• Skin Care

How to Properly Shave Your Face

Medically reviewed and edited by Suzanne Biggs, FNP-C

Whether you’re new to shaving your face or a complete pro, mastering the right shaving technique is important. But it’s not something many people pay attention to.

Shaving properly can make a world of difference, as the right techniques ensure a close shave and smooth finish. 

It can also help to protect your skin from irritation, razor burn, and ingrown hairs — which are unpleasant and uncomfortable. 

In this article, we’ll guide you through the essential steps for achieving the perfect shave without uncomfortable problems like irritation and cuts.

Why is it Important to Shave Facial Hair Correctly?

Shaving your facial hair correctly is important for several reasons, including skin health, appearance, and overall comfort. 

Here are some reasons why you should pay attention to the way you shave:

• Preventing irritation and razor burn: Shaving incorrectly can lead to skin irritation, redness, and razor burn. Using the right techniques and products can minimize these problems and keep your skin smooth and comfortable.

• Avoiding ingrown hairs: Incorrect shaving techniques can cause hairs to grow back into the skin, leading to painful ingrown hairs. 

• Achieving a clean look: Proper shaving helps maintain a neat, well-groomed look. Uneven shaving can leave behind missed spots or nicks, affecting your appearance.

• Promoting skin health: Shaving removes dead skin cells, which can help maintain healthy skin and prevent clogged pores. Using the wrong techniques or products can damage the skin barrier, causing dryness or acne.

• Avoiding infections: Using sharp, clean, and appropriate shaving tools reduces your risk of bacterial infections. Dirty or dull razors, for example, can introduce bacteria to the skin, causing infections.

9 Useful Facial Shaving Tips

Now that you know why shaving facial hair correctly is important, let’s look at some practical steps to get this right:

Hydrate the skin

Always hydrate your skin before you start shaving. This helps to minimize nicks, cuts, and irritation. If you take a shower before shaving your face (or shave in the shower), your skin should be adequately hydrated.

Hydrating the skin helps to soften the hair, allowing your razor to glide across the skin more easily. 

You may want to use a cleanser or facial scrub to remove dirt, oil, and dead skin before you start. This prepares your skin for a more comfortable shave. 

Apply shaving gel or cream

Before you shave your face, apply a shaving cream, gel, or pre-shave oil. 

Be sure to choose products that are suitable for your skin type, especially if you have sensitive skin. Lather the foam and spread it all over your face to hydrate the hair.

Shaving cream acts as a protective barrier between the razor blade and the skin, reducing friction and minimizing the risk of cuts, nicks, and razor burn. 

It also makes it easier to see where you have already shaved, ensuring that you don’t miss any areas. This reduces your chances of going over the same area multiple times, which can irritate the skin.

Check your razor blade

Always check the lubrication strips on your facial razor to see if they’re worn or faded. If the blade feels dull while shaving, it may be time for a replacement. 

If the razor tugs or pulls at your hair instead of cutting it smoothly, it’s a clear sign of a dull blade. 

A blunt razor often requires multiple passes over the same area to achieve a clean shave, which can lead to irritation and increase the chance of cuts.

Using a dull razor means you’ll need to apply more pressure while you shave, which can cause uncomfortable razor burn or red bumps on the skin.

If you see any signs of rust, corrosion, or a worn edge, it’s time for a new razor.

Pull your skin taut

Pulling your skin taut as you shave creates a flatter, more even surface for your razor to glide over. This reduces the chances of the blade catching on uneven or loose skin, which can lead to nicks and cuts.

Taut skin also helps lift the hair away from the skin, allowing your razor to cut the hair closer to its base. This results in a closer shave and smoother finish. 

A closer shave can prevent hair from curling back into the skin, preventing ingrown hairs. 

Stretching the skin also reduces friction, which could lead to razor burn and irritation. 

Use gentle strokes

When shaving your face, always use light, gentle strokes, letting your razor do most of the work. Consider choosing a razor that contours to the curves of your face and neck to ensure you don’t cut yourself.

Using gentle strokes puts less pressure on the razor blade, helping it stay sharper for longer and providing more consistent shaves over time.

Light strokes allow for more even and controlled hair removal. This ensures you don’t miss spots or repeatedly shave the same area.

Gentle strokes also give you better control over the razor, especially in contoured or sensitive areas. This precision helps achieve a cleaner shave.

Rinse your blades often

As you’re shaving, ensure you rinse the blades of your razor frequently, especially if you’re using shaving cream. 

Rinsing your razor regularly helps to remove hair and skin cells that accumulate between the blades. This buildup can clog the razor, making it less effective at cutting hair cleanly.

Keeping the blades clean also prevents dulling and ensures they remain sharp. As mentioned earlier, shaper blades cut hair more effectively and with less irritation.

A clogged razor can tug at your hair and skin, causing irritation, redness, and even razor burn. 

Shave against and with the grain

Many people believe that you should only shave your face with the grain. 

However, it’s better to shave both with and against the grain of the hair. This is because facial hair grows in many directions.

While you should ensure you shave both ways at different times during your routine, shave in the direction that feels most comfortable to you. 

Shaving with the grain (the direction your hair grows) is gentler on the skin and reduces irritation and redness because it involves less pulling on the hair follicles. 

Shaving against the grain provides a closer shave because it cuts your hair more precisely at the skin’s surface, resulting in a smoother finish. 

Use a trimmer

Certain areas of the face are harder to reach while shaving, such as the skin under the nose, mouth, and jawline. 

Use a precision trimmer to shave these areas and trim your sideburns if you have any.

Precision trimmers are designed to give you better control of the blade in awkward spots, allowing for more accurate grooming.

Due to their contours and angles, hard-to-reach areas are often more prone to cuts and nicks. A precision trimmer minimizes this by allowing you to navigate these areas more safely and effectively.

Using a precision trimmer can make shaving more comfortable, especially in sensitive areas. It reduces the need to stretch your skin to access difficult spots with a regular razor. 

Choose a precision trimmer that comes with different attachments and settings, perfect for all your grooming needs. 

This versatility makes it a valuable addition to your shaving toolkit.

Apply moisturizer

After shaving, wash your face with cool water and gently pat it dry with a clean towel. Next, apply an aftershave lotion or moisturizer to keep your skin feeling soft and comfortable.

As mentioned earlier, shaving can cause redness, irritation, and razor burn due to the friction and potential micro-cuts on the skin. 

A moisturizer can help soothe and calm your skin, reducing these post-shave irritations.

While shaving removes hair, it can also strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture. A good moisturizer restores lost hydration, preventing dryness and flakiness.

How Often Should I Shave My Face?

The frequency of shaving your face depends on several factors, including your personal preference, hair growth rate, and skin sensitivity. Here are some general guidelines:

Where Can I Get More Health and Wellness Advice?

With LifeMD, you can get the best advice and guidance from qualified healthcare professionals from the comfort of your own home.

You can schedule an appointment at a time that suits you and skip the waiting room entirely. Make your appointment today.

Suzanne Biggs, FNP-C

Suzanne is a seasoned Family Nurse Practitioner with over 20 years of experience in the medical field. She believes in a comprehensive approach to health. Her commitment to promoting this holistic perspective on health and wellness is evident in the thoughtful care and guidance she provides to her patients. When not busy with her professional responsibilities, Suzanne enjoys spending time with her family and her horses, cultivating her flower garden, doing various crafts, and collecting seashells on the beach in her home state of Florida.

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