Modern Gents Trust The Old School

As fashions change and trends come and go, some traditions remain. Those traditions stick primarily because they are effective. Male grooming is such a tradition, granted elements of this have been blown way out of proportion by corporations cashing in on people’s vanity. I am not suggesting ‘guy-liner’, tinted moisturiser or eye roll ons are a tradition that we all need to get involved in. However there are a few I think we should all embrace, the main one being the wet shave.

Store brushes upside down to preserve the bristles

This process is the original form of male grooming and doesn't have to involve a trip to seek out a barber shop near you when you can achieve those same results at home. The secret to a real shave involves acquiring three pieces of equipment; a good quality brush, shaving foam and a decent razor. Once you have these there are three simple steps to follow.

Step one: Preparation

Try to shave after a shower. The hot water and steam will soften the beard and open pores which both lend to a much closer shave with less chance of cuts and irritation.

When applying the cream use the badger brush to raise the hairs as much as possible. Avoid using creams with menthol as these tend to stiffen hair and close pores, neither of which are desired effects.

Step two: Shaving

Dull blades = razor burn, not pretty. I know they cost way too much but when that little green line of whatever they claim it is has gone, your blade is starting to become dull and will not perform well. You don’t need the latest 8 blade vibrating razor, just a decent, sharp one.

Avoid applying too much pressure, it is better to pull skin tight and shave smoothly over the skin. Rinse your blade often as stubble quickly clogs up the blades. If you have a longer beard to be removed shave with the grain first, re lather and go against the grain the second time. This will take longer but gives a better result with much less chance of cuts.

Step three: Protect

Close your pores with very cold water and pat your face dry, don’t rub. Get over your hang ups and use a non alcohol based moisturiser or balm to help the skin heal. It’s not camp to moisturise after you just dragged a sharp blade across your face, it is sensible!

That’s it. Three steps and you can be barbershop smooth in no time.