Little Things that Improve a Shave

That's what I use!! I sometimes even use a moisturizer post-shave that has 0.5% salicyclic acid. AHA, BHA & LHA are our friends!! 

Excellent and thanks for chiming in. 

Sunscreen and other products are needed for a well rounded skincare routine.  It is not just the shave.

It may be a guy thing but surprisingly, taking care of your skin results in healthier skin.  Who knew?  In addition to the products mentioned (or similar) its important to be gentle with your skin, especially the face.  I know that for a lot of guys, especially the younger guys there can be problems with oily skin and breakouts or razor bumps and ingrown hairs.  The temptation is to go after the problem areas with high strength cleansers and scrub it all away.  Thats a mistake.  Be gentle on the skin, no scrubbing and tugging and stretching - your face takes enough abuse as it is, just boldly leading the way, unprotected as you move through your day.  Time will take its toll on your skin, especially your face but there's no reason why you should be helping the aging process along.

Great advice Marko.


The need for a skincare routine cannot be overemphasized.  Women have got it down to pat with an AM and PM routines. This is in addition to makeup.  I would recommend following a routine that includes cleansers, toners, serum, moisturizers and eye cream. And sunscreen every day.  

Attention to details. Everything in shaving has certain proper steps. Those steps may vary from person to person but without repeatable routine, a repeatable shave can't work.

The need for a skincare routine cannot be overemphasized.  Women have got it down to pat with an AM and PM routines. This is in addition to makeup.  I would recommend following a routine that includes cleansers, toners, serum, moisturizers and eye cream. And sunscreen every day.  

Some women, not all. Too many people today are suckered in by snazzy advertising and some swanky celebrity. Me, I read the science & the reviews before trying any new skin product.

I've this habit of trying different techniques, products to enable a good quality shave.

In my experience, prepping plays an important part in getting a comfortable and good shave.

1. Firstly,I use a face wash with lukewarm water to soften my beard.
2. Clinique skin toner to further remove any dead skin which might get in the way to a smooth glide.
3. A Preshave surely helps. Been using Castle Forbes for sometime and it does make a difference to the shave. Need to try GD Preshave though.
4. Smaller knotted brushes(24-26mm)give me more control in terms of lather generation and scrubbing my face.
5.Loading the soap as if I hate it gives me the right amount of glide n lather.
6.I prefer using a milder razor with a sharp blade and vice versa. Balancing act is important.
7. Don't try to get more than required shaves from a blade. Always use sharp blades and bin them before they get dull. Blades are cheaper but a quality shave is priceless.
8. A good post shave toner, balm or Moisturizer is an added bonus and I always ensure to use it after my shaves. Keeps my face hydrated and soft.



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A quality facial cleanser that is milder in its "soap" properties but contains active ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid would help.  A glycolic acid wash/toner in the night before shaving is a great exfoliator for the overall face that includes non shaven parts like forehead, around the nasolabial folds.

any particular facial cleanser you recommend?

(1). Take your razor apart after each shave, wipe the pieces, and then lay them out on a towel to dry thoroughly. Blades will rust and stain a razor if they're left inside it. Soap scum builds up, too. A daily cleaning keeps the rust and stains at bay and makes the razor all the more inviting when it comes time to shave again.

(2). Brushes are made to hold a lot of water. Drying them can take a long time, especially in a humid climate. I use a housepainter's trick to dry my brushes. I take a string and tie a slip knot around the base of the brush and then dangle it upside down in a breezy window for a day. The next morning it's dry and smells of nothing more than yesterday's lather.

Bouki - i do exactly that with my razor and blades. Full clean wipe down and with a qtip - and only use a blade for 3 uses. Cold water shave but hot water shower b4 shave. I also go "backwards " in that i will go with afs and asb b4 i lather. Seems to get my skin ready. Weird but works.

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I like things neat and clean. So, I have an extra hand towel or clean washcloth to wipe up spills and any lather that makes it over the edges.

I agree that keeping a tidy shaving area is important.  Sometimes its a problem when you are sharing your bathroom with your spouse, girlfriend or a roommate  - people don't always share the same concept of "neat and tidy". I picked up this reasonably priced Japanese lacquer tray on Amazon a couple of years back and I keep my "on deck" razor and brush on it.  I put it up on a shelf when I'm done to keep it out of the way and pull it down when I'm getting ready to shave.

https://www.amazon.com/Kotobuki-Black-La...CFP9FBB4M7

Keeping in the same theme I also got this Japanese lacquer three tier bento box to serve as razor storage.  It looks good and at least to me, seems more suited to razor storage than lunch.  I've put some liner down in the trays and it holds plenty of razors.

https://www.amazon.com/JapanBargain-S-41...GSP698VCC3

A quality facial cleanser that is milder in its "soap" properties but contains active ingredients like salicylic acid or glycolic acid would help.  A glycolic acid wash/toner in the night before shaving is a great exfoliator for the overall face that includes non shaven parts like forehead, around the nasolabial folds.

any particular facial cleanser you recommend?

I like Skinceuticals Glycolic Cleanser. Little spendy but coming from a company whose original founder was behind the Vitamin C patent or Duke University Vitamin C patent.  This product has glycolic acid at 8% and salicylic acid too or both AHA and BHA for exfoliation. The cleansing part is done by surfactants that are not high in pH and not soap ingredients. 

It will burn for some of us due to the high concentration of peeling ingredients.  Sunscreen is a must after use of this product.

I'm sure most of us know these:

To keep your razor holding fingers from getting too slippery, rub slightly moistened fingers on to your alum block. Your fingers will remain grippy throughout your shave.

If you use a squeegee to keep your shower area clean, avoid using those stylish metal squeegees.  They can damage the tiles or your foot if you drop them.  There are plenty of nice all plastic ones available on Amazon.  And they're way cheaper too.

If you use a long handled brush to scrub your body in the shower, loop the little hanging cord on the end around your little finger while scrubbing - it helps to avoid dropping the brush when it gets slippery.  Kent makes a smaller brush called a Shower Bat that has a large hole drilled in the end that comfortably accommodates your little finger for the same security reasons.  Good design.