For many years the traditional wet shave has been an acceptable means of pampering for men all over the globe, and with barbering’s popularity boosted by current fashion trends, chaps are desperately searching for ways to re-enact this luxury in the comfort of their own homes.

Luckily, premium men’s grooming brand The Bluebeards Revenge has provided High Street Journal with its top tips for achieving the perfect home shave.

Put simply, the perfect home shave can be broken down in to three steps: preparation, the shave, and skin protection.

Preparation:

Hot towels are used in barbershops to soften the follicles of your facial hair, producing a shave with less razor resistance and irritation. At home, this can be achieved by taking a hot shower and shaving with warm water. Removing impurities and build ups of dirt that cling to the skin and facial hair with a mild face scrub will also help to produce a smoother shave overall. Pre-shave oil should also be used to moisturise your face and beard prior to applying a shaving cream. This provides a crucial layer of lubrication to help protect your skin from cuts during your shave.

The shave:

Combining a shaving brush with a rich, luxurious shaving cream will allow you to reach the same levels of relaxation that are achieved in your local barber’s chair. An almond-sized dollop of The Bluebeards Revenge Shaving Cream will whip up a fantastic lather when added to a little water. Spreading this across your jawline with a shaving brush will help to exfoliate the skin while lifting stubborn hairs in preparation for your first pass.

A quality razor with a sharp blade is essential when in the pursuit of a fine shave, whether it’s a double-edge safety razor, a straight razor, or a modern cartridge razor. For the closest finish, start your first pass by shaving in the direction of your hair’s natural growth, then shave across the grain, and finally against it. With every change of direction it’s important to re-lather. If your skin is a tad sensitive, then a three-pass shave may not be for you, so avoid shaving against the grain.

Protection:

Always start by rinsing your face with cold water to help close the skin’s pores and remove any excess shaving cream.

Hopefully you’ll finish your shave cut-free. But if not, then seek the help of an alum block. Alum blocks are designed to help seal cuts and are a great first step in protecting your skin post-shave. Nothing looks more ridiculous than wads of toilet paper clinging to your face, and an alum block will certainly remove this embarrassment. But be warned, they sting a little upon application.

Finish your manly pampering session by applying a high quality post-shave balm to help reduce irritation and redness in between shaves. When selecting a post-shave balm, always look for ingredients that possess a ‘cooling’ effect such as Aloe Vera, Witch Hazel, or even Prickly Pear!

Has Bluebeard sought revenge?

We must admit we’re not ones for usual embracing the wet shave, but when The Bluebeards Revenge got in touch with the offer of testing out one of their shaving sets, naturally, we was only too happy to oblige.

The Bluebeards Revenge describe themselves as “the ultimate shaving experience for real men”. As a real man (as opposed to those pretend ones), we jumped at the suggestion of trying out the ‘Scimitar’ Razor Kit, which is basically a cut-throat razor.

The Bluebeard’s Revenge is aimed at men with facial hair that grows at a rate of knots. With its ‘Bum Fluff Brigade’ and ‘Not for girls!’ slogans, some naysayers may consider it to be a little immature, but as a fan of tongue-in-cheek humour, I’m rather fond of The Bluebeards Revenge.

As novices when it comes to wet shaving, we must admit the products have been easy on our skin and a pleasure to use. If you’re a first time wet-shaver, with quite coarse facial hair, you’ll have no nicks, cuts and definitely won’t need an eye patch after use.

On this occasion, luckily, we’ll have to say Bluebeard hasn’t sought revenge, but he has provided us with a smooth chin and a great kit for shaving. It’s definitely worth a look!

Visit www.bluebeards-revenge.co.uk to stock up on a full range of manly grooming product and read more expert tips.