When you start to develop facial hair for the first time, it’s a really masculine moment in your life. The process of changing from a teenage boy to becoming a man! But, with this new-found confidence comes many questions. Best razor for first time shavers/teenage boys? Where do you start? Which direction should you shave in? Electric or manual razor for your first shave?
The buzz from transitioning from a boy into a man can be relatively short lived. When it comes to shaving away your new face fluff for the first time you can end up walking around with shaving cuts & nicks. We want to ensure that no teenage boy has to deal with the latter, therefore, we’ve developed our first time shaving guide. From the best razor to use for a first time shaver to hints & tips to keep nicks to a minimum for teenage boys.
If you think you or someone in your family may have sensitive skin, see our guide on shaving with sensitive skin here. As the razor you need to you use will be different guys who have non-sensitive skin.
What Is The Best Razor For First Time Shavers?
The process of shaving can be relatively concerning for a teenage boy when he has to shave for the first time. No one wants to be holding a razor so close to their face or walk around looking like they’ve had a fight with their razor, following a shave.
When shaving for the first time, it’s important to make sure that you’re picking the best razor. The art of shaving is more about equipping yourself with the know-how vs. being a natural born shaver. After all, no-one is born a pro shaver, it’s all about picking the best razor & blades to get the best shave and then knowing what to do with it.
When it comes to shaving for the 1st time, there are 2 types of shavers that you can pick from;
- an electric shaver
- disposable razor
For your first time shaving, we recommend going for a razor vs. an electrical shaver. Electrical shavers don’t shave as close as a traditional razor and it’s important that you master the art of shaving vs. the lazy & safe route of electric shavers. A traditional razor is also the best razor for first time shavers as electric razors can cause spots as they can move oil all around your face. After all, teenage skin is typically oily and is what causes acne in teenage boys.
For any teen boy, shaving for the first time, the reality is that you wont be shaving all that often. To begin with he will probably be shaving a maximum of 1 to 2 times a month. Investing in an electric shaver isn’t necessarily the right type of shaver for a first time shaver as they wont be using it often.
Shaving can be relatively harsh on your skin with some experts claiming that you remove just as much skin as you do hair when you shave. One of the reasons why your skin is so soft following a shave. Most razors have a lubricating strip which helps to prevent irritation, so it’s important to ensure any razor you buy contains a lubrication strip whether you’re shaving for the first time or not.
The razor we recommend for any first time shaver is the Quattro range from Wilkinson Sword.
Wilkinson Sword Quattro
The Wilkinson Sword Quattro blades are perfectly designed for any first time shaver and is our best razor for first time shavers.
- The blade is a 4 bladed razor, ideal for a close shave.
- What make’s the range perfect for a first time shaver is that the blades have a reduced span between the blades that reduces the chances of nicks and cuts.
The reduced chance of nicks and cuts is also partly due to the wire that runs perpendicular to the blades – you can see these wires in the image to the right. The majority of other ranges don’t have these wires on their blades.- The Quattro range has a pivoting head that adapts to the contours of your face for close skin contact without having to increase your chances of cuts. Non pivoting headed razors can result in more cuts & irritation due to their inability to contour to changes in the face shape.
- The Quattro blades contain a lubricating strip which contain Aloe Vera & Vitamin E for added glide and reduced irritation which is all too common for a first time shaver.
- The rubber guard bar below the lubricating strips helps to stretch the skin and lift the hair which can avoid nicks and cuts.
Pick up the Wilkinson Sword Quattro Titanium Sensitive Blades and Razor from Amazon here. Which includes a razor and 9 blades for £12.
Shaving Tips For Teenage Boys – How To Prevent Cuts When Shaving:
We’d love to tell you that when you shave you wont get cut at all, but the truth is that you will probably suffer a few nicks when you first start shaving.
However, it’s all about reducing your risk of nicks and cuts when shaving. We’ve given you the best razor to use, now it’s about the hints & tips. See our top 10 tips for preventing a cut when shaving and getting the best shave:
10 Tips For Preventing Cuts When Shaving
- Always shave after showering. Showering opens up your pores, helping to reduce the risk of irritation and give you a closer shave.
- Before your start shaving/ applying shavings foams or gels, it’s important to study your facial hair. Really understand the way that the hair grows, as it’s important to shave in the direction the hair grows, “with the grain” and not against it. Shaving against the grain of the hair can leave you red faced due to irritation and rashes.
- Shave at the sink. A lot of experienced guys can shave in many different locations, such as the shower. However, we don’t recommend this for a first time shaver. It’s important to see what you’re doing in the mirror.
- Always start by splashing your face with warm water, followed by a shaving foam or gel. For a first time shaver, we recommend going for a gel as these tend to be less ‘foamy’/produce less lather, therefore you can see your skin better through the shaving gel. It’s important to see your skin to help prevent a cut.
- For your first time shaving, start by loosely shaving with the razor to get a feel for shaving. Don’t press down too hard as this is a guaranteed way to cut yourself. Be gentle until you become more experienced and confident with shaving.
- Don’t think of shaving as a 1 stroke process. It’s fairly normal to go over the same part of skin more than once. The average man averages around 100 strokes per shave!
- Don’t rush. It’s very important to shave slowly and gently.
- When it comes to the boney areas of the face, such as the chin and jaw, take your time and use shorter strokes.
Always have an antiseptic styptic pencil to hand in case you cut yourself. Styptic pencils act to stop bleeding and can soothe the affected area. We recommend the Clubman Pinaud Styptic Pencil for a first time shaver to have in the cupboard.- When you’ve finished shaving, always follow up with washing your face with water. We recommend just water initially for a first time shaver as any soaps or washed can irritate any skin that isn’t used to shaving. However, it’s important to follow up with a moisturiser to prevent the skin for drying out. We recommend Bulldog’s Sensitive After Shave Balm as the perfect post-shave product. The product is made with sensitive skin in mind, perfect for first time shavers who can’t be sure how sensitive their skin is going to be following their first shave.