Shaving, Beard Design, and Facial Hair Services
Shaving, Beard Design, and Facial Hair Services
This domain covers safety razor shaving, the order of a professional shave, and shaping beards and mustaches to the client's face.
Core rules
- Prepare: drape, cleanse, apply lather, and soften with a hot towel. Warmth and moisture swell the hair and protect skin.
- Razor strokes: freehand (downward), backhand (upward), and the reverse versions for the opposite side. Keep the blade at a shallow angle and stretch skin with the free hand.
- Shave with the grain first; a second pass across or against the grain gives closeness but raises the risk of irritation and ingrown hairs.
- Finish with a cool towel, then an astringent or aftershave to close pores and remove residue.
- Beard design: establish the cheek line naturally, keep the neckline about one finger's width above the Adam's apple or follow the jaw curve, and keep mustache hair out of the mouth.
- Never shave over moles, inflamed skin, or active lesions.
Worked example
A client with curly hair and a history of razor bumps asks for the closest possible shave. Reasoning: curly hair cut below the skin surface re-enters and inflames, causing pseudofolliculitis. You shave with the grain only, use a fresh blade, finish with a cool towel, and recommend regular grooming rather than an against-the-grain second pass.
Traps
- The cold towel comes after shaving, not before.
- Stretching skin too tightly can cut hair below the surface.
- A dull blade drags and nicks; replace it.
- Astringent is not a disinfectant for a cut; treat cuts per the blood-exposure procedure.