39 Best Men’s Shaving Tips

Shaving is an important part of any man’s routine. Maintaining a great look is important while knowing the right way to do it is just as important. In this post, we will go over some well-known, and lesser-known shaving tips for men. Continue reading for some great tips, or use the table of contents to jump to a specific men’s shaving tip.

1. Keep your hair and skin moist

Keeping your skin moist before, during, and between shaves is important. Moisture helps your skin stay healthy.

Moisturizing your skin daily has the added benefits of reducing dryness and itchiness, reducing the appearance of blemishes, and even helping with acne problems. A daily moisturizer is a good option if you suffer from dry itchy skin.

While shaving, moisture is your best friend. Keeping your skin moist during shaves will reduce the friction of the blade on your skin, thus reducing the chance of irritation and razor burn.

2. Use sensitive skin products for dry or easily irritated skin

If you frequently suffer from irritation while shaving, it might be time to switch up the products you’re using. Some shaving creams, gels, and soaps are labeled as “for sensitive skin” and are formulated specifically with sensitive skin in mind.

These types of products use natural ingredients and less harsh chemicals and scents. In most cases with topical products, less is usually more. Opt for sensitive skin products if you frequently get razor burns, razor bumps, or acne.

3. Let shaving cream sit on your face for a few minutes

After you apply shaving cream, gel, or soap, you should allow the product to sit on your face for a couple of minutes. When you do this, you allow the ingredients in the product to work their magic.

Shaving creams are designed to soften your hair and moisturize your face, so the longer you leave them on your face the better the results will be.

Apply pre-shave oil or cream to your face before your main shaving cream or soap for an even better shave. In this case, I prefer oils as they last longer, but Proraso pre-shave cream is a good option for cream if that’s your thing.

4. Shave with the grain not against it

Shaving with the grain (with the direction of the hair growth) greatly reduces irritation. When you shave against the grain, your hairs resist the blades on your razor more and it leads to tugging. This tugging of your hair before they are cut causes irritation.

The irritation caused can cause inflammation, bleeding, razor bumps, acne, and even ultimately infection.

Shaving should be done with the direction of hair growth. After shaving your entire face with the grain, you can make a second pass against the grain (see #5)

5. Make a second pass

As previously mentioned in #4, shaving should always be done with the grain, in the direction your hair grows. However, after shaving your entire face you should re-apply your cream or soap and give it a second pass against the grain.

I know this sounds counter-intuitive from #4. However, making a second pass against the grain will give you the closest shave possible. Just be sure to also apply your shaving cream or soap a second time as well. The irritation will not be a problem because you should only be shaving stubble at this point.

6. Rinse your blade often

Keeping your blade clear of hair and other debris between strokes is important. It’s best to shave in short strokes and rinse every couple of strokes. Ensuring a clear blade will cause less clogging and also ensure the blade cuts effectively without tugging.

A clogged blade will cause tugging because the hairs on your face will cut at a slant rather than head-on. Tugging can lead to irritation and other skin issues.

7. Cleanse your face with cold water to finish

Starting your shave with warm water will soften your hair, loosen your skin, and open your pores. Cold water has the opposite effect and is an important step post-shave. Cleansing with cold water will close all of the pores on your face and help soothe any irritation caused by shaving.

8. Properly store your razor

Your razor should be stored in a dry place to avoid rust or any contaminants. Never store your razor in the shower as it can gather a whole host of different things that can lead to a not-so-pleasant shaving experience.

I use a cool stand for my safety razor and brush that fits right into my medicine cabinet. This stand ensures that my brush and razor aren’t lying flat on anything where they could collect contaminants. It also helps my brush dry and allows the bristles to hang at a downward angle.

9. Cleanse your skin before shaving

Using a pre-shave scrub or wash is an underrated and lesser-known important step in a shaving routine. These scrubs and washes act to exfoliate your skin and clean it. Shaving with clean exfoliated skin is best to avoid acne as it removes excess oils and bacteria.

10. Use warm, not hot water

Hot water will dry out your skin. When you shave with scalding hot water you not only irritate your skin but also cause it to dry and tighten. Always shave with warm water as it will soften your hair and relax your skin, rather than causing more irritation than necessary.

11. Use the right products for the right shaving method

When I first switched from disposable cartridge razors to safety razors and straight razors, I quickly learned that not all shaving creams and gels are created equal.

Shaving creams and soaps produce lather, while a gel is… a gel. Gels take more passes to remove from your face and are not a good choice when using a safety razor, especially not a straight razor.

Gels are fine when using disposables, but when using a safety razor or straight razor, the lather of a good cream or soap is king. Knowing which products to use with your shaving method will save you time and your face from cuts and irritation.

12. Change your razor blade often

Blade changes should be done very often. I prefer to change my blades after every shave to ensure I get a great shave every time. However, you don’t need to do this. Knowing when to change your blade could be determined by a visual inspection, or if the blade begins to tug against the hairs on your face.

A pretty simple rule to go by is every 3 or 4 shaves, change your blade. Changing your blade often will ensure that you get a great shave every time and avoid any issues. If you prefer a safety razor like me, changing blades isn’t very costly as they are extremely inexpensive.

13. Don’t shave over the same area too many times

The more times you shave over a single spot, the higher the chance of irritation. As you shave, the razor applies friction over your skin. This friction can quickly cause your skin to become irritated and inflamed. If you find that you have remaining stubble or aren’t as smooth as you’d like, apply more shaving cream or soap and make a second pass (see #5).

14. Apply just enough pressure

Pressure is huge when it comes to shaving, especially with a foil shaver, safety razor, or straight razor. Applying too much pressure on your face while shaving will irritate at the least, and cuts at the worst. Different razors require different pressures, straight razors being the least. Safety razors are designed in a way that the weight of the actual razor should be enough pressure to do the job for you.

15. Moisturize after shaving

Moisturizing after shaving is very important as it soothes any irritation. If you find yourself having a lot of irritation, a soothing aftershave balm would be a better option than an alcohol-based splash. Be sure to pick the best product for your skin type.

Proraso green is my favorite aftershave although I have very sensitive skin. I take extra steps before and during my shave to minimize any irritation.

16. Use a good aftershave

As we discussed in #15, picking the best product for your skin type is paramount. Aftershaves are important because they cleanse your skin of any bacteria that could cause acne or infection.

As an added benefit, many aftershave balms work to soothe irritation caused by the shaving process.

17. Never shave dry skin

Shaving dry is a huge no-no. When you shave dry you have nothing protecting your skin from the friction of the razor you’re using. Hairs are also not as soft as they would be had you properly prepped for your shave. If you shave dry you run a much higher risk of irritation and cuts.

I used to shave dry as a teen when I was lazy or ran out of my cheap pharmacy shaving cream. This is probably the main driving factor behind my teen acne, who knew?

A great shaving cream I used for a long time and recommend that can be used with or without a brush is Vikings Blade Sandalwood & Western Red Cedar.

18. Try out different shaving products

Sticking to the same Barbasol cream you’ve always used and getting the same irritation you’ve always gotten from shaving isn’t necessary. Trying out different shaving products and methods can be a huge game-changer.

In my real experience, trying a double-edged safety razor changed the way I shaved completely. I got a far better shave with far less irritation from a single blade.

As I tried more and more methods and products, I perfected my shave and started this blog. Don’t be afraid to try new things.

19. Use sunscreen if you are prone to burning

Sunscreen is very important to keeping your skin healthy and looking great. If you have lighter skin or are prone to burning, using sunscreen on your face will help loads when it comes to shaving.

Shaving with a sunburn is exactly what you might think, horrible. Shaving while your skin is already irritated from being burnt will cause even more irritation.

20. Never use regular soap to shave

Shaving soap and bar soap are not as similar as you might think. Shaving soap is formulated with an array of different ingredients that help form lather, reduce friction, and increase the hydration of the skin.

On the other hand, bar soaps can greatly increase the friction of the razor on your face and dry out your skin.

For a shaving soap recommendation, I would suggest a Viking Revolution sampler pack to see what you like best.

21. Shave in short strokes

Shaving in short strokes rather than continuously going over your face ensures that your face gets a great shave all over. Rinsing your blade between these short strokes ensures that your blade is clean and ready to tackle new hair.

If you shave in longer strokes you run the risk of your blade becoming less and less effective as you go, potentially leading to the blades tugging at hair and being less effective or irritating.

22. Keep your razor clean

This practically goes without saying. Keeping your razor clean and storing it in a clean place is extremely important. Every time you swipe your razor across your face you are potentially also spreading bacteria throughout micro-cuts in your skin.

It is always best to keep your razor as clean as possible and store it in a clean place.

23. Consider using a shaving brush

Shaving brushes are awesome. They not only evenly spread your cream or soap but also perk up the hairs on your face to get them ready for shaving. These brushes are made of numerous natural and synthetic materials, but the best is arguably a brush made with silver-tip badger bristles.

The brush I use and have come to love is made by Perfecto. It was easy to break in and gives great coverage for my shaving soap. If you’d like, you can check out my full review on the Perfecto shaving brush and stand.

24. Use Tea tree oil for razor burn

Tea tree oil is great for razor burns as it has been found to be both an anti-inflammatory as well as being antimicrobial. Using tea tree oil directly on your skin isn’t advised as it could cause allergic reactions or more irritation. Instead, opt for a product that contains tea tree oil as an aftershave.

25. Pick the right razor for the job

As I covered in another post, picking the right razor for the job is important. Everyone has different skin and trying different things is important to find the right shaving method for you.

Some people find they get the best shave from a foil shaver, while others prefer a straight-edge razor. Ultimately, it’s all about trying out different shaving methods to find the perfect one. Mine, though, is shaving with a safety razor and after trying it I never looked back.

26. Use tweezers to expose and remove ingrown hair

Ingrown hairs are a problem for many of us guys, some more than others. If you suffer from ingrown hairs, you could greatly benefit from a few things. First, keep a good set of tweezers handy with a sharp tip.

Use the tweezers to prod and poke at the center of the razor bump, exposing the hair. Then, you can remove the hair and clean the area around it.

Pro tip: Exfoliating often can help prevent ingrown hairs to some degree, but sometimes nothing beats a good old pair of tweezers.

27. Use a beard scrub to get rid of beard itch

Facial hair can get itchy, especially when it’s growing back. If you rock a beard it might be a little itchy at times. Using a quality beard scrub can help fight that beard itch. Beard scrubs work to exfoliate and hydrate your skin while also softening your beard hair.

28. Never use a dull or rusty razor

Contrary to popular belief, a rusty razor can’t give you tetanus. However, shaving with a dull or rusty razor can tug at your hair or even cut your skin. The irritation you get from shaving with a razor that’s worn down past its usefulness is not worth the cost of changing your blade.

29. Consider making your own homemade shaving creams and soaps

Homemade shaving creams and soaps are easier than you’d think to make. One great benefit of doing it yourself is that you know exactly what is going into the finished product.

You can experiment with different ingredients to add a personal touch to your shave. With all the different essential oils and scents available for soap making the possibilities are endless.

30. Use beard oil to promote growth in patchy areas

Can’t grow a full beard? Try applying some beard oil to promote hair growth in patchy areas. These oils also work to hydrate your skin and reduce itchiness.

31. Use apple cider vinegar products to treat acne caused by shaving

Apple cider vinegar has been used for literally everything, but did you know it can help fight acne? Tests have shown that ACV could kill bacteria that contribute to the formation of acne.

There is an array of different acne products you can find on the web that contain apple cider vinegar.

32. Cut down on facial oils with a cleanser or oil-absorbing sheet

Oily skin can contribute to all sorts of skin problems in men. Cleansers and oil-absorbing sheets are great to remove excess face oils. Using these daily as a part of your morning routine can help keep the skin of your face looking great.

33. More blades don’t always give a better shave

We have been trained to believe that more blades on a razor give a better shave. However, more blades don’t always mean a better shave. Having more blades on your razor can increase the frequency of clogging and hair tugging.

In fact, I only shave using a single-blade safety razor and since I made the switch I never looked back.

34. Pre-shave oils and creams are game changers

Switched up your shaving cream or soap and still getting irritation? Pre-shave oils and creams increase the moisture on your face during shaving and can drastically improve the quality of the shave you get.

As mentioned in #3 I prefer an oil to a cream, but try out both to see which you prefer.

35. Waxing facial hair should be left to professionals

You may have stumbled on some clips online of people having their beards waxed off. Waxing your beard at home can cause all sorts of issues like burns and bleeding. If you decide to try waxing your facial hair, leave it to a professional to do it for you.

36. Use an electric shave lotion to reduce irritation

Lots of electric shavers are not meant to be used wet. This doesn’t mean they aren’t good shavers, the Andis ProFoil is an amazing dry shaver for example.

You can get away with using an electric shave lotion with dry shavers and greatly reduce irritation, just be sure to properly clean the shaver after.

37. Trim your nose hairs, don’t wax or pluck them

Your nose hairs act like a filter to protect your lungs from allergens. Waxing or plucking your nose hairs completely removes them thus removing the protection they provide. Instead of completely removing them, opt for a nose hair trimmer instead like the Weed Whacker by MANSCAPED.

38. Use a styptic pencil to stop bleeding

I bleed at least a little bit each time I shave. If you have this problem too, grab yourself a styptic pencil. These pencil-shaped products are great to stop bleeding instantly. The main ingredient is aluminum sulfate, which is completely safe for use on your skin.

39. Check to see if your products have expiration dates

Believe it or not, many shaving creams and other products have expiration dates. These dates generally mean that the product will be less effective or even harmful if used afterward. Always check your products and make sure to replace them with some that are in date if needed.