Dan's Papers - October 3, 2008

As early as 3000 BC men and women were using metal razors for shaving. Like with most inventions, the Egyptians were the first to use metal (copper) to shave. Before them, men used clam shells to pull individual hairs from their faces - a long and somewhat painful task. A thousand years later, Alexander the Great made sure to shave before going into battle, and here we are in the 21st century complaining about shaving before work. While many offices have become more lax about the clean cut look, a fresh shave on a Monday morning still helps give you the appearance of a young go-getter and not someone who spent the whole weekend with a 5 o'clock turned 2 day shadow.

Whether you shave every day or every four days, shaving correctly can make all the difference.

So here's how it's done. Shave in the shower. I know it sounds silly, but it really is the best way to do it. Invest in one of those shower mirrors that don't fog. A great way to get started is to use an exfoliating scrub or even an exfoliating mask, which will remove dead skin and begin to soften your bristly beard. Invest in some pre-shave oil. The oil will help soften the beard. Put a small amount in your hands and rub it into the beard. Once well rubbed in, apply shaving cream or shaving soap to the beard and lather for about 30 seconds. If you are looking to get fancy, you can invest in a shaving cream brush and shaving soap. It's the old fashioned way, but still works because the bristles from the brush get in and work the hairs a little closer than your hands would. The other option is a regular can of shaving cream. Which is just fine as long as you stay away from menthol and benzicane-based creams, which actually constrict pores. What it does is soften the beard even more than the oil and it also creates a protective layer between the razorblades and the skin.

Selecting the proper razor can be difficult. I use the Mache 3 turbo, though I actually liked the Sensor XL, which they don't make anymore. I've heard the 5-blade Fusion is good too, but I find it rather bulky, like using a flame thrower to light a cigarette. Whichever you choose, make sure the blade is sharp and go with the grain when you shave. This will help to prevent nicks, razor burn, and ingrown hairs. If you want an even close shave, once you have gone with the grain, you can re-lather your face and go lightly against the grain, minimizing any side effects. While shaving, always rinse with hot water. The heat also opens the pores. But an added benefit of shaving in the shower is that the pressure from the shower nozzle is greater than that out of the average sink, so it cleans out more cut hairs from the razor.

Once you have finished your shave, be sure to use an aftershave lotion, which works as an antiseptic, but avoid ones with alcohol as they can dry and irritate the skin. Keep skin moisturized, as a means of also preventing ingrown hairs, which come about from improper shaving techniques or due to curly hair that gets trapped in its pore. For correcting ingrown hairs, there are products on the market such as The Art of Shaving's Ingrown Hair Night Cream, which contains essential oils and natural elements which will soften the skin and help prevent this problem. If an ingrown hair does occur, do not try to play surgeon and dig it out with a pair of tweezers, as this will only irritate the skin, possible cause scarring and cause more ingrown hairs.

If you want to spice it up a bit and take your life into your hands, invest in a good straight razor. It takes some time to master and in the beginning you'll end up with a few nicks and cuts, but it's a close shave if you have the time to master the technique, plus you just look so cool doing it.

I think that's about it. It isn't exactly rocket science, no matter how many blades are on your razor. If you follow these simple tips, you could make your face a little smoother and maybe you'll be ready for battle just like Alexander the Great.