In recent years, it’s become more popular to sport a bit of facial hair. However, beards haven’t completely taken over and the majority of us still prefer to go clean shaven.

Despite our love for going clean shaven, many of us still struggle to achieve the perfect clean shave.

Instead of baby-like smooth skin, a lot of us end up with patchy stubble or razor burn. To help you finally achieve that perfect clean shave, here are just a few great tips.

Shower First

It’s worth taking a shower first or even shaving in the shower while your face is wet. Washing your face with hot water will help to soften the hair, allowing the razor to glide more easily and helping you to get a closer shave.

Washing your face first also helps to remove dead skin cells, oil and dirt that could get in the way as you shave. For maximum results, use exfoliation products such as a face scrub to help remove this dirt and dead skin.

Use Shaving Foam

While some people prefer to shave dry, it often increases the risk of skin irritation. Shaving foam provides a lather, which helps the razor to glide across the skin. For this reason, it’s worth applying shaving cream when aiming for a close shave.

There are lots of different shaving creams on the market. Most creams will have the same impact when it comes to helping you to shave better. The difference often comes in the skin nourishing effects and scent – some shaving foams help to nourish the skin and act as an aftershave themselves.

Don’t Go Against The Grain

You may not have noticed it, but your facial hair flows in a certain direction. When shaving, it’s best to go with the flow rather than shaving against the direction of the hairs. If you go against the grain, you’re more likely to irritate the skin. Shaving in the direction that the hair is growing is much more likely to reduce razor burn.

Not sure what direction your hair grows in? It could be worth letting your facial hair grow for a bit. This will help you to see what direction hairs are all going in.

Stay Slow And Smooth

You should take your time when shaving. If you rush it and try to use sharp strokes, you’re more likely to nick yourself. Treat it as a time-consuming part of your morning routine and not something you can do in twenty seconds.

On top of this, you should try to keep the pressure smooth. Applying hard pressure will increase the risk of cutting yourself and could cause the blades to get blunt more quickly. Light pressure is often all that’s needed to help you razor glide over the skin.

Take Care With Sensitive Skin

Some people have particularly sensitive skin. When using a razor on this skin, you may want to consider specialist shaving foam and even a slower shaving technique to eliminate the risk of cuts or rashes. If you regularly come out in rashes, make sure that it’s not the shaving cream or metal in the razor that you are allergic to.

WashThe Razor Between Strokes

In order to make sure that the blades on your razor are cutting efficiently, you should wash your razor between each stroke. If you don’t do this, then foam, hair and oils from the skin will build up, which will get in the way of the blades when shaving. Rinse the razor with warm water for best results. Take time to thoroughly clean the razor after each use.

Know When To Replace Your Blades

Blades on a razor will eventually become blunt with repeat use. Disposable razors can last anywhere from 3 to 10 shaves, before they need to be replaced. If you’re using a razor with replaceable blades, you’ll likely need to change the blades within 5 to 7 shaves.

A razor with replaceable blades could work out more economical, as well as more eco-friendly. It’s a bit more of an initial investment, but it’s worth the added benefits.

Consider Upgrading To A Straight Razor

A straight razor can offer a much cleaner shave than other razors. While at first it can seem intimidating shaving with what essentially looks like a scalpel, the risk of seriously cutting yourself is very low providing that you use the right technique. This technique involves holding the razor at a 30-degree angle from the face and cutting slowly.

There are a number of straight razors on the market. These come in an array of different materials including stainless steel and carbon steels. You can learn more about the best straight razor kits for beginners here. At first, it’s worth avoiding straight razors aimed at experienced straight razor users, as these tend to be sharper – wait until you‘ve tried out a beginner kit first. These kits are likely to contain other necessary equipment to help with your shave.

Consider Upgrading To An Electric Shaver

Some people prefer electric shavers to traditional razors. With a decent electric shaver, you can guarantee a close shave. The shaving technique with these razors is very different of course – rather than wetting your face and applying shaving cream, you’re better off shaving dry with an electric shaver. For those that make the leap from traditional razors to electric shavers, it can take a while for the skin to adjust to the new shaving method, so expect some irritation at first.

Electric shavers tend to use one of two mechanisms – rotary and foil. Of the two mechanisms, foil shavers tend to be the best for achieving a close shave, while rotary shavers tend to be better at beard sculpting. Foil shavers are also easier to clean than their counterparts.

It’s worth reading reviews of foil shavers to find the best option for you. Sticking with well-known brands can often guarantee quality, however these do tend to be the most expensive shavers.