- Clean the blades and the screen covering the blades regularly. Each brand of electric razor is different, so consult your particular razor's instruction manual to learn how to remove the screen and the blades. The purpose is to keep both the screen and blades free from a buildup of whiskers. An electric razor is only effective when the cutting mechanism can cleanly cut through facial hair. Check the manual for recommendations on how often to change the screen and blades.
- Clean your face with soap and water to get the best possible shave with an electric razor. This will remove facial oils that can gunk up the razor. Dry your face afterward. You can avoid the problem of dry skin by using a pre-shave lotion. Some of these lotions also help by thickening the whiskers, so they stand out from the skin and make cutting easier.
- Get the closest possible shave with an electric razor by going against the grain of your facial hair. Sometimes it is difficult to tell the direction of the grain just by looking at it, so the most effective method is to run your fingers over your face. The direction of the grain may change from one area of the face to another, so be prepared to change directions with the razor. When using a rotary-type electric razor, make circular movements in the direction that goes generally against the grain.
- A clean electric razor with sharp blades should require little pressure to effectively cut whiskers. While applying more pressure may seem like a logical way to get a closer shave, the result is likely to be razor burn. If you find yourself needing to press the razor hard against your face to remove growth, that is a sign that the blades and/or screen need cleaning. Another sign of a dirty razor is the necessity to go over the same area more than once to remove the hair.
