How to Swiftly and Safely Shave a Beard

First, know that the ingredients of your shave matter. Select a high-end shaving cream and top-of-the-line razors (this is your face we're dealing with; do you really want to cut costs here?). I personally recommend Neutrogena shaving cream for men and Gillette Mach 3 disposable razors, but that's up to you. Just don't buy the cheap generic single or double-blade razors or you (and your skin) will regret it. You typically need three honed blades for a good shave. More than this is okay, but often superfluous.

Attempt the shave after taking a long, hot shower. This softens the skin, opens the pores, and makes it generally easier to shave the hair off. For the perfectionist, you can run the razor blade under ice cold water immediately before shaving (cold water causes the metal to contract at the microscopic level).

Apply plenty of shaving cream and get to work. Shaving strokes should always be up and down, never side to side. Rinse the blade under cold water after every few strokes. In areas of high resistance, apply more shaving cream. For particularly tricky shaves, you may want to invest in a shave oil, which will lessen friction between the blade and your skin.

Upon completing your shave, apply a good aftershave balm to prevent razor rash. I personally like Nivea for Men and B. Kamin's Chemist (a high-end brand out of Canada with maple extract), but any fortifying aftershave with aloe or other nutrients will do. Kindly avoid all aftershaves that contain alcohol. Although you may feel a nice "bracing" sensation, these formulas are not good for the skin. Alcohol dries your skin -- not exactly the sort of thing you want in an aftershave!

Shave with precision and your life will be fulfilling in other areas as well. A good shave matters, believe it or not.