I saw this on YouTube and it made me laugh. Although it advertises some old-school twin-blade razors, it makes a good point! A grizzly beard can be irritating to others who have to get up close and personal. According to Gillette, a man’s beard is just as strong as copper wire of the same thickness!

So, as a public service and at the request of a few girlfriends and boyfriends out there who have been scratched to death by their boyfriend’s beard, here are some tips for the perfect shave:

1. Shave in the shower! The warm water, steam and moisture helps to soften your beard and soften your skin for the shave. This makes it easier to slice through the hair and glide over your face.

2. Use a fresh blade. Your razor blade will dull quickly because your beard is so strong (see the copper wire comment above). Don’t store it in the shower. Try switching blades about every 3 to 5 shaves.

3. Shave with the grain. Don’t shave against the direction that your beard grows. It causes the hair to bend backwards and can take too much skin with it. So, on a first pass, follow your hair’s direction. Not sure which way that is? Rub a finger over a patch on your face. It will move smoothly in only one direction (typically up or down). If its the wrong direction, it will feel particularly prickly.

4. Slap on a pre-shave oil. Pre-shave oils are used after you wet your face but before applying a shaving cream or foaming gel. It cuts down on friction between the blade and your face, allowing the razor to travel more comfortably.

5. Don’t exfoliate before shaving. Shaving actually exfoliates for you. Reaching for a face scrub before a visit from your razor will actually leave you irritated. Don’t overdo it. Feel free to exfoliate the areas left untouched by your razor. Your forehead and nose need some extra care, too.