While beards are all the rage now, a good electric razor can never be underestimated!
You can be anywhere and have any beard length, electric razors will keep your facial hair trimmed and well-groomed.
Unlike traditional razors that come with many issues like blunt blades, rust, ingrown hair, etc. electric razors offer you a smooth shave without any irritation.
Related: Popular Beard Styles For Men
Related: Best Beard Growth Oil For Men
But how do you get the best of these razors? Do you use shaving cream with an electric razor? Do you need an aftershave?
I have tried to cover all this and more in the article below!
Do You Use Shaving Cream with an Electric Razor?
A lot of men get confused if they need a shaving cream with an electric razor or not. But the answer is pretty simple. If you’re having a dry shave then no, a shaving cream is not necessary. However, if you’re going for a wet shave then, yes you most definitely have to use a shaving cream with an electric razor.
Tips for Getting A Great Shave With An Electric Razor
Be Quick
The best tip to using an electric razor is to be quick about it. The longer you use an electric razor, the more the motor will heat up. A hot motor will not give you a clean and precise shave. So it’s best to get your shave done as quickly as possible.
Be Prepared
If you want a really neat and clean shave, it’s best to be prepared. Wash your face and neck thoroughly with a mild face cleanser.
Doing so will ensure that your skin is free of oil and dirt and help in making the shaving process easier.
Another good tip is to wash your face with warm water or take a hot shower before shaving.This will soften your facial hair and also open your pores, making it easier to remove any dirt or impurities.
There are several pre-shave products in the market today that prep your skin for shaving. This is especially important if you’re getting a wet shave.
Using a pre-shave will protect your skin from any dryness or irritation that usually results from shaving.
Use More Heads
Haven’t selected an electric razor for your shaving yet? Be careful to choose one with more heads. A lot of traditional shavers come with just one head.
But the modern versions come with three or more heads. These razors give you a better shave than ones with two or less heads.
Use A Higher Speed
If you have coarse or coily hair or have really thick hair, then one tip is to use razors with higher speed. This is an especially good tip for African American men.
I suggest a speed of 13,000 CPM or more. A lot of modern electric razors come with Turbo Mode that let you control the speed levels.
Always Apply A Shaving Cream
It’s always a good idea to use shaving cream with an electric razor. These creams help soften the hair and make the cuticles swell up by helping them absorb more water. And this, in turn, guarantees a close and smooth shave.
But not shaving creams are the same. Be sure to pick the best quality ones.
I’d suggest not going for the run-of-the-mill canned shaving creams. They often contain alcohol and other harsh ingredients that can dry out skin.
The best shaving creams are those that contain nourishing ingredients like aloe vera, natural oils, emollients, etc.
These creams do not just help during the shaving process, they leave your skin feeling soft later as well.
Create A Bit Of Lather Before Shaving
A lot of men have heard how lathering is important to getting a good shave. And yes, this is true but only for traditional razor blades.
If you were using traditional razors, you’d be using a boar brush or something similar to create more lather. Or perhaps you’d be using the foam straight out a tub instead of a shaving cream.
With traditional razors you need a thick, fluffy lather to function as lubricant and help them glide smoothly on your skin.
But electric razors barely touch your skin. So a thick lather isn’t necessary.
Moreover, if you have a really rich, thick lather, it might clog the blades. So make sure the lather is thin and watery.
Massage The Cream Against Your Hair Direction
Just applying the cream isn’t enough. You need to let it stay on your face a while to help it soften the facial hair.
I suggest leaving on the cream for at least 5 minutes before going for a shave.
Another thing to remember is to apply the shaving cream in the direction opposite to your hair growth.
Massaging the shaving cream this way will lift the strands of your beard and make it easier for your electric razor to shave them off.
If you find that the shaving cream is drying on your face, just wet your hands with warm water and tap it on these areas. It’ll help soften the cream a bit.
Angles Are Important (Shave Against The Grain)
Always shave against the grain when you are shaving your beard. You can feel your facial hair with your fingers to find how the strands are growing in different spots.
Then, use the electric razor to shave against the direction of hair growth.
Also, pull your skin tight with one hand while holding the razor at right angles in another. This ensures the shaver has maximum contact with your skin. And it also helps reduce the chances of skin getting nicked.
But this advice works best only for foil shavers which need to be used with a back and forth motion. If you’re using a rotary shaver, the process would be a bit different.
With rotary electric razors, it’s best to shave in circular motions. Go up, down, left and right, and move it in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.
Use A Good Electric Shaver
At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if you use shaving cream with an electric razor or apply aftershave later, you’ll never get a good shave if your razor isn’t up to the mark.
Some of the best electric razors in the market include products by companies like Philips, Wahl and Panasonic.
Make Sure It’s Always Charged
This piece of advice is for people using cordless chargers. If the battery on your electric razor is running low, it won’t work as well.
The low speed might make the blades tug and pull on your skin, making the shaving process uncomfortable. So always ensure your shaver is at full charge.
Use An After Shave Treatment
If you have sensitive skin, your face might still feel some effects caused by shaving like inflammation, redness, slight stinging, or more.
In this case, you can simply use an after shave lotion or cream to keep your skin protected.
I recommend products that do not contain alcohol as this ingredient can dry out skin.
Look for after shave treatments with anti-inflammatory ingredients like tea tree oil or aloe vera and make sure it suits your skin type.
Keep Your Skin Cool
Electric razors can heat up when you are using them, and this can irritate your skin. It’s especially bad for sensitive skin.
So when you are using these shavers, make sure to go over the neck or any other sensitive areas first, before the shaver has a chance of heating up too much.
Clean Electric Shaver After Use
Your electric razor requires as much TLC as your face. So make sure you spend some time on its maintenance as it helps in the long run.
Wash your electric razor after each use to remove any dirt or stray hair strands. You can simply use liquid dish soap and water to clean your razor.
But be careful, the soap can remove the lubrication on the razor blades, causing your razor to heat up more when you use it.
So after you wash your razor, apply a coat of lubricating oil or spray.
Stick With It And Keep It Fun
You need to get used to shaving with an electric razor. So does your skin! If you have been using a wet razor everyday, switching to electric shavers can make your skin feel inflamed at the beginning.
But you need to give it some time. And in the meanwhile, have fun!
You can always go back to dry shaving when you are in a hurry. But take time to enjoy wet shaving using a shaving cream.
How about making a weekly ritual of sorts?
If you were confused about using an electric shaver and whether or not you’re supposed to use shaving cream with it, I hope this article answered your questions.
These tips can help you get a better shave without any