Shave it off, but properly! Everything you should know about the perfect shave

When guys are concerned with beauty, it's often about theirs. It doesn't matter whether they grow one or not: it willtrimmed, groomed and oiled.But which of these is really necessary? Our expert knows this. And if beard, shaving and grooming were a course of study, he would have graduated summa cum laude. Now he shares his knowledge with us. For theAt-home shaving almost as perfect as by a professional –but only almost!

Esquire: What advice do you have for all guys without a beard?

Marcus Michalczyk: There are worse things, even though I understand that it's not easy for many people. I would say the following to anyone who doesn't have a beard: A well-groomed, hair-free face can also have a lot of charm. Simply experiment more with hairstyles and care routines.

Some products promise faster beard growth.

Okay, that's a shame. If you have a beard, how do you trim it?

First, take a shower or place a warm, damp cloth on your beard. This can help soften hair and open pores. Makes trimming easier and reduces irritation. If you're in a good onewant to invest: The Beard Trimmer 9 from Braun is a good choice. For a more even cut, you should trim against the direction of growth. Beard scissors can help with fine-tuning. And for the edges you can use a razor, precision trimmer or safety razor. Then wash your face and apply a nourishing and mildly formulated beard oil or balm.

This is the supreme discipline among us barbers if it is carried out correctly. But you should also pay attention to a good routine at home: wash your face with warm water and lather with a shaving cream, soap or shaving gel. Then use a sharp razor to avoid irritation. Always shave in the direction of hair growth; for a particularly close shave, you can shave against the grain in the second pass if your skin can tolerate it. But please don't shave the same area too often. Then wash your face with cold water, apply an aftershave with alcohol to disinfect small wounds, then apply aftershave balm, which will add the moisture that the alcohol has taken from the skin. Finally, clean the razor.

Should you go to a professional for this?

You don't have to. You can also do it yourself. The question is: How good will the result be? That depends on the tools and products. Sometimes it's good to let yourself be pampered at the barber.

An insider tip against ingrown hairs?

How often should the beard be washed?

Every day, no question. There is hardly any place on the body where more bacteria accumulate. And please with one, which was developed for the needs of facial skin and beard hair.

And what about beard trends?

Lately I've been seeing more expressive onessuch as beardstache, mustache or a well-groomed full beard.