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A Beginner’s Guide to Shaving Essentials

There can be so many unanswered questions when it comes to your first shave, but we’re here to give you a helping hand.

Most guys in the UK (around 85%) first notice facial hair between the ages of 12 and 16, and 76% shave for the first time between 14 and 17. However, there are no age restrictions when it comes to shaving – so start when you feel ready.

Follow our quick and easy guide, and master shaving with expert advice from Gillette.

Shaving Cream: Your New Best Friend

Whether it’s your first shave or not – shaving cream is essential.

You’ll experience a much more comfortable shave if you work up a lather with your shaving cream before you start. This will help to keep your facial hair moisturised while you shave, making it feel softer and easier to cut.

A shaving essentials kit featuring a Gillette razor and shaving cream

The benefits of shaving cream don’t stop there – it can also create a thin, protective layer between the razor blade and your skin, which will mean less friction, as well as a reduced chance of redness, irritation or nicks and cuts after shaving.

At Gillette, we have several shaving gels and foams to choose from. We know the choice can seem overwhelming when you’re new to shaving, so here’s a quick guide to a few that will suit first-time shavers perfectly:

Find Your Perfect Shaving Cream

SkinGuard Men’s Sensitive Shaving Gel:

Helps prevent irritation
Clinically proven for sensitive skin
0% dyes and 0% alcohol
Includes a touch of aloe vera to cool and soothe skin

If you’ve got sensitive skin, this gel is the perfect choice to help your razor glide smoothly over your skin.

Fusion5 Men’s ProGlide Sensitive 2 in 1 Active Sport Shaving Gel:

Three effective lubricants enhance razor glide for a smooth, comfortable shave
Helps protect your skin against nicks, redness and tightness
Includes a see-through gel gauge to determine exactly how much gel you have left
Comes with Active Sport Scent

Our 2-in-1 formula features Gillette’s best shaving gel technology to leave sensitive skin feeling smooth, soft, cool and refreshed.

Do I Need a Beard Trimmer?

You might not think a beard trimmer is essential for your first shave, but it could actually help you to achieve a more comfortable and precise shave.

If you’ve got slightly fluffy facial hair, you should definitely trim it before you reach for the razor – otherwise, any longer hairs could get tangled in the blade. This would be painful and could potentially damage the razor blade you’re using, affecting the quality of your shave.

To reduce tugs, pulls and clogged blades, our All Purpose Styler and Beard Trimmer is the ideal shaving tool for a smooth finish.

Don’t go using scissors to trim fluffy facial hair – use the All Purpose Styler to get a precise finish, using one of the shaver’s three interchangeable combs (2mm, 4mm or 6mm).

How to Choose the Right Razor

Using the right razor for your first shave is also crucial – you could be about the find the razor you’ll use for the rest of your life. For your first time, we recommend:

Gillette SkinGuard Sensitive Razor:

Our SkinGuard Sensitive Razor designed especially for sensitive skin has become a firm favourite for guys having their first shave. Designed with extra lubrication between the skin and the blade, this razor can help to prevent razor burn and razor bumps, and make shaving with acne easier.

Gillette Fusion5 ProGlide Razor:

Another popular choice among newcomers to shaving, the Fusion5 ProGlide is designed to deliver a smooth, close shave, with five anti-friction blades built to capture virtually every hair. There’s also FlexBall technology in the razor handle, which makes it ideal for navigating all the curves and contours of your face.

Use Aftershave Products

Using an aftershave product to finish your shaving routine can help to keep your skin hydrated and soothed. This is important because shaving can remove slight shards of your skin’s top layer, and using an aftershave product can protect your skin from irritation after shaving.

At Gillette, we have an Aftershave Balm with aloe vera to keep your skin feeling refreshed and soothed, as well as an Aftershave Moisturiser with SPF 15 for extra protection for your skin.

Make Shaving Easy: Join Gillette’s Subscription Service

It might take some time to get used to stocking up on razor blades when you first start shaving, but you won’t have to worry about this if you join our shave club.

Both Fusion5 ProGlide and SkinGuard Sensitive blades are available on our shaving subscriptions, and all you have to do is select the blades you’d like and how often you’d like them (either every 2 months, 3 months or 4 months – it’s up to you), and we’ll send them direct to your door.

Subscribe now to get your free starter kit (just pay postage and packaging), and you can cancel or delay your deliveries at any time, so there really are no strings attached.

Get My Free Starter Kit