM

Well, when your job is an apprentice jeweler, you have to be clean. I get away with a goatee and mustache though. I'm lucky to have that.

texabyte in reply to CryptonatFeb 12, 2008. 10:25 AM

cool job

Cryptonat in reply to texabyteFeb 12, 2008. 4:04 PM

Hey, thanks.

Firebert010 in reply to texabyteFeb 11, 2008. 5:35 PM

Many establishments have the same rule. Customers tend to think you're cleaner when cleanly shaven.

lewisz says: Jan 18, 2011. 7:36 AM

im a teen whos never shaved before and school starts in a few weeks. truthfuly, i don't know the rules to shaving. how long will can a disposable razor be used for? how frequently should i shave? can i use someone elses razors? and how much presaure should i put on the razor? the subject makes me very nervos because my younger brother has started shaveing and everyone expects me to know how to do itand i don't. and i don't know what to do if i cut my self. please help

SecretGuideToShaving says: Oct 24, 2010. 4:58 PM

I got a shaving instructable too:
http://www.instructables.com/id/So-you-want-an-old-fashioned-double-edged-safety-r/

zamirii says: Jun 18, 2010. 4:38 PM

i find that shaving against the grain gives a closer shave. It doesn't matter all that much which razor you get, the fusion or whatever you like. What I will recommend is the ones that vibrate. the vibes give a closer shave and i get a decent one whether I take my time or even just use water like i tend to do when i'm running late for work.

jakee117 says: Nov 27, 2007. 4:43 AM

im thirteen and 5 minuites ago I shaved for the first time ... then I found this would have been helpful then... but I just used a razor, nothing else, and it turned out fine thank you for the help for an ignorant teenager !! lol

The Landon in reply to jakee117Feb 17, 2010. 5:50 PM

haha same situation here

BigD145 says: Jun 4, 2007. 4:27 PM

I've heard that using warm water to rinse is a bad idea. Your blade swells and you lose the sharpest edge. I don't know any studies on this, it's just what I've heard.

sumguysr in reply to BigD145Aug 22, 2008. 8:07 PM

I've found that if my rinse water is either too cold or too warm my blade just sort of rubs instead of cutting. I usually run both hot and cold water with more cold than hot.

garrettmikesmith in reply to BigD145Feb 18, 2008. 9:31 PM

it's true. and cold water closes pores, reducing ingrown hairs

bowman says: Apr 3, 2008. 4:20 PM

I didn't realize shaving was an issue that needed instruction. Especially when we consider the caliber of people here. Nice job anyway!

Tecno says: Mar 23, 2008. 4:57 PM

Man i followed the instructions perfectall but i cut myself!

Erik Lindemann says: Jun 3, 2007. 12:58 PM

Yeah, I've tried using this "proper shaving technique" in the beginning of my shaving life. I've since found that that gives me a pretty piss poor shave seeing as all the hairs on the bottom of your face don't point in the same direction. I say for the best shave you gotta shave towards your chin at all points of your face. This works for me because it seems that all the hairs on my face point outward from that point.

garrettmikesmith in reply to Erik LindemannFeb 18, 2008. 9:34 PM

wow, i just noticed that

chuckr44 says: Jan 18, 2008. 1:13 PM

You didn't mention that moist heat makes the hairs softer and more easily shaved, which is why some people shave in the shower, while their facial hairs (or other hairs) are soft from the hot water. Also, I did try that 5 blade Fusion razor, got a freebie in the mail. It really does work well, not that I would buy their overpriced blades. But, there you go, it works really well. You do not get more cuts the first few times you use the razor with 5 blades either. After how many shaves does one toss their old blad and get a new one? I use mine about 30 shaves, that's the max. When the razor starts to pull the hairs more than cut them, it's time for a new razor.

KentsOkay says: Dec 25, 2007. 6:56 AM

Hmm, any advice on shaving chest/body hair? I tried shaving it and got a bleeding nipple, OMS THAT HURT!!!

jakee117 says: Nov 27, 2007. 4:46 AM

thank you westfw also for the help to a first time13 year old kid learning how to shave!!! ha ha

Sunbanks says: Nov 22, 2007. 9:36 PM

I think you should make an instructable about how to shave legs and you should demonstrate it. That would be fun to see.

rerat says: Jun 3, 2007. 2:48 PM

I'm growing my beard now, but can anyone make up a straight razor shaving Instructable? I like being..different, making colognes, printing t-shirts, ya know.

105

trebuchet03 in reply to reratJun 3, 2007. 4:11 PM

haha.... being different by shaving with a straight blade :p I wouldn't necessarily call that "different" as much as I'd call it eccentric or "old" :D Other than an instructable... Go to a barber shop and ask for a shave -- they'll do a straight blade shave. Then, pay close attention to what they do.