Gugel’s Top 10 Shaving Tips

Posted on 06. Sep, 2010 by Gugel in How To

My name is Michael Gugel. I’ve been a wet shaver for almost 5 years and I’m the founder of ShavingZone.com. Here’s are my top 10 shaving tips:

  1. PREPARE.
    “If I had six hours to cut down a tree, I’d spend the first three hours sharpening my axe.”
    - Abe Lincoln
    Ideally, you want to shave immediately after getting out the shower. If you don’t have time for a shower, splash warm water on your face for at least 30 seconds. Take your time and work up a rich, thick lather.
  2. QUALITY.
    Feather razor blades are twice as expensive as normal blades. They also last me twice as long. I break even in the amount of money I spend, but I come out far ahead in the quality of my shaves.
  3. COURAGE.
    Don’t be afraid to start shaving with a safety razor. Even when I first started shaving, I almost never cut myself. And the few times that I did (mostly with the super-sharp KAI razor blades), they were small nicks that healed in two days.
  4. A LIGHT TOUCH.
    Just the weight of the blade is enough to cut the hair. Applying more pressure only increases razor burn.
  5. EXPERIMENT.
    Everyone’s different. Try different razors, razor blades, brushes and shaving creams until you find the perfect combination. That being said, the products below are my tried-and-true absolute FAVORITES!
  6. KNOW YOUR FACE.
    Sometimes your hair grows in unexpected directions. What direction do your hairs grow in the lower right part of your neck? Mine grow to the upper-left! Your first pass should always be in the direction of hair growth.
  7. USE A BADGER BRUSH.
    A brush helps you work up a nice shaving cream lather and positions your facial hair so the razor can easily cut ‘em.  Badger hair brushes are divided into 3 categories: pure, best and silvertip. Pure badger hair brushes are cheap, but too rough. Silvertip brushes are ridiculously expensive and too soft. “Best” badger hair brushes are moderately priced and build up the perfect lather. I listed my favorite best badger hair brush below.
  8. MAINTAIN YOUR EQUIPMENT.
    Hang your brush upside down when you’re done with it or the bristles will start to come out. Don’t leave your razor blade in the shower. The water will cause the blade to corrode and go dull much faster.
  9. EXFOLIATE.
    I know, it sounds kinda girly, but in reality, your rubbing your face with sand and acid to remove dead skin. Do it 2-3 times per week. Just smear it on in the shower, rub it in, wash it off, and you’re good to go.
  10. DON’T WIPE.
    Never wipe your face with a towel. Just dabbing your face will get rid of 95% of the moisture. The rest will evaporate within 15 seconds. Wiping your face with a towel gets rid of the natural oils that keep your skin healthy.
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2 Responses to “Gugel’s Top 10 Shaving Tips”

  1. BWB

    04. Oct, 2010

    Lots of good advice here. I’ll add a bit to this:

    - Consider a shower water filter. Here in New York City, the water supply is often lauded as among the best in the United States, but there’s more than a little chlorine in the mix, which makes itself obvious in a hot shower, which does nothing for your skin, hair, or respiratory system. Installing an inline shower filter gets rid of up to 98% of those nasites, and the results are palpable… reduced dryness of skin, and softer, less-frizzy hair. In my experience, this has also had a positive effect on shaving as well.

    - Use hair conditioner on your beard: I’d like claim credit for this one, but I got the idea from Corey Greenberg’s Shaveblog. One of the several game-changing things I’ve learned from the guy. Effective, and certainly a damn sight cheaper than the numerous pricey pre-shave products on the market.

    - Witch Hazel! Yet another tip from Mr. Greenberg, but I knew this from my childhood stints in the barber’s chair in Manhattan in the early to mid-1960s, where my barbers gave me a lick of of WH after the obligatory, post-haircut razor trim. Wonderfully effective, leaves only the slightest scent (which is quite pleasant, and is FAR cheaper than the crappiest after-shave you can think of (and, IMO, most of them are crappy…Brut, anyone?). I’d like to think that, somewhere out on the ol’ astral plane, the barbers of my childhood are smiling in approval.

    Clean you razor periodically: I don’t care *how* fastidious you are about rinsing your razor. Just as junk builds on on your bathroom tile, junk builds up on your razor. Take an old toothbrush and mild soap (maybe with a bit of white vinegar mixed in), and give your shaving weapon of choice a good going-over. Your shaves will be smoother, and you’ll be better off hygienically-speaking as well A total win.

    That’s all, folks!

    - BWB

  2. ASR

    06. May, 2011

    Nice tips. I agree with BWB, good tips also.

    Vinegar gets rid calcium & lime buildup, but could remove the plating.

    Did have a comment re: #9. Exactly what does exfoliating do? Don’t we exfoliate simply by shaving? Or does the scrubby things do more? Thanks.

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