A Shaving Tweak – Wash My Face Before I Shave

You would think by the time a man (me) reaches 50-years-old, he would’ve figured out how to shave. Well, like I always say … always room for improvement. The biggest thing is … my neck. It’s nearly always irritated.

I’ve tried various things over the years. Things like Harry’s Razors (cheap) and replacing the blade weekly. I’ve tried all the Harry’s products. I currently use the Gillette Fusion5. I’ve shaved at night. I’ve shaved in the morning. I’ve used a hot towel and pre-shave balm. Cold water shave? Hot water shave? Electric shave. I’ve tried it all.

One of my go-to turn-my-brain-off YouTube Channels is Doctorly – because I’m vain. We’ve discussed this many times. Anyway, they had an episode pop into my algorithm about shaving like a dermatologist. The revelation? Wash my face and neck before I shave. Luke warm water. Just super quick. I use Nivea’s Facewash for Men.

Then, I use their recommended Aveeno Moisturizing Shave Cream (I was already using this) and, probably the best tip of all . . . I now delicately shave – versus pressing the blade hard against my skin. Duh! Of course. As they explained . . .

When you use those five-blade razors, they lift and cut and lift and cut five times and can be very hard on your skin. Taking off a layer of skin. Shave using light pressure and shave in short, gentle strokes.

That’s not an exact quote, but pretty close.

I’ve also always overlapped rows as I shave and … that’s another shaving sin. The way I was doing it, I passed the blade over already-shaved spots at least three times.

So here’s the new routine and tips followed by the loooooong in-depth explanation.

• Shave every 36-hours (instead of every 24 hours if you can still pass as clean-shaven at 36 hours)
• Wash face and neck with warm (not hot) water right before shaving.
• Use Aveeno shave cream
• Gently pull the blade top-down on the cheeks and face and down-up on the neck
• Do not double shave any surface (unless at the end you feel your face and you really did “miss a spot”)
• Change blade once a month (with the 36-hour regimine, it means you’re getting approximately 20 shaves out of a single blade)
• Shower afterward or rinse your face and neck with water only (you just used facewash, shaving cream, and a blade . . . be gentle)
• Maybe about an hour later after you shave and you’ve let your face/neck rest … maybe apply a gentle moisturizer

There you go. I turn 53 this week and maybe (maybe) I’m still getting better – even if it’s just about shaving and my face.