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Men's Razors

Smart guys have beards

Facial hair plays a funny role in our world. All those classic geniuses and philosophers had beards. Salvador Dali believed that his big moustache was an antenna for his creativity. On the other hand, a freshly shaven face looks disarming and businesslike. What are you going to do? Fortunately, modern technology offers plenty of good tools. Remember what Roddy McDowall said as Charlton Heston shaved at the end of Planet of the Apes: "Makes you look unintelligent." But then Heston got the kisses. Take that, fuzzy face.

Beards, Moustaches, and Goatees

  • Shaving started during the times of the ancient Greeks and Romans, but it became a less hazardous undertaking with the invention of the safety razor in 1932.
  • Men have between 6,000 and 25,000 hairs in their beards.
  • Beard hair growth rate varies from man to man and on different areas of the face. But most hairs grow at a rate of 0.4 mm per day, enough to give most men that scruffy five o'clock shadow by evening.
Be Careful When Playing with Sharp Objects

  • You can expect to get five to seven smooth shaves per blade.
  • Don't press too hard on your skin while shaving. If you've got a dull razor, this could lead to nicks and cuts.
  • Buy a good quality razor and change the blade as soon as you sense the character of your shave is degrading.
  • When you're done shaving, let the razor air dry. Drying it with a towel will dull the blade.
  • Some razors have a lubricating gel strip and multiple blades that help you get that extra smooth shave.
  • If you do end up cutting yourself, little bits of toilet paper stuck to your face are not your only option to stop the bleeding. The aluminum sulfate in a moistened styptic pencil will stop the bleeding when applied to a wound.
My, What a Close Shave You Have

  • It's best to shave in the direction of the hair growth, not against -- it's far less damaging to the face. Many men will shave first with the grain, then against it for a super smooth effect. As long as you're gentle and careful, that's fine.
  • Use some kind of shaving preparation: lotion, cream, or soap. It helps soften the hair before shaving and reduces friction during shaving. Also, the lather shows you where you've missed shaving.
  • Razor bumps are little ingrown hairs. When you shave too closely, too aggressively, or with a dull blade, the hairs can grow back into the skin, causing irritation, inflammation, infection, and pain. As the hair continues to grow, it creates a red scar, which is the bump you see.
  • Men with thick, curly hair have the hardest time shaving and are most likely to have ingrown hairs.
  • Shaving after a hot shower is best, because the heat and moisture help soften the beard.
  • Rinse the blade frequently.
  • Shave with a mirror and watch how the blade moves across the skin. Be aware of that relationship.
  • It's best to shave in the evenings during the summer, to give your face a chance to recover before exposing it to sunscreens or lotions that contain alcohol.
  • Be out of bed about 30 minutes before shaving. Besides gaining a little more awareness and coordination, it gives the fluids in your face a chance to settle.

Appropriate Uses

Razors

Removes facial hair temporarily by cutting hair at the surface of the skin.

The Cutting Edge

  • Make sure to use a clean, sharp blade.
  • Shave downward, with the growth of the hair. You can gently shave upward along the neck and under the jaw.

Ouch!

  • Be careful to not nick or cut yourself while shaving.
  • Dry shaving will result in irritated skin.
  • Men with sensitive skin may get folliculitis (red bumps and rashes) from shaving.
  • Shaving against the direction of hair growth or not exfoliating after shaving encourages more ingrown hairs.
  • Applying sunscreen or lotions that contain alcohol, or swimming in chlorine or salt water may irritate freshly shaved skin.

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