Shaving your beard is one of those almost daily tasks that seems simple. Yet, razor burn, redness, small pimples, and ingrown hairs are never far away. Discover the essential steps and products for shaving your beard properly with a razor and achieving perfect results.
1. Prepare the skin for shaving
Before shaving, it's important to cleanse your skin. A perfect shave requires a clean, clear surface. This first step in cleansing the skin helps rid the epidermis of all traces of dead skin cells, excess sebum, and impurities. Shaving can create micro-cuts that are invisible to the naked eye, and by purifying your skin before shaving, you prevent bacteria from entering, proliferating, and creating the famous "razor bumps."
Our tip: Use a cleansing product like Optimale Complete Face and Body Shower Gel before shaving and rinse it off with warm water. Steam, one of barbers' beauty secrets, opens pores, softens hairs, making them more malleable and easier to work with, and makes shaving easier. You can also shave after a nice hot shower.
2. Shave the beard
Before shaving, the first step is to prepare the hair and reduce friction between the skin and the razor. The goal? To protect the face from cuts and prevent redness that can occur during and after shaving. Applying shaving gel or shaving foam in light circular motions, starting at the neck and working up to the beard area, helps straighten the hair and makes it easier for the blade to glide.
The new Optimale Foaming Shaving Gel effectively protects and soothes the skin. The smithsonite it contains is rich in zinc, a natural antibacterial and essential trace element for the skin. It helps maintain healthy epidermis. Arnica, a mountain plant with yellow flowers, has been known since the Middle Ages as an exceptional remedy for wounds. Its soothing and healing properties act quickly. Finally, licorice root is particularly rich in saponin, which has anti-inflammatory properties. It is recommended for sensitive and reactive skin. In short, with Optimale Foaming Shaving Gel, your freshly shaved skin is soft and comfortable!
Now you can begin shaving. It's recommended to always follow the direction of hair growth to avoid ingrown hairs. Start shaving with your sideburns, work your way down to your cheeks, and finish with your neck and chin. Use long, methodical strokes instead of short, quick, and haphazard ones. Going over the same area multiple times with the razor increases the risk of irritation. Regularly rinse the blade under hot water during shaving to remove hairs, as well as skin and shaving product residue. If you want an even closer shave, you can repeat the entire process—shaving gel, shaving, rinsing—but this time, use only one stroke and in the opposite direction of hair growth.
3. Soothe skin after shaving
It's time to rinse off any product residue and any small hairs stuck to your face with cool water. This helps close pores. Pat your face dry (don't rub!) with a towel, then apply aftershave. The finishing touch to any shaving routine, this product provides much-needed relief to your overheated skin. It protects your face from external aggressions for the rest of the day.
The Soothing After-Shave Lotion instantly and lastingly soothes razor burn. It helps limit the appearance of ingrown hairs and redness. Soothed, the skin is fresh and comfortable. Based on smithsonite and arnica like its counterpart, the shaving gel from the same range, this treatment contains white willow bark, a plant-based salicylic acid. Its keratolytic action helps remove dead cells accumulated on the skin's surface, smoothing the texture and stimulating cell renewal. You'll love its masculine scent with fresh, woody notes.
It's important to remember that proper razor maintenance is essential for achieving a perfect shave. A dirty, poorly maintained, or old razor increases the chances of creating cuts or redness.
That’s it, you’re ready to start your day with confidence and serenity!
