How to achieve a perfect, pain-free shave…

The perfect shave?

It’s something 75% of men do on a daily basis and yet only 1% of us enjoy doing it. It’s time consuming, costly and can cause ingrown hairs and razor burn and it is quite literally, a pain in the neck. So why do you go through this horrendous ritual each day and why, after all these years, have you not found a way of shaving that is fast, enjoyable and pain-free?

If you think about it, the reason is really quite obvious. You had lessons before passing your driving test and you had lessons to pass your exams, but were you ever taught to shave properly? No?

There’s a common misconception amongst men that a good shave is when you put a blob of shaving foam on your face and you shave as close as possible, but scraping your face to oblivion with a razor blade and some foam is actually the cause of why you hate shaving, and the reason you’re suffering from pain and redness.

A great shave, like any process, requires a system. I prefer to call it a shaving regime because it’s a simple series of steps which you put together in the morning shower. It’s so simple, you can master it in just a few days and transform the way you look forever. All you have to do is remember to follow it, step by step, every day.

The first step takes place only once and this step will make the most noticeable difference to your shave. It requires you to examine your beard growth and figure out which direction each area grows. Go on, have a feel. Rubbing your beard in one direction will feel rough and stubbly. This means you are rubbing your hand against the growth. When you rub it in a different direction, it feels smoother and this means you’re rubbing it in the same direction as the growth. Remember which direction it grows in each section of your beard.

For the perfect shave, you will shave with the beard growth, not against it.

The shave begins with hot water and of course, the shower is a perfect source for this. Hot water softens down your beard hairs making them easier to shave so if you’re not planning to shave in the shower, make sure you splash plenty of hot water onto your face before you begin.

The next step will require the use of a scrub. Use about a teaspoon of scrub and use it to scrub your face, particularly in the area you’re going to shave. This will help remove old and dead skin and create a smooth canvas for shaving.

Rinse off the scrub with hot water and rub a quality shave cream into the beard. Unlike most foams, shave creams soften the hair and condition your skin. Take a sharp triple blade razor and shave in the same direction as your hair grows. Stretch your skin behind the razor to ensure it is taut and shave each area only once. Give it a quick check to ensure you didn’t miss any bits out.

When you’re done, splash your face with cold water and pat dry with a towel. Then apply a small amount of moisturising balm to your face.

Your shave is complete. It’s a simple regime which is fast, effective and painless.

Related products: Jason Shankey Exfoliating Face and Scalp Scrub £11.99, Smoothing Shave Cream £11.99 and Skin Soothing Moisture Balm £11.99. Available at jasonshankey.com/shop.php.

Grab your FREE E-book to achieve a pain-free shave at http://painfreeshave.com.

Halloween – The change in your skin

Halloween is best known for its association with ghosts and ghouls, but not so much about Male Grooming. But this is the time of year when the darker evenings and colder weather wreak havoc on your skin.

Constantly going in and out of buildings with central heating, and the colder outside air confuses your skin’s protective mantle and can lead to dryness, chapping and flaky skin.

There’s a few ways to overcome the skin problems associated with this time of year. Firstly, make sure you stay well hydrated. We recommend drinking at least two litres of water per day, and this can be either plain water or infused with a flavour such as tea.

Make sure you use a facial scrub at least weekly or twice weekly. This will remove the dry flaky skin and help encourage the circulation up to the surface of your skin (something the cold air reverses).

Finally, use a moisturiser daily. This doesn’t just put moisture back into your skin, it also acts as a protective barrier against the colder climate helping to trap in moisture which otherwise would have been lost.

Looking after your skin in the colder climate will help you look your best, anfd therefore feel your best. So don’t delay, stock up on your winter skincare essentials now.

I (obviously) recommend Jason Shankey Expert Exfoliating Face and Scalp Scrub and Skin Soothing Moisture balm, both available at www.jasonshankey.co.uk.

For further details about Jason Shankey Expert, see our Expert site at www.jasonshankey.com/expert.