How to Use an Electric Shaver for a Closer, Gentler Shave
To use an electric shaver well, start with skin that is either completely dry or properly lathered for wet use, hold the shaver at 90 degrees to the skin, press lightly, and move against the direction of hair growth, using straight strokes with a foil shaver or small circles with a rotary. Stretch the skin with your free hand on the neck and jaw, shave the most sensitive areas first while the head is cool, and go over each area a few times rather than pressing harder. Clean the head after every shave. Most redness, missed hairs and tugging come from pressing too hard, a dirty or worn head, or long stubble the shaver was not designed to cut.
The technique is different from a blade shave, and most men were never shown it. Here it is step by step.
Before you start: dry or wet?
Check whether your shaver is dry only or wet and dry. Then pick one method and stick with it for a few weeks while your skin adjusts.
- Dry shaving works best on completely dry skin. Shave before you shower, not straight after: warm, damp skin swells slightly and hair goes soft and flat, which makes it harder for the shaver to catch. If you sweat or have oily skin, wash and pat completely dry first, or use a pre-shave product made for electric shavers.
- Wet shaving with a wet and dry model, using gel or foam, can be gentler for sensitive skin, but is slower and needs more cleaning.
The step-by-step method
- Check the length. Electric shavers are designed for short stubble. If you have more than about two or three days’ growth, use the pop-up trimmer or a beard trimmer first.
- Prep the skin. Dry: clean and dry. Wet: wash with warm water and apply a thin layer of shaving gel or foam.
- Start with the neck. It is usually the most sensitive area, so shave it while the shaver head is coolest.
- Stretch the skin with your free hand. Pull the skin of the neck down or tilt your head back, so the surface is flat and taut.
- Hold the head flat against the skin, at right angles, so all the cutters make contact.
- Use light pressure. Let the shaver glide. Pressing harder pushes the skin up into the foil or heads and is the main cause of redness.
- Move against the grain. Foil: short, straight strokes. Rotary: small, overlapping circles.
- Work the face in sections: neck, under the jaw, jawline, chin, cheeks, then the upper lip, which needs the lips pulled tight over the teeth.
- Use the trimmer for edges under the nose and around sideburns or beard lines.
- Finish with an alcohol-free balm or moisturiser, particularly if your skin is dry.
Finding your grain
Hair on the face does not all grow the same way. On the cheeks it often grows down; on the neck it can grow sideways, up or in a swirl. Spend a day or two letting the stubble grow, then run your fingers over each area. The direction where it feels rough is against the grain. Many men discover their neck hair grows towards the jaw on one side and towards the collar on the other, which explains years of patchy shaving there. Our guide to shaving your neck without irritation covers those awkward patches in more detail.
Fixing common problems
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red, hot skin | Too much pressure, too many passes | Lighter touch; fewer passes over the same patch |
| Missed hairs on the neck | Growth direction; skin not stretched | Map the grain; stretch the skin; try a different direction |
| Tugging and pulling | Stubble too long, dirty or worn head | Trim first; clean; replace foil or heads |
| Not as close as before | Worn cutters, low battery | Charge fully; replace parts as advised |
| Small bumps a day later | Ingrown hairs, especially with curly hair | Shave less closely; consider leaving light stubble |
If bumps are a regular problem, particularly with tightly curled hair, the NHS page on ingrown hairs is worth reading. Shaving less closely, or using a trimmer that leaves a little length, often helps more than any product. See a pharmacist or GP if bumps become sore or infected.
The adjustment period
If you are switching from a blade, or from one shaver to another, expect a few weeks before results settle. Your technique improves, and your skin gets used to the new method. Many manufacturers suggest giving a new shaver around three or four weeks of daily use before judging it. Going back and forth between a blade and the electric during that time tends to keep the skin irritated and the results inconsistent.
Cleaning and maintenance
- After every shave: tap out the hair, or rinse if the shaver is washable. Let it dry with the cap off.
- Weekly: a more thorough clean with the brush, or a cleaning station if your model has one.
- Lubricate foil cutters occasionally if the manufacturer recommends it.
- Replace the foil and cutter, or rotary heads, at the interval suggested in the manual, typically every 12 to 18 months. A damaged foil can nick skin, so replace it as soon as you see a dent or hole.
What an electric shaver will not do
An electric shaver is fast and kind to skin, but it cannot match the closeness of a blade. For a wedding, an interview or simply a reset when your skin has had enough, a hot towel shave with a barber is a different experience. At the Highgate Cuts barbers on Archway Road, it takes 20 to 30 minutes, with warm towels to soften the hair and a fresh blade. Like every visit, it starts with the barber looking at your skin and growth and recommending what suits you, which is also a good time to ask about your daily routine. If you are still choosing between tools, our comparison of foil and rotary shavers covers which suits your face, and the barber page lists all our services.
Questions we get asked
Should I shave with or against the grain with an electric shaver?
Against the grain usually gives the closest result, because the foil or heads need to lift the hair. If your skin is sensitive, try a pass with the grain first.
Why does my neck go red after shaving?
Usually too much pressure, too many passes, or shaving straight after a hot shower. Lighten your touch and shave the neck first.
Do I need a pre-shave product?
Not usually. It can help if your skin is oily or you sweat, because it keeps the skin dry and helps the shaver glide.
How often should I clean the shaver?
A quick clean after every shave and a more thorough one weekly keeps it cutting well and hygienic.
Book with The Highgate House
Ready for a proper cut? Email us at [email protected] with the service and the day that suits you, and we will come back to you with times.
Visit The Highgate House · The barbers
The Highgate House, Archway Road, Highgate, London N6.
