Shaving 101 with Gents founder Nicole Sommer

What do most men have wrong when it comes to shaving (not using a proper lotion, shaving too quickly, not replacing blades often enough, etc.)?

Nearly 80% of men say shaving irritates their skin with razor burn being the most common complaint.  Men often cause razor burn by applying  too much pressure with their razor when shaving.  In addition, razor burn is often “product” burn. Many of the products that are designed for men are poorly formulated and contain far too many irritating ingredients like alcohol.  An aloe-based aftershave gel like Lev8 will ice you down in seconds after shaving, especially if you experience razor burn.

What is the best type of shaving cream to use and why?

Massage a quality shave cream, like Earth Science Shave Cream into the skin with upward motions. The best products will lock moisture into your whiskers and do not foam up – foam is merely soap filled water. Work that shave cream into your beard well to make sure your whiskers are softened into submission. Dry, rough beard hair can easily get entangled into your razor. Leave on one to three minutes before starting to shave.

How often should blades be replaced? Are there any benefits to using disposable razors versus just disposable blades versus electric shavers?  If so, what?

No matter how much you believe your razor is good enough for 1 or 2 more runs, any sight of rust is a bad sight. Always use a sharp blade. A dull blade is responsible for many shaving cuts as it drags over the face and catches the skin along with the hairs of the beard. Replace the blade every three to seven shaves.  Disposable razors are generally very lightweight and don’t’ give a man enough control.  Some have heads that don’t swivel and therefore don’t address the fact that your face has contour to it, making it more difficult to shave.  With an electric shaver you don’t need water or shaving cream and it is more difficult to cut yourself but you wouldn’t get as close a shave as with a traditional razor.  You also must have a source of electricity.

Should men alter their shaving routine in any way during colder winter months?

As skin can get dry and itchy in winter months, it’s even more important to finish up your shaving routine with a quality moisturizing lotion like Osea’s Atmosphere Protection Cream.  Shaving can remove up to two layer s of superficial skin and so you want to make sure that you’re protecting your skin from the elements.  It’s a good idea to moisturize in the evening as well since the skin loses more moisture at night.

How can men avoid nasty red bumps and ingrown hairs? If they already have them, how can they heal them best?’

Hair bumps occur when your hair, whether it is on your face or neck, begins to curl and dig into the hair follicle adjacent to the hair. When this occurs, irritation and inflammation occurs. Then, a razor bump or ingrown hair is born. Shaving often causes an ingrown hair problem to occur and that is why it is also referred to as razor bumps. Therefore, the best prevention technique is not to shave. Although this is a very logical approach, it is not very practical because not all men want facial hair.  Many individuals have found that shaving with an electric razor reduces the occurrence of hairs that are ingrown or razor bumps. This is likely due to the fact that electric razors do not shave as close as a wet blade. With blades, the shave is much closer and there is a greater chance of the cut and sharpened end of the hair to re-enter the hair follicle. Also, make sure that you set your electric razor’s setting to high in order to avoid close shaving.  The alternative is to practice proper shaving techniques consistently and  to follow certain shaving tips.

The best treatment is to moisturize the ingrown hair area several times a day and at night.  Also, use a multi-tasking cleanser like Osea Ocean Cleanser that cleans and exfoliates (gets rid of dead skin) since dead skin cells trap ingrown hairs underneath the skin’s surface.  The hair will eventually soften and liberate from the skin.  Shave the hair as usual and never tweeze.

Nicole Sommers is founder of Gents,LLC., a company which provides esthetician-endorsed shaving and skincare products for men.  She also offers shaving tips on both Gents Facebook fan page and on Twitter (@GentsSkinCare).