Intro:
Before you begin
Step 1:
Prepare your skin
Step 2:
Soak the skin
Step 3:
Lather up
Step 4:
Get that razor swinging
Step 5:
Master the Tug
Step 6:
Cope with the bloodshed--wet shave
Step 7:
Moisturize your mug
Step 8:
Experiment with the eco-shave--a conservation-minded approach

Loofah: a dried plant that can be used as a sponge. Loofahs are abrasive, often used to exfoliate body skin.

Razor burn: describes any post-shave irritation. Common causes include placing too much pressure on the blade, dull blades, harsh soaps, and alcohol-containing products, to name a few.

2torial #0566: Learn2 Get a Clean, Close, Comfortable (Facial) Shave (Continued) Get that razor swinging Wet shave: The direction you shave in is important. You may seem to get a closer shave going against the grain (against the direction in which your whiskers grow), but this practice damages the hair shaft and the whiskers grow back thicker and tougher. If you're in the habit of shaving this way, it'll take some time to retrain your beard. But after two or three weeks of shaving with the grain, you'll get a closer shave that will also be easier on your skin. Dunk your clean razor into the sinkful of hot water. Make a short sweep down one side of your face with the grain.   After every few swipes, again dunk the razor in hot water and continue until you've uncovered every centimeter of skin.   Shave methodically. Patches of unshaved or slightly shaved skin are rather unsightly, and the sign of careless grooming. Any order will do, as long as you stay with it. Here's a sample order to give you an idea: the sideburn and upper cheek of one side, the jawbone, the entire neck area below the jawbone on both sides, the sideburn and upper cheek on the other side, the lower jaw and chin, and finally, the upper lip.   Stop the bloodshed: many shaving cuts are done during the movements between sweeps of the razor, not during the actual shaving motion. To reduce the incidence of shaving cuts, avoid moving the razor horizontally against your skin. Instead, lift the razor an inch or two (2.5-5 cm) off the surface of your skin and place down on the new location to be shaved. Dry shave: Adjust the razor--if you have the option--for your whisker type. Grasp the razor firmly but be flexible. Flip the "on" switch.   Pick a spot, say, by the hinge of your jaw. Then move upward, going against the direction of hair growth. If your shaver has three rotating blades, circular movements are best. With a straight-bladed razor, try long repetitive strokes. Chins can be difficult; feel free to maneuver both types for the best effect. Step 5