Skin Care for Men

    A typical guy will shave more than 20,000 times during his lifetime. For decades, men have had many choices when it comes to the products they can use to achieve a close, razor burn-free shave. What many guys don’t realize is that the majority of the shaving products sold in supermarkets may include ingredients, like alcohol, which damage and dry out skin.            

If you’re recently divorced and looking for new love, you may want to look and feel younger, plus have smoother and healthier-looking skin. Because more men are taking a keen interest in using better quality shaving products, several companies, including Zirh, The Art of Shaving and Truefitt & Hill, now specialize in offering top-quality shaving products formulated exclusively for men. These products include premium shaving creams, as well as perfectly balanced, ergonomic shaver handles.            

Today, getting the perfect shave at home takes just minutes. If you begin using better quality shaving products, within a few short weeks, you’ll notice vast improvements to your skin. Plus, recurring problems, such as razor burn and ingrown hairs, will be eliminated.  


THE PERFECT SHAVE  

According to the master barbers at Truefitt & Hill, the perfect shave can be achieved in three steps:  

Step 1: Pre-Shave Preparation.  
The best time to shave is during or after a hot shower, when your skin’s pores are clean and open, plus your whiskers are softer. This allows for the closest shave. If a hot shower isn’t possible, soak a towel in hot water, than place it on your face for several minutes prior to shaving. Also, before shaving, apply a small amount of quality pre-shave oil to your skin. The oil will protect your skin from the harshness of the blade. Massage the oil around where you’ll be shaving. Next, apply shaving cream, foam or gel. During this step (when using shaving cream or foam), it’s important to work up a good lather. This can be done using your fingers, or you can use a badger hair shaving brush to create an even lather. A quality shaving brush will cost $50 to $200, but can last for decades.

Step 2: Shaving with a Manual Razor.              
If you’re using a manual razor (such as Gillette’s five-blade Fusion razor), make sure you’re using a new, clean blade cartridge in order to get the closest shave, without unnecessarily damaging your skin. Replace your razor blade cartridge as recommended by the manufacturer. Gillette’s blades have a color-changing strip on the cartridges that let you know when it needs to be replaced. When you begin shaving, use short, smooth strokes that follow the grain of your whiskers. Shaving against the grain will cause razor burn and irritation. There’s no need to press the blade into your skin as you shave.  

Step 3: Apply After Shave.               
To maintain youthful skin, apply cold water to your face immediately after shaving. You can either splash cold water onto your face, or hold a wet washcloth up to your face that has been dipped in clean, cold water. Doing this removes excess shaving cream and closes the pores of your skin. It also helps to heal tiny cuts on your face that have been created from shaving. After drying your face, immediately apply quality aftershave balm. This, too, will help heal cuts, plus moisturize your skin and help it look younger and healthier over time. Once the aftershave dries (allow two to three minutes), many men opt to use a separate moisturizer on their entire face and neck areas. Your shaving balm should not contain alcohol or any ingredients that will dry out or burn your skin. Look for ingredients like aloe, plus natural extracts and oils, which have healing properties.  


DON’T FORGET THE RAZOR              

The latest generation of five blade disposable razors from Gillette include the manual Fusion and the battery-powered Fusion Power Phantom, which uses “micro pulses” to massage the skin as you’re shaving. These disposable razors (priced under $20 each) come with reusable, plastic, ergonomic handles. Both The Art of Shaving and Truefitt & Hill, however, offer enhanced shaver handles with patented designs. These non-disposable shaver handles work with Gillette’s Mach3, Fusion or Fusion Power Phantom blade cartridges, and range in price from $100 to $150 each.           

The Art of Shaving’s new Fusion Chrome Collection of razor handles blend style and performance. Handcrafted and constructed from polished chrome, these shavers offer a sleek and contemporary design which are perfectly balanced, with a micro-textured grip surface. The Fusion Chrome Power Razor ($150) is waterproof, so it can be used in the shower, and even has a built in spotlight so you can see exactly where you’re shaving. By providing the same micro pulses as the Gillette Power Phantom, the Fusion Chrome Power Razor reduces friction on your skin and enhances razor glide.