STEP 1: PREPARE YOUR SKIN FOR SHAVING

The best time to shave is after you’ve showered and washed or exfoliated your face. You can also apply a hot towel to your whiskers for a minute or two. Steam softens facial hair making it easier to shave.

STEP 2: APPLICATION OF SHAVE CREAM OR SOAP TO BEARD

Using a good shave brush, our team at SafetyRazors.com.au have found if you firstly rise the bristles under hot water to apply a high quality pre-shave oil, shave cream or soap, it helps to soften your whiskers and lift the facial hair and allow even dispersement and lathing.

STEP 3: LET THE RAZOR DO THE WORK - USE SHORT LIGHT STROKES WITH A FRESH BLADE

Using a fresh blade, start shaving the sides of the face first, going in the direction of your hair growth. Hold your safety razor firmly and use short strokes. Don’t add pressure or push the blade into your skin (think about your face as a balloon…tread lightly with slow, short mindful strokes). A solidly made safety razor will have sufficient weight and should glide across your skin. For the closest shave, an ideal angle to hold the blade to your skin is 30 degrees. When you’re first starting out, you may want to angle the razor even less.

STEP 4: NECK AREA– GO WITH THE GRAIN

The neck area can be challenging for guys since hair grows in different directions. Shave with the grain for your first pass for less irritation. Some people like to re-lather and shave again against the grain for a second pass, but if you have sensitive skin, skip this step.

STEP 5: LIP AND CHIN AREA

Shave these tough spots last so the shave cream or soap has more time to soften your beard. You can add water to rehydrate before shaving these areas. Use your free hand to stretch your skin, creating a flat area for your blade to shave. 

STEP 6: RINSE WITH COLD WATER

Follow your shave with a splash of cold water and rinse your razor and brush well.

STEP 7: APPLY AFTERSHAVE BALM OR SPLASH

Finish by applying a light amount of soothing aftershave balm or splash. These products contain healing, toning and moisturizing ingredients to keep skin looking and feeling its best after shaving. You may also want to consider using an all-natural alum block, which acts as an antiseptic, tightening your skin and treating any minor nicks.

STEP 8: Give you safety razor a little shake to remove any water or dry with a towl (be careful if the blade is still in the razor). Hang your razor and brush on a stand to allow then to dry.

Safety Razor Model Recommendations :

Our staff and family members tested 5 different razors. The Parker 99R, Muhle R89 , Edwin Jagger DE89, Parker Variant and Qshave Adjustable Safety Razor. The overhaul winning for 

Parker’s two-piece variant adjustable safety razors are the perfect razors for beginners and experts alike. The blade angle can be adjusted by turning the knob on the bottom of the razor, so that the exposure can be set to each individual’s preference.

Multiple settings to adjust the blade angle with a dial at the bottom with settings from "1-5", with "1" being the mildest and "5" the most aggressive. Customizable settings accommodate differences in facial hair thickness, skin type, preference and experience level.