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HELPFUL TIPS FROM THE CLIP JOYNTE BARBER SHOP ON SHAVING YOUR FACE
STEP ONE: PREP
Always shave after or at the end of a shower in order to soften the beard, open the pores, and cleanse the skin. When in a hurry however, a warm towel and splash of water can be used as a substitute. Always make sure to apply a good shaving cream. I swear by Neutrogena Men® Razor Defense Gel and ClubMan Shave Creame. Stay away from gels and other products which contain menthol that will close your pores and stiffen your beard. If you have a tough beard or very sensitive skin you may want to apply a pre-shave oil before you apply a shaving cream. We recommend Tea Tree oil from American Crew. A good prep is vital to soften the beard and minimize irritation. Also, make sure you change your blade at least once per week - dull blades play hell on your face.
STEP TWO: SHAVE
Use a clean, sharp razor such as the Gillette Mach3. Start by shaving WITH the grain (the direction the hair grows). This will minimize cuts, irritation, in-grown hairs and razor burn. Glide the razor gently over your face. Avoid applying pressure and rinse your blade often. If you must have a closer shave, re-lather and shave lightly against the grain. After shaving, close the pores with a rinse of cool water. If using a shaving brush, always hang the brush to dry with the bristles facing downward.
STEP THREE: TONE
Many men make the mistake of stopping with step two, but the following is important to keep your skin healthy and to protect from signs of aging. After rinsing with cool water, tone the skin with an alcohol-free astringent. This can remove dead skin and excess dirt and oils.
HISTORY OF BARBERING:
The word "barber" comes from the Latin word "barba," meaning beard. It may surprise you to know that the earliest records of barbers show that they were the foremost men of their tribe. They were the medicine men and the priests. But primitive man was very superstitious and the early tribes believed that both good and bad spirits, which entered the body through the hairs on the head, inhabited every individual. The bad spirits could only be driven out of the individual by cutting the hair, so various fashions of hair cutting were practiced by the different tribes and this made the barber the most important man in the community. In fact, the barbers in these tribal days arranged all marriages and baptized all children. They were the chief figures in religious ceremonies. During these ceremonies, the hair was allowed to hang loosely over the shoulders so that the evil spirits could come out. After the dancing, the long hair was cut in the prevailing fashion by the barbers and combed back tightly so that the evil spirits could not get in or the good spirits get out.This rule by barbers was a common thing in ancient Asia. In fact, wherever there were legends and superstitions about the hair, the barbers flourished. To this day in India, the veneration of the hair continues and those who cut and dress the hair are important characters.
