Your beard can shape your unique style. Aside from letting you express yourself, your facial hair offers health benefits. Unbeknownst to most people, well-groomed facial hair can protect your skin from the harsh UV rays and prevent premature ageing and sunburn. What’s more, studies found that women perceive men with facial hair to be more attractive, and deem them as physically and socially dominant. Still, it’s important to groom them well, as well-groomed beards are capable of shaping the face and de-emphasizing or highlighting certain facial features.

Use this article as your guide by following these steps:

1.Hydrate your facial hair with warm water

The first thing you should do when shaving your beard is to wet it thoroughly with warm water. You can do this by placing a hot wet towel on your face or running warm water through your facial hair for several seconds. This way, the pores of your hair will open, and your hair will absorb the moisture. As your facial hair grows more healthily and softer, it will get easier to cut it with a blade. You can also prevent razor burn and skin irritation.

2.Apply shaving cream

After wetting your facial hair with warm water, apply a rich, creamy lather of your shaving cream to it using a high-quality shaving brush. Shaving cream acts as a lubricant for your razor, allowing you to have a more convenient shave. It also locks in moisture in your facial hair. Additionally, since the blade will have less resistance to your hair, expect less irritation, smoother skin, and a longer-lasting razor. The Kevin Murphy Shaving Cream is ideal for a clean, comfortable shave. Infused with soothing sandalwood, not only is it moisturizing, but it also offers an earthy, rich scent. It’s what we use at Scotch & Fades, so our customers can get the best grooming experience.

3.Make sure that your razor blade is sharp

A dull razor blade will end up pressing harder onto your skin, which can cause a lot more trauma to your skin and lead to razor burn, ingrown hairs, and irritation. You can easily avoid these issues by ditching the old, dull blade and invest in a high-quality, sharp razor blade. This way, you can ensure you are shaving your facial hair down to its roots.

4.Shave in the direction that your beard grows

When shaving your facial hair, make sure to shave in the direction of your beard growth. Start with the sides, then work your way down. To avoid razor burn and ingrown hairs, avoid pressing too hard. Just let the razor glide smoothly across your skin. After shaving, rinse the blade thoroughly with warm water and be sure to get rid of all the hair, dead skin, and shaving cream that get caught between the blades.

If you missed several spots or want to get a closer shave, all you need to do is apply more shaving cream to your facial hair, then shave again. Avoid over-shaving; just run the blade once or twice to get rid of leftover hairs.

5.Apply aftershave and moisturizer

Rinse your face, pat it dry, and apply an aftershave and moisturizer. Look for an aftershave that contains alcohol or tea tree oil to get rid of any bacteria and reduce the risk of infection. When buying a moisturizer, choose one that has an astringent to reduce inflammation. You can also reach out to a beard stylist near you for more tips on proper beard shaving. 

Conclusion

Beard grooming doesn’t have to hurt or irritate your skin. Thankfully, you now know the proper way to shave your facial hair and ensure an irritation-free shave by following the steps in this guide. To have a more professionally done beard shaving or grooming, you can head to a reputable barbershop like ours. 

Scotch & Fades is a luxury barbershop in Vancouver. Our experts can groom your beard with a trimmer or the traditional straight razor, using top-of-the-line products you can’t find elsewhere in Canada. We also specialize in hot towel shave. Book an appointment today!