Barbershop Blog

THE SMOOTH CRIMINAL

August 23, 2019

Father’s Day is fast approaching on September 1st and we have loads of great gift ideas with razors, balms and oils that will all get dad looking and feeling his best. A great option is a traditional shaving kit or a high quality razor. With that said we’re not all Sweetie Todd so how will dad go about wielding his new weapon? Let’s take a walk through the process.

The Shaving Process - Shaving Brush

The first step in the process is to open up and relax your pores, soften your facial hair and lift the follicles up away from the skin so they are easier to trim. Begin by washing your face with plenty of warm water, the moist heat lays the foundation for a smooth shave with reduced irritation.

Next we need to lather wherever the razor will touch the skin, this will reduce razor friction and prevent razor burn. Rub your shaving cream or gel between your hands and then apply liberally to the face. Be sure to apply against to grain so you don’t inadvertently press down the facial hair. The best results will be achieved with the use of shaving brush, the brush will enable you to work the lather into your hair follicles, which will further lift them away from your skin.

Hold your razor comfortably and draw the blade across your skin with a little pressure, not too much, let the the blade do the work. Always shave with the grain, some areas may not grow strait up and down so feel with your fingers and then follow with the blade for the best shave.

Use your free hand to pull the skin taught and create smooth surfaces for the blade to cross. It may take more than one pass over an area to get it clean and that is fine, aim for longer clean motions and not short sharp strokes as this can increase the chance of the blade catching and cause cuts.

Once satisfied, you can double check with your fingertips to feel if you have missed any patches, the touch will reveal any areas not fully cleaned.

Rinse your face well with cold water and dry with a clean towel before applying an aftershave and or moisturiser. The cold water and the aftershave both work to close your pores and help prevent any rash or blemishes. A moisturiser will help to soothe and settle any irritation as well as counter the drying effects of the alcohol found in most aftershaves.

Ask our staff in store if you have any uncertainties or would like information on our wide range of grooming tools and products, they are the true masters of the craft and will be happy to help in every way. They can show you the right tools for the job, recommend the products that work best and can help you choose that perfect gift for dad.

Don’t forget that we also sell gift vouchers, the perfect way to let dad choose himself.

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