For many men, electric shaving is the only option for bypassing some of the problems associated with traditional shaving.
After making the actual switch some will be faced with the sudden realization that it isn’t exactly what they were hoping for: the shaving experience hasn’t improved to a significant degree or, even worse, it hasn’t improved at all. Things will eventually get better once your skin will adapt to the new shaving method and your technique will improve, but there are still some simple and easy to implement tweaks that can really make a difference.
Here are 7 of the most common electric shaving mistakes and how to fix them:
1. Applying too much pressure and using multiple passes.
An electric shaver will never shave as close as a blade; there is a physical barrier between your skin and the cutting blades. Of course, some will get really close due to some cleverly designed parts, but the aforementioned fact still remains true.
Therefore, in order to compensate this drawback or to get a few stubborn hairs, you may be tempted to apply more pressure. My advice is to absolutely avoid doing so; it won’t do anything in terms of closeness, but it will give you painful razor burn and irritation. If you constantly find yourself in this situation, having to press harder and go over certain areas multiple times, make sure that:
The foil and/or cutting blades are still in good condition. Depending on your particular razor and shaving habits, these parts can wear out pretty fast. Make sure to replace them when this happens.
The battery has enough juice in it. A dying battery will have trouble powering the motor and cutting the hair, forcing you to go over the same area multiple times. Pulling and tugging can also occur, increasing the chances of irritation.
Your particular shaver is up to the task – which leads us to the next point.
2. Not using a shaver that’s suitable for the job.
The straight fact is that some electric shavers are simply more capable than others and more suitable for a particular job than others. Some are better for sensitive skin, other are better at dealing with longer hair, others are small and light and great for traveling and so on. If you have a two days beard for example, with coarse hair and different growth patterns you’ll definitely feel the difference when using a powerful razor suitable for this scenario.
I’m not saying that you have to spend big money on the most feature packed razors; there are definitely some very capable budget friendly shavers out there. Just make sure you do some research prior to buying one. Our reviews section is a good place to start. Remember, there isn’t such thing as the best shaver, but the one that is right for you, considering all the above aspects and your budget.
3. Not giving your shaver a proper cleaning after each use.
Not all the electric razors come with a cleaning and charging station. In fact, this is usually a characteristic of the more expensive ones. If yours doesn’t have one, a manual cleaning is absolutely mandatory after each use in order to keep your shaver functioning properly. Hair, dead skin and dirt will alter the performance and aren’t good for hygiene.
Fortunately, almost all electric razors can be easily cleaned with a bit of liquid soap under running tap water (provided that they are waterproof). Just make sure you follow the procedure recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Not trimming you hair if it’s too long for the shaver to handle.
Dealing with long hair continues to be one of the weak points of all electric shavers. Trimming your facial hair with a basic hair trimmer prior to shaving is highly recommended if you have a long beard.
5. Not using a pre-electric lotion.
Keeping your beard and razor dry is extremely important for the comfort and closeness of the shave. In addition to that, you can also include a pre-electric lotion as part of your prep work. Williams Lectric Shave or Afta by Mennen are two of the most popular products and they do a good job of drying and also lifting the hairs that lie flat.
6. Not including a post-shave treatment.
Just because you’re not using a blade anymore doesn’t mean you shouldn’t follow up your shaving with a soothing and hydrating balm. Avoid the ones containing alcohol, artificial fragrances and parabens as they are prone to cause irritations.
7. Not giving wet shaving a try.
Ok, this is not an actual mistake, but more like something you could be missing out on. Wet electric shaving can make a significant difference in your shaving experience, especially if you have sensitive skin.
If your razor is waterproof and can be used wet and dry then go ahead and add a quality shaving cream. You can also check out our tips and recommendations for wet electric shaving. If you think that all this hassle pretty much defies the purpose of an electric shaver that you just grab, use & job done, I can totally understand. But if it can yield significantly better results then I think the extra work is totally justified.
After making the actual switch some will be faced with the sudden realization that it isn’t exactly what they were hoping for: the shaving experience hasn’t improved to a significant degree or, even worse, it hasn’t improved at all. Things will eventually get better once your skin will adapt to the new shaving method and your technique will improve, but there are still some simple and easy to implement tweaks that can really make a difference.
Here are 7 of the most common electric shaving mistakes and how to fix them:
1. Applying too much pressure and using multiple passes.
An electric shaver will never shave as close as a blade; there is a physical barrier between your skin and the cutting blades. Of course, some will get really close due to some cleverly designed parts, but the aforementioned fact still remains true.
Therefore, in order to compensate this drawback or to get a few stubborn hairs, you may be tempted to apply more pressure. My advice is to absolutely avoid doing so; it won’t do anything in terms of closeness, but it will give you painful razor burn and irritation. If you constantly find yourself in this situation, having to press harder and go over certain areas multiple times, make sure that:
The foil and/or cutting blades are still in good condition. Depending on your particular razor and shaving habits, these parts can wear out pretty fast. Make sure to replace them when this happens.
The battery has enough juice in it. A dying battery will have trouble powering the motor and cutting the hair, forcing you to go over the same area multiple times. Pulling and tugging can also occur, increasing the chances of irritation.
Your particular shaver is up to the task – which leads us to the next point.
2. Not using a shaver that’s suitable for the job.
The straight fact is that some electric shavers are simply more capable than others and more suitable for a particular job than others. Some are better for sensitive skin, other are better at dealing with longer hair, others are small and light and great for traveling and so on. If you have a two days beard for example, with coarse hair and different growth patterns you’ll definitely feel the difference when using a powerful razor suitable for this scenario.
I’m not saying that you have to spend big money on the most feature packed razors; there are definitely some very capable budget friendly shavers out there. Just make sure you do some research prior to buying one. Our reviews section is a good place to start. Remember, there isn’t such thing as the best shaver, but the one that is right for you, considering all the above aspects and your budget.
3. Not giving your shaver a proper cleaning after each use.
Not all the electric razors come with a cleaning and charging station. In fact, this is usually a characteristic of the more expensive ones. If yours doesn’t have one, a manual cleaning is absolutely mandatory after each use in order to keep your shaver functioning properly. Hair, dead skin and dirt will alter the performance and aren’t good for hygiene.
Fortunately, almost all electric razors can be easily cleaned with a bit of liquid soap under running tap water (provided that they are waterproof). Just make sure you follow the procedure recommended by the manufacturer.
4. Not trimming you hair if it’s too long for the shaver to handle.
Dealing with long hair continues to be one of the weak points of all electric shavers. Trimming your facial hair with a basic hair trimmer prior to shaving is highly recommended if you have a long beard.
5. Not using a pre-electric lotion.
Keeping your beard and razor dry is extremely important for the comfort and closeness of the shave. In addition to that, you can also include a pre-electric lotion as part of your prep work. Williams Lectric Shave or Afta by Mennen are two of the most popular products and they do a good job of drying and also lifting the hairs that lie flat.
6. Not including a post-shave treatment.
Just because you’re not using a blade anymore doesn’t mean you shouldn’t follow up your shaving with a soothing and hydrating balm. Avoid the ones containing alcohol, artificial fragrances and parabens as they are prone to cause irritations.
7. Not giving wet shaving a try.
Ok, this is not an actual mistake, but more like something you could be missing out on. Wet electric shaving can make a significant difference in your shaving experience, especially if you have sensitive skin.
If your razor is waterproof and can be used wet and dry then go ahead and add a quality shaving cream. You can also check out our tips and recommendations for wet electric shaving. If you think that all this hassle pretty much defies the purpose of an electric shaver that you just grab, use & job done, I can totally understand. But if it can yield significantly better results then I think the extra work is totally justified.