Why? Because I care. And, that’s the job of a barber - to make sure that his/her clients always look their best!

The beginning – Prep: Cleaning and exfoliating allows for the skin and beard to be in the best condition (clean & soft). Sticking with a moisture rich shave cream not only aids in further softening the beard, it also protects the skin from the blade. Because the job of the blade is to cut the hair, not the skin. Adding a pre-shave oil adds to greater comfort and closeness… consider it!

**If you feel that shaving across or against the grain is necessary after your 1st pass (with the grain), make sure you always, always, always re-lather prior to changing direction! (Remember my “baby-butt-smooth” rule.)

The end – Post Shave/Refresh: A wet-shave is an exfoliation of the skin; therefore, the skin is far more susceptible to being dry. To prepare for this possibility, always use a mild fragranced or unscented after shave balm that is designed to quicken the healing process while also moisturizing the skin. This puts you – the shaver, in a better position to handle your next shave without fearing any pain.

For the step-by-step process of my recommended shaving techniques – click here!

Join me, this weekend at Bloomingdale’s - White Plains, Bergen and 59th Street.

• Friday – January 27th, 3 – 8pm (White Plains)
• Saturday – January 28th, 12 – 5pm (Bergen)
• Sunday – January 29th, 12 – 6pm (59th Street)

I will be partnering up with Lab Series Skincare for Men to help every man look his best at all three of these locations. Come in to get a free grooming consultation from yours truly!

Hope to see you there!

So the short answer is … no, shaving daily does not cause shaving bumps. You can rest your skin as long as you’d like, but unless you change the way you shave, you’ll keep getting those bumps.

The primary cause of shaving bumps — also known as “ingrown hairs” — is hair growing back into the skin. So the frequency of shaves isn’t the root of the problem; it’s the method of shaving. Proper preparation, along with shaving with the grain, is the best way to keep the hair above the skin line. As long as you keep the hair above the skin line, the hair has more of an opportunity to continue growing outside of the skin, therefore greatly reducing the chances of getting shaving bumps.

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**From Craig the Barber’s expert Q+A at Men’s Life Today

My answer…

Yes, I always follow these steps!  Why? Not only do these steps work, but they work well.

You know,  we should all take time to consider pushing the reset button on how we perceive proper grooming, especially in the shaving category.  The face is the first thing someone sees, and first impressions still reign supreme.  So take a look at my steps and consider following them.  In no time you will see better results both on your face and in your social life!

Remember, the goal is to shave the hair to give a cleaner visual appearance.  Sometimes “baby butt” smooth should be left for babies!

Side Note:  From time to time I personally notice irritation on my neck from shaving multiple times a week.  So there is nothing wrong with shaving your face with a razor and your irritated area with trimmers for a few days.  Or, switch it up all together and  just use trimmers for a couple days to give your face a rest.

But with that being said, I’d have to admit that when it comes to shave foams, I truly prefer other methods of achieving a great lather.  Hey, I completely understand the rationale for their use… “to allow for the development of a quicker lather”. With shortcuts; however, there will always be sacrifices, and in this case it’s the most important one- moisture. Without enough moisture, there is a greater risk of razor burn, nicks, and hair-pulling - which can lead to ingrown hairs. At this point, I’m not convinced that the current foams on the market offer enough moisture to be considered a preferred aid to shaving.

You see, in a world of sharper blades and men finding ways to shave faster (slow down guys, really…), there should never be a question of whether there’s ample moisture on your face. So try to stick with one that will leave no doubt. Trust me, if you Dad or Grand-dad had these many choices today, he’d completely agree!

*For those of you willing to take the challenge of finding an alternative to the old school shave foam, you can start by trying out the 2011′s Must Have Shaving Cream!

Video Review

The truly fog-free shave mirror by The Shave Well Company

Rating: ★★★★★ 

An aftershave balm

With over 30 years of experience in the field of barbering in the United Kingdom, Master Barber – Ian Kane owner of The Village Barber product line, has seen his share of shaving irritation. So with that in mind, he successfully created an aftershave balm that can stand up to the challenge!

Great fragrance, all natural, chemical/paraben free and filled with more essential oils than you can count. And the best part,  it works well!

What more do you need? Get it! 

Rating: ★★★★¾ 

There isn’t a week that goes by that I don’t get asked this question by a new visitor to the barbershop.  Ok, so I might be exaggerating a bit.  But, I can understand how movies like the Untouchables and Eastern Promises can give us barbers a bad rep, making almost any man a bit nervous at the thought of getting a professional straight razor shave, but relax.

Barbers who advertise straight razor shaves are generally well trained in getting the shave close…but not that close!  Besides, actually cutting someone to the point where it gets ugly won’t happen with a “pro” behind the blade or even a novice for that matter.  Now, a “pro” fessional hitman…that’s a different topic entirely!

So, if you’ve ever wanted a good old-fashioned straight razor shave, do your research, and ask around for good place to get one.  But by all means, please, do not let fear deprive you of one of the most relaxing services only a man can appreciate.

I promise you will love it!

Oh, one more thing.  The more you go, the more relaxed you will become.  And, for the record, falling asleep during a shave my friend, is the best compliment you could ever pay your barber!

Enjoy!

An aftershave balm is the key component in assuring that freshly shaved skin is properly healed and moisturized. So that’s where the Pure & Natural Aftershave Balm (previously October’s 2011 – POTM) comes into play!

With over 30 years of experience in the field of barbering in the United Kingdom, Master Barber – Ian Kane owner of The Village Barber product line, has seen his share of shaving irritation. So with that in mind, he successfully created an aftershave balm that can stand up to the challenge!

Great fragrance, all natural, chemical/paraben free and filled with more essential oils than you can count. And the best part,  it works well!

What more do you need? Get it! 

Rating: ★★★★¾ 

Sure I was skeptical, but who can pass up an opportunity to save a few bucks on razor cartridge refills?

The EverBlade system is constructed with a plastic frame that allows for the complete razor handle and blades to be housed comfortably for convenient storage. The blades themselves rest on top of a copper plate where all the “magic” seems to happen. The copper plate acts as a mild energy field just strong enough to repel microscopic debris from the thin edge of a razor – thereby leaving the blade sharper longer.

Since my initial review on this product, I continued to use the EverBlade system to see just how far I could really go without having to change my blades. And to be quite honest, I have successfully had 20+ great shaves with the same razor. Considering the price of razor blade replacements, a $20 EverBlade system is a smart investment!

Rating: ★★★★¼