Well this is still not equivalent to standing in front of the mirror with your dad standing next to you teaching you how to shave, that precious father son time. I’d like to think it’s close enough though.
1. Poor preperation
Splashing some water on your face for a few seconds is not enough to get lathered. It usually takes up to three minutes to hydrate the skin before shaving.
Gently wash with warm water and a soap specifically made for the face — body or deodorant bars will strip away too much of the skin’s natural oils, drying the skin and making shaving more difficult. If you’re young and struggling with acne, you may want to avoid using a washcloth (vigorous scrubbing can irritate the skin and make acne worse). Don’t neglect preparing the neck too!
2.Ignoring grain
Hair usually grow in a particular direction and doesn’t go haywire. This is called grain. To figure out the direction let the hair grow for a while then feel your face and try and gauge, when you move your hand is it smooth or hard.
This is important because, as you are a new shaver, to avoid irritation and nicks, shaving along the grain is way easier.
Also it’s mort important to shave along the grain if you’re using a multi-grain razor.
3.Too much pressure
Applying a lot of pressure is one of the most common mistakes made. Razor blades are at their most efficient when cutting across a flat surface and pressing down creates a “ditch” that can cause irritation and an inconsistent shave.
Modern razors usually help a great deal in solving the pressure problem with all those fancy fins attached below the razor cartridge but all that isn’t necessary rather just tilt your head to one side and rest the razor on your cheek, that’s all the pressure required.
4.Incorrect blade angle
Shaving with the blade at too steep of an angle is another frequent cause of irritation and nicks. This is actually two different issues.
If you’re making the transition from a cartridge razor to a double-edge there’s a tendency to hold the razor the same way. However, that is usually too steep of an angle. Hold the razor so that its top cap is resting on your face, then rock the handle down until the blade edge is just touching the skin.
On the other hand, if you are using a cartridge razor, you are locked into a specific angle set by the manufacturer. Unfortunately it is some engineer’s guess (or maybe some marketer’s guess) of what the average angle should be for most people. The problem is, you are not most people. You are you. What works for one person may not work for another.
5. Repeating strokes
The tendency to repeat strokes — that is, going over the same spot again and again at the same time. It is a habit many people pick up, but it’s a sure-fire way to get razor burn. New shavers should make a conscious effort to make mindful strokes that only slightly overlap. If you miss a spot, you can re-lather and catch it on the next pass. Keeping these small tips in mind will help you out a lot in the long run.
– See more at: http://www.themancompany.com/blog/mistakesnewwetshaversmake#sthash.KXmnLP5o.dpuf
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