Achieving a great shave is essential. Not only does it look great, but it should make me feel fantastic, too and ready to face the day. While using an electric razor should be child’s play for most of us, there are a few crucial tips for getting the most out of any shaver of this type.
The first thing to note is that electric shavers have come on in leaps and bounds over the last couple of decades. Once the poor cousin of the reliable wet shave, electric razors are now pretty efficient and give a really close shave.
If you’ve never used one before and wondering how to actually make the best use of an electric razor, make a note of these simple tips and you will end up with a perfect electric shave every morning.
1. Pick a Good Quality Electric Shaver
As with any product on the market, opting for quality and paying that little bit extra goes a long way. A cheap electric shaver will generally deliver a substandard finish. That’s why it’s essential to take your time and check out what each brand brings to the table and do your research.
The first thing you’ll need to be aware of is the shaving action. The first is an electric shaver that has three rotating blades. This is the traditional design and has been around since the sixties and seventies, first popularised by Philips. Shavers usually come with a trimmer for a much closer finish.
The second uses the foil and straight blade design which is more common with brands like Braun. It is the type of electric shaver that glides smoothly over your face and is excellent at handling contours.
Both types of the electric shaver are relatively easy to keep clean and maintain. What you do need to consider is what flexibility you are looking for. If you want to trim down a beard, for example, the straight blade gives you a lot more control.
There are also electric shavers that can be used in the shower as wet shavers. These are great if you want the convenience of a wet shave combined with the simplicity of an electric shaver.
2. Check Out the Instructions and Any Online Tips
There are lots of different products on the market nowadays, and not all of them are well-known brands like Philips or Braun. Exploring different brands is a good idea, but we always advise that you read the instructions carefully. These often provide important hints and tips that will help you achieve a much smoother shave and make the most of your device.
3. Just Got Up? Don’t Shave Straight Away
You know how it is, you stumble out of bed ready for a busy day, and you reach straight for the razor. When we’ve first woken up, however, it’s the worst time to get rid of that stubble. Your face will be a little puffy, and the pores will be closed, and you’ll probably end up with a five o’clock shadow and sore skin.
It’s much better to leave things for about 15 minutes before you start getting into your morning grooming routine. Sit down, have a nice cup of coffee and relax for a bit. You’ll find that you face relaxes and becomes less puffy and your pores open a bit more. That makes it much easier to get a close finish with an electric shaver on facial hair. This holds true even to your gorgeous partner using a lady shaver
4. Prepping Your Skin for a Close Shave
The one thing that many people forget to do is get their face ready for a shave. We’re often in a hurry and don’t think about prepping the skin. Doing this can help you get a closer, smoother finish and means you don’t have to reach for your electric shaver halfway through the day.
The simplest and most effective thing to do is splash warm water over your face. This gives the pores a chance to open and is especially important on cold winter days. If you have more time, using a pre-shave lotion which will remove any oil that may be on your face. It certainly makes the electric shaver more efficient.
People who wet shave don’t have this problem because they are already adding shaving gel, oil or cream, which automatically preps the surface of the skin. There are some quality pre-shave lotions and creams out there and having one in your bathroom cabinet is vital if you always want the best finish.
5. What’s the Best Shaving Technique?
Shaving technique is often dictated by the type of electric shaver that you have. A shaver with rotating blades works better with a circular motion as you cover the face. The straight blade shaver uses a more traditional straight up and down shaving motion that you get with a razor.
Where you can, try to shave against the growth of the hair to get the best effect. Other factors can affect your shave, and it’s important to experiment. You may have thicker hair, for example, so sweeping several times over the same spot will get the best results. Most electric shavers for men provide good against the grain pressure reducing stress on the skin and providing you sensitive yet powerful strokes with ever pass.
6. Keep Your Electric Shaver in Tip-Top Condition
Like any modern device, making sure you maintain your electric shaver is also essential. That means cleaning it out after every shave, something which will ensure that you improve the life expectancy of the foil for as long as possible. You can find dedicated cleaning stations that do all this for you, but most shavers come with a cleaning brush to get rid of hairs stuck in the mechanism.
You should monitor the quality of your shave, and when the results start to become dull or less effective, it’s probably time to change the foil. For most devices, this is relatively simple to do.
7. Finish With a Soothing Balm
Once you’ve finished your shave and feel happy with the results, it’s not the end of things. As with wet shaving, your face may feel a little sore after a close shave. Using a moisturising and soothing balm will help remove any redness and leave you feeling smooth and refreshed.
If you are more used to a wet shave, switching to an electric shaver can seem a little challenging at first. With the right technique and a quality shaver, however, you should find that you get just as smooth a finish that lasts all day. The great thing about electric shavers is that you can also carry them around with you and use whenever you need to.
FAQs
- Are you supposed to use shaving cream with an electric razor? The short answer is Yes, Even the cheapest electric shaver in the market will provide you decent enough shave with a cream.
- Is it better to shave wet or dry with an electric razor? Dry shave or wet shaver argument is similar to the proverbial boxers or briefs debate. Comes down to personal preference, really! Whether you have opted for a foil shaver or a rotary shaver, it is always recommended to do some prep work for a closer shave; to ensure you are not puffy and to unblock pores.
- How do you get a close shave with an electric razor? A thorough prep work combined with a slow but firm pressured strokes against the grain works every single time. Multiple but similar strokes help or else you might risk overdoing it, causing shave rashes.