Skip to content
15% Off Taylor Of Old Bond Street
15% Off Taylor Of Old Bond Street
5 Tips to Improve Your Shave-West Coast Shaving

5 Tips to Improve Your Shave

No matter how long you’ve been wet shaving, you can always improve, right? So, we’ve put together a few tips to consider. Maybe these are reminders rather than new techniques, but regardless we can all benefit from being students of our craft.


In this Shaving 101 video, Jared and Aviv share some tips that can help you get the most out of your classic shave.


Classic Wet Shaving Tips

  1. Understand hair growth. Against the grain, with the grain, across the grain. You  might hear these terms when talking about shaving technique. These terms refer to the direction you take your razor in relation to your hair growth. In any one person that growth is not consistent. You might have swirls and patches that grow in different directions. Knowing how your hair grows can help you more effectively shear your whiskers and improve your shave. Run your finger (or even a cotton ball) along your five o’clock shadow. If you feel pricking or catching that is the direction of your hair growth.
  2. Think about a pre-shave routine. Are you setting yourself up for success? A pre-shave is one way to make your skin softer and slicker. A hot shower or good face wash are all effective ways to make a better wet shave. But investing in a product that preps your face can really enhance your shave and your skin.
  3. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate. Hydrating your lather is often an overlooked element of creating an epic lather. Even 30 seconds more of lathering with a few more drops of water can take your lather from good to great. (And while you are at it, drink a glass of water as well. It can help your skin from the inside out.)
  4. Change one thing at a time. Control the variables. Pick a set up: razor, blade, brush, soap and then change only one thing at a time to get to your perfect shave. When you are manipulating multiple variables it can be hard to pinpoint what is helping or hurting. 
  5. Think about your razor blade. Finding the right blade is subjective but can make a substantial difference in your shave. Some blades are sharper than others. Some blades are coated with items that make it smoother or extend its life: platinum, teflon, chrome, etc. Don’t judge wet shaving by the first blade you try. Also, if you change razors you might find that a blade that you discounted earlier works better now. We offer sample razor packs for just this reason. Finding the right blade with the right razor can change your entire shave.


Have you used any of these wet shaving tips? Do you have a few of your own to offer? Let us know in the comments below.
Previous article Why is Shaving with a Safety Razor Better?
Next article Shaving Brush Education

Comments

Paul Ekstrom - January 28, 2021

Hydration is important. I realize I have enough shave soaps & creams to outlive me. When I get ready to shave I don’t splash water on my face, I lather up like I am going to shave and then rinse it off. I know that seems like wasting good lather but soap is cheap. I feel like my face is clean and moist, then I lather up and shave.

Barrett Benton - September 21, 2020

It’s taken a while, but I have a true “go-to” setup for both home and away. Everybody has their fave razor/blade/brush/cream-soap/post-shave* combo, but my pre-shave routine comes from the ol’ Shaveblog itself: I use the same hair conditioner I use on my scalp, post-shampoo, on my mug while in the shower: the result has been closer shaves and no nicks (as opposed to just very, very few).

(*Razor: Parker Variant [home], Parker A1R [away]; Blade: Croma [look into it, folks, they’re good]; Brush: Yaqi Heavy Metal; cream/soap: D.R. Harris Arlington, Pre de Provence, WCS/Dr. Jon’s Sakura Musk; Post-Shave: Pre de Provence No. 63, Humphrey’s Witch Hazel.)

Mark David - September 17, 2020

Totally agree with these tips. I’ve been using them for years and have been enjoying my shaves a lot. I look forward to my daily shave. My current go to shaving stuff includes my Merkur 34C. I love Astra SP, Russian Gillette 7 O’clock Super Stainless, Personna Lab Blue blades. In fact, the Merkur 34C makes most blades feel really good. I also use Old Spice, Nivea, Arko shaving creams and Proraso and Arko soaps. Here in Malaysia, it’s easy to get hold of Indian shaving creams like Vi John, SuperMax, Godrej that are both cheap and perform very well.
Enjoy your shaves gents! Have a great day.

Mark

Rafael - September 16, 2020
I agree with your tips. I really like Tip 4. I will say it a different way – experiment. Try different soaps, brushes, razors, and definitely blades. I now have a “go to” for every occasion. For example, if I am in a hurry, I use a synthetic hair brush (Razorock or Simpson) and a shave cream (Art of Shaving or Taylor of Old Bond St) instead of a badger brush and shave soap.

Enjoy your shave! Try something new.

Leave a comment

Comments must be approved before appearing

* Required fields