How to Use Shaving Cream
If you want to achieve the closest, most satisfying shave, then it’s not only important to use shaving cream, but to use it in the right way. Keep reading and discover Cremo’s ultimate guide to using shaving cream.
What is shaving cream?
This may seem like a question with a rather obvious answer, however many people confuse shaving cream with shaving gel and shaving foam.
The reality is that shaving cream is a very different type of product to shaving gels and foams.
As its name suggests, shaving cream is a type of cream made from a mix of acids, oils, soaps or surfactants, and water.
The exact ingredients will vary from product to product, but you’ll find that higher-end shaving creams - such as Cremo shaving creams - also include ingredients such as essential oils, which add a tasteful scent to the cream.
Premium shave creams also tend to include additional moisturising agents. These agents - such as glycol distearate - help to make the shaving experience smoother and better for people with sensitive skin.
Shaving cream is normally applied by hand and doesn’t require the use of a lathering brush or other type of applicator (although you can use a brush if you wish).
What are the benefits of using shaving cream?
Is it really worth using shaving cream? If you want to enjoy a smooth, comfortable shave and avoid nicks, cuts and skin irritation, then YES, it’s absolutely worth using shaving cream.
The benefits of using shaving cream include:
- > Allowing you to achieve a closer shave. A good-quality shaving cream will help to lift hairs away from your face, making it easier to cut them closer to the follicle.
- > Protecting your skin from cuts and other irritations.
- > Increasing the lifespan of your razor. The shaving cream helps to soften facial hair, making it easier for your razor to cut, reducing wear on the blade.
- > Moisturises and hydrates skin, leaving you with a fresh post-shave feeling.
In short, using shaving cream will provide you with a wealth of benefits!
How often should you use shaving cream?
Every time you shave! There really isn’t a case of using shaving cream ‘too often’.
Whether you shave every day or once or twice a week, we recommend using shaving cream every time you shave.
As you’ll have just read, using shaving cream has a number of benefits. The more you use shaving cream, the more you’ll enjoy these benefits!
Shaving equipment: what do you need for a shave?
Aside from shaving cream, you will also need a good-quality razor and a towel or washcloth that you can use pre- and post-shave.
In terms of razors, we’d recommend using what’s known as a ‘cartridge razor’. Cartridge razors have a number of benefits:
- > They’re easy to use with a very low learning curve.
- > They’re safer than alternative types of razors, such as cut-throat razors.
- > They typically have multiple blades, which enable you to achieve a very close, fine shave.
- > They often feature a built-in lubrication strip, which makes shaving even smoother and more comfortable.
- > They’re eco-friendly. When the time comes, you can replace the cartridge and continue to use the main body of the razor.
In addition to a quality razor, shaving cream and a towel, we’d also recommend investing in post-shave balm. This is a type of balm that is designed to be used immediately after a shave, closing up your pores and tightening your skin.
How to apply and use shaving cream
Once you’ve purchased some shaving cream and accompanying items such as a razor, it’s time to use it.
Below, we’ve set out a step-by-step guide to applying and using shaving cream.
1. Apply water to your face
The first step in correctly applying shaving cream is to moisten your face using warm water.
Ideally, you’ll do this by either hopping in the shower, or using a wet washcloth to soak your face and neck.
You want to allow your skin to soak for at least five minutes. This will allow your pores to open up and soften your skin in preparation for shaving. For best results, ensure the water is as hot as you can stand (but be careful not to burn yourself).
2. Apply the shaving cream to your palms
Once the skin on your face and neck has been thoroughly soaked and is feeling wet and soft, it’s time to pick up your shaving cream.
The majority of quality shaving creams are supplied in a squeezable tube with a flip top, making application easy.
Simply squeeze out an almond-sized amount of shaving gel onto your palm. Follow this by rubbing your palms together, allowing the shaving cream to become smooth and frothy. This should normally only take you about five to 10 seconds to achieve.
3. Apply the shaving cream to your face
With your face still wet, you want to begin transferring the shaving cream that’s in your palms onto your face.
The best way to do this is to rub the shaving cream on to your face and neck in a circular motion using your finger tips. For best results, rub against the grain of your hair growth. This helps to lift the hairs away from skin, suspending them within the shaving cream.
This will allow you to better cut the hairs, with your razor being able to cut closer to the follicle - the growth point of each hair.
Rubbing in the shaving cream using a circular motion will also help the moisturising elements within the cream to better penetrate your skin and open up your pores.
As many shaving creams are not transparent, you should be careful how you apply the cream next to parts of your face that you don’t want to shave. For example, be careful when applying shaving cream around the bottom of your sideburns; try to apply up to the edge and no further.
Continue to apply the shaving cream until you have completely covered the parts of your face and neck that you want to shave. Ideally, you’ll have spread out the shaving cream so that it is of a uniform thickness.
In terms of ‘how much’ shaving cream you should apply, the almond shape we mentioned earlier should be sufficient for most men. As a general rule, you should apply enough shaving cream that you can’t see the skin underneath.
4. Shaving
With the shaving cream applied evenly and uniformly across your face, it’s time to pick up your razor.
If you have a cartridge razor with a lubricated strip, the first thing you’ll want to do is run it under some hot water. This will help to ‘activate’ the lubrication strip and will make for a smoother, more comfortable shaving experience.
Be sure not to get your razor too wet, though; you want to make sure it’s not going to slip from your grasp once you start shaving.
Once you’ve run your razor under the tap, it’s time to actually start shaving.
Contrary to popular belief, you should not shave against the grain of your hair growth. People often think that shaving against the grain can help you achieve a closer shave. The opposite is the truth. Shaving against the grain can lead to irritation, inflaming your hair follicles and leading to razor burn and other unpleasant results.
Instead, you want to be shaving in the same direction that your hair grows in.
Using a mirror, shave your face in sections, being sure not to miss any hard-to-reach areas. Pay particular attention to those areas where you’re shaving against or along your hairline, e.g. sideburns, moustache etc.
If you’re determined to achieve the closest shave possible, then ensure that the skin you’re shaving is taut. For example, when shaving your cheeks, open your mouth and lower your jaw. This will pull the skin tight, allowing you to shave as close as possible to the follicles. Likewise, when you’re shaving your neck, tilt your head back and look up, as this will pull the skin on your neck tight.
In between each stroke of your razor, we recommend giving it a rinse under the hot water tap in order to remove the hairs it has just cut. If you want to save water, then fill your sink with hot water and shake the razor through it in order to dislodge the freshly cut hairs from its blades. If necessary, use a flicking action with your wrist to really dislodge hairs from the razor.
5. Post-shave aftercare
Once you’re satisfied that you’ve shaved everywhere you need to, it’s time for a bit of post-shave aftercare.
Begin by removing any remnants of shaving cream that may still be on your face or neck. The best way to do this is to rinse it off using warm water from your tap. Once you’ve done this, we’d recommend giving your face another rinse, but this time with cold water.
The application of cold water will help to soothe your skin and close up your pores.
The next step in the post-shave process is to dry your face off with gentle dabs of a dry towel.
Follow this up by applying some post-shave balm.
Buy Now - Cremo Cooling Post Shave Balm
If you select a balm such as our Cooling Post Shave Balm, then you’ll enjoy an ice-cold sensation as the menthol and healing ingredients (including shea butter, baobab seed oil, and tamanu seed oil), soothe and hydrate your skin.
Finally, if you also want to embark upon a regular skincare routine, we’d recommend applying a face scrub, face wash and face moisturiser.
And, that’s it! That’s the proper way to use shaving cream to achieve a perfect shave.
What are the best shaving creams for men?
Are you looking for the best shaving cream to use at home and on your travels? Then you’ll love the three shaving creams we’ve detailed below.
Cremo Original Shave Cream
Buy Now - Cremo Original Shave Cream
The original and the best. That’s Cremo’s Original Shave Cream, which has a formula which has got everyone talking.
Featuring a subtle citrus scent and a blend of essential oils, the Cremo Original Shave Cream will leave you smelling great during and after your shave.
The Cremo Original Shave Cream has also been formulated to offer an incredibly smooth shave. That’s achieved thanks to the cream’s unique molecules, which become super slick when mixed with water.
The result is a shaving cream that will leave you with impossibly smooth and great-smelling skin.
Cremo Palo Santo (Reserve Collection) Shave Cream
Buy Now - Cremo Palo Santo (Reserve Collection) Shave Crea
If you want to use a shaving cream that leaves you smelling of a complex and attractive scent, then you’ll love the Cremo Palo Santo Shave Cream.
Featuring the same unique molecules that make our Original Shave Cream such a delight to shave with, the Cremo Palo Santo Shave Cream is also imbued with notes of dry papyrus, bright cardamom and, of course, aromatic palo santo.
Olive, papaya, and lemon extracts add further exotic and delightful scents to make this a shaving cream quite unlike any other on the market.
Cremo Cooling Shave Cream
Buy Now - Cremo Cooling Shave Cream
Do you want to finish your shave feeling cool and refreshed? Then check out the Cremo Cooling Shave Cream.
Packed with a lively blend of peppermint, menthol and tea tree oil, the Cremo Cooling Shave Cream will leave you feeling refreshed and reinvigorated following a shave.
Thanks to its unique molecules, the Cremo Cooling Shave Cream becomes incredibly slick when mixed with water, so it’ll help you achieve a very fine, smooth shave as well as leaving you feeling refreshed.
Cremo Barber Grade Shaving Bundle
Buy Now - Cremo Barber Grade Shaving Bundle
Save time and money by purchasing a shaving cream, razor and replacement blades in one handy bundle!
The Cremo Barber Grade Shaving Bundle includes a tube of our much talked about Original Shave Cream, one of our amazing Barber Grade Razors, and a pack of replacement blades that’ll have you shaving in no time.
If you need to refresh your shaving kit, then this is the bundle for you.
Upgrade your shaving game with Cremo today
As you’ve just read, a high-quality shaving cream is the key ingredient to a smooth, irritation-free shave.
And, you can’t get higher-quality shaving creams than Cremo’s. Our shaving creams are formulated to not only deliver the smoothest-possible shaving experience, but to leave you feeling and smelling amazing.
Enjoy a superior shaving experience with Cremo.
