10 Tips for a Smooth, Close Shave

America’s least favorite pastime: shaving. Whether you’re shaving just your face or the whole enchilada (legs, arms, back, etc), we can all agree shaving is more of a chore than a hobby. It can also be especially painful when you aren’t using the correct tools, shaving cream, or techniques.

Luckily, we’re here to address your top shaving concerns with ten super helpful shaving tips, to make the whole experience a little less daunting – and perhaps even more enjoyable! We’ll help your skin feel a lot calmer, more hydrated, and infinitely smoother. Keep reading below for our top shaving tips!

1. Slow down

   Channel your inner tortoise for this one, using their mantra of slow and steady. This tip seems obvious enough – but it’s hard to slow down when you’re trying to power through a task that you’re not super thrilled about. When rushing through shaving you’re more likely to slip, resulting in nicks on skin and even fingernails, while significantly upping your risk for razor burn. Ouch! If you find this tip difficult to pull off, try putting on your favorite podcast before starting your shaving session, to help you mellow out while listening and multitasking.

2. Go with the grain

   Just like wood, your skin has a “grain” to it. No amount of shaving cream is going to help when you’re shaving against the natural direction of your hair growth. Shaving against the grain will increase your chances of dreaded razor burn, as well as ingrown hairs and unsightly bumps.

3. Shower first, shave second

   Our skin needs moisture and craves warmth. By showering first before applying shaving cream, you’ll be setting your skin up for shaving success. The extra water and warm temps help to open up your skin’s pores, exposing the hairs better which make it easier to get the closest shave possible. Showering first also ensures that your skin will be free of dirt, oil, and impurities – which you won’t want hanging around when your pores are exposed during shaving.

4. Exfoliate for fewer bumps

   The results of a poorly performed shaving session are razor bumps and ingrown hairs. This shaving woe is super common in the bikini area and beards. Help fight bumps and ingrown hairs by taking the time to exfoliate first, to eliminate any buildup of dead skin cells on the skin before applying shaving gel. This pre-shave addition will help stop the hairs from popping out, as they take a proverbial U-turn back into your follicles. You can use the antioxidant rich Acai Pulp Facial Scrub, a DIY body scrub of your own, or even opt for a stimulating coffee scrub to exfoliate pre-shave.

5. Lightly press

   When it comes to holding sharp razor blades against your skin, GENTLE is the name of the game. While it might seem like a good idea to press down (to get a closer shave), it’s actually doing more harm than good. When you press too hard with the razor, you’re setting yourself up for more irritation or an extremely painful nick. So when gliding that razor across your skin, use a light touch!

6. Rinse, shave, repeat

   Just like The Karate Kid learned from Mr. Miyagi, there is a repetitive process to all things – and the art of shaving is no different. To get the best possible shave: after applying shaving cream, take one short gentle swipe of the razor. Rinse the razor completely in warm water, then take another gentle, short swipe. Swipe on, rinse off, swipe on, rise off, and so on. By making sure you rinse off the shaving cream after every pass, you’ll have a cleaner blade with no shaving cream or hairy buildup and a less patchy shave job.

7. Use effective tools

   We love to squeeze the very last bit out of ALL our products – but there comes a point when you’re simply using an old, bad tool. Depending on how often you shave, you’ll need to replace your razor blade about every five to eight shaving sessions. Remember: a razor blade needs to be sharp in order to NOT cause skin irritation.

8. Use good shaving cream

   What does it take to be a ‘good’ shaving cream? Well, the first requirement is to be a natural shaving cream: made without drying fragrances, synthetic ingredients, or alcohol. The second must is that your shaving cream is chock full of skin beneficial ingredients. Bonus qualities of the perfect shaving cream are that it’s rich, creamy, and not foamy (full of air). You’re looking for the Goldilocks of shaving cream, where a little goes a long way, and the formula can actually benefit your skin.

   Thankfully, your search is over: we’ve got the best shaving cream for any shave job. Our unsung hero, Pink Grapefruit Seaweed Shaving Cream is a super emollient formula that allows for the closest shave ever! Formulated with real seaweed and three moisturizing oils (sea buckthorn, argan, and coconut), our natural shaving cream will leave your skin baby soft. Additions of green tea and natural herbs work to protect your delicate skin, while a boost of energizing citrus essential oils uplift your senses. Yep – pretty sure this one qualifies as more than ‘good’!

9. Practice proper angles

   To avoid nicks and gouges, start by holding your razor at a ninety-degree angle then slowly angle down to about a forty-five-degree angle. This will help keep your skin safe while shaving!

10. Apply Argan oil first

    If you’ve got days (or weeks) of regrowth needing a trim, try applying a lightweight oil like argan oil before you shave. Applying this oil post cleanse and pre-shave can help to soften hair and lubricate the cuticle, for a closer, more effective shave and a hydrating leg up for your shaving cream.

When shaving your legs…

Make sure to be generous with your shaving cream, applying a thick layer to make the shaving experience easier and smoother.

When shaving your underarms…

Pull your skin taut with your other hand to help get a closer shave. Only pass the razor over your sensitive armpit area one to two times, to avoid skin irritation.

When shaving your bikini area…

Always start with moistened skin and a generous amount of shaving cream. Work from the outside in with short, even strokes.

When shaving your face…

If you’re starting with a substantial beard hair, first use clippers to trim down the hair before using a razor – this will help to avoid quickly dulling and clogging your razor.

Now that you’ve got a few new shaving tips and tricks up your sleeve, you’ll be able to tackle your next shaving session with ease, grace, and a skin-softening shaving cream. Say goodbye to those annoying little pieces of toilet paper – soon you’ll be nick-free and super smooth!