How To

How to Shave Your Face

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By eHow Contributing Writer
(120 Ratings)
Shave Your Face
Shave Your Face

Shaving not only makes a man look well groomed, but younger, too. When you shave, you're exfoliating the skin by getting rid of dead cells. Here's how to do it correctly.

Difficulty: Moderate
Instructions

Things You'll Need:

  1. Step 1

    Wet your face with warm water. You may want to hold a wet washcloth to your beard for a few minutes to soften the skin.

  2. Step 2

    Fill the sink basin halfway with water.

  3. Step 3

    Get out a new razor, or replace the used blade in your regular razor.

  4. Step 4

    Squirt a dollop of shaving cream into your hand or shake out shaving powder, and apply it to your beard in upward circular motions. The amount may vary depending on the thickness of your beard, but the area to be shaved should be covered uniformly.

  5. Step 5

    Shave downward, the way your whiskers grow, from your sideburns toward your mandible using long, even strokes. Apply light but firm pressure, pulling your skin taut before each stroke.

  6. Step 6

    Rinse your razor with warm water after every stroke or two to keep it from getting clogged with hair.

  7. Step 7

    Shave the area around your chin. Shave upward as necessary to make the area smooth. When shaving under your chin, pull the razor from your throat area toward your chin.

  8. Step 8

    Shave your upper lip, keeping the skin tight by curling your lip over your front teeth.

  9. Step 9

    Wash off any excess shaving cream and examine your face for straggling hairs. Check the edge of your jaw, around your ears, and near your lips and nostrils for missed hairs. Go back with the razor to shave any hairs you missed.

  10. Step 10

    Drain and wash out the basin and apply cold water or aftershave as desired.

Tips & Warnings
  • If you cut yourself, touch the wound with a styptic pencil. The bleeding will stop, but it does sting slightly.
  • Shave as often or as rarely as you feel you need it.
  • Double-blade razors give a closer shave than single-blade but are harsher on the skin. You may want to experiment with both.
  • If you use an electric shaver, follow the manufacturer's instructions.
  • Be sure to use a sharp, new blade; dull ones tend to cause the most mishaps.

Comments  

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lordkhomar said

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on 6/19/2009 Wow, there's always somebody who has to spam an articles comments. Anyway, good article, thanks for the tips.

niellste said

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on 6/5/2009 good advice like ur use of photos i have similar article if u wanna check it out

Ginfu said

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on 11/23/2008 Good advice...for pubic shaving too(i know someone will stumble upon this while searching for the right way shave pubes). Best advice: Trim with trimmers or clippers before you get in the shower. After you finish washing up body in shower, expose you pelvis/face to the hot(not scolding hot, but slightly stinging...you know that "perfect hot" that's hard to get...that's just between scolding hot and warm, yeah that hot) shower and let it stay there for about 3min. Don't be impatient because it's well worth it(especially if you're black). If skin is sensitive, buy sensitive skin shaving gel...i use this http://www.healthinajiffy.co.uk/images/gillette%20mini%20gel%20sens.jpg
Shave with light pressure but shave briskly. Periodically feel around where you've shave to check if it's low enough for you, if not don't be afraid to go back over it. After you're done, do cold water and after-s

KenMartyn said

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on 7/19/2008 Shaving can be a personal thing. I used to suffer from sensitive skin shaving issues until I figured out my own personal shaving system. I suspect individuals have to find what works for them. I am promoting My Favorite Shaving System at my website. I discuss the 3 quick and simple steps in an article here:

http://www.myfavoriteshavingsystem.com/article1.htm

hoffi said

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on 8/26/2007 time and time again i see articles on how to shave and they all miss parts of the process out. the art of shaving is dying away. seems the passing down of skills from father to son is dying which is a shame but i guess another article all in itself. i won a male grooming salon in london, www.hoffi.co.uk. i trained over 18 yrs ago and spend much of my time showing men how to do this most basic of grooming services. its not as hard as it appears and the most basic elements are these. soften the beard well. hot towel placed over the entire face excluding the nostrels and mouth, the reason for the whole face being covered is that the entire face and therefore the body temp will rise in order to open pores and soften the hair. nest use a good razor. the mach 3 style is good but if u want an amazing shave and arent skilled in cut throat razors then use the next style, the mushroom shaped safet

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