A Guide To Getting The Closest Possible Shave

Many of us started shaving when we were pre-teens but still can’t get the perfect close shave. While many say that practice makes perfect, we’ve concluded that only a few secrets can get us to perfection.

Trying to get a close shave without nicking your skin and causing irritation can seem impossible at times. Even after decades of shaving, many men and women can’t perfect a smooth finish every single shave.

Many factors determine how close and smooth your shave can turn out. If you are interested in knowing how to get the closest possible shave, read below for our go-to guide.

Assess Your Skin

Inflamed, bumpy, and tender skin areas will only become more irritated once you shave. It is essential to assess your skin condition before you shave to determine whether you should be shaving at all.

Avoid a cycle of pain and possible infections by leaving areas that look suspicious alone for a while. You can go back and shave that area after a few days or weeks when it is looking good enough for a smooth shave.

Use Your Free Hand

Pull your skin with your free hand before each shaving stroke to reveal more hair. Slight pulling at the skin pulls the root closer to the surface, thus exposing more hair and resulting in a closer shave than usual.

Take A Shower

Opening up your pores with steam from the hot water will soften the hairs on your body. When the hairs are softer, this means shaving will be much easier as the surface is lubricated enough to minimize razor trauma.

Applying ample shaving cream will also help hydrate your skin further for a shave. Shaving cream can be helpful for many areas besides the face, so it is worth investing in yourself too, ladies.

Don’t Pick

Ingrown hairs, bumps, and scabs may be unpleasant to look at, but picking at them only makes them worse. Dab a cortisone cream on the area for no more than two weeks, so it is smooth by your next shave.

Immediately Treat Irritated Skin

If you notice that a patch of skin is red or irritated after a shave, treat it immediately. You can use a gel lotion that contains calendula or aloe vera to soothe the skin before it flares up any further.

Placing a cool cloth over the irritated area also works to get immediate relief before applying a treatment lotion. An over-the-counter cortisone lotion is also fantastic for treating irritation and redness after shaving.