How to Quickly and Safely Shave Your Chest Hair

Whether you’ve been shaving your chest hair for years or are preparing for your first time, you're likely to benefit from these tips for getting great results. We’ll help you get a close shave, while avoiding common problems like nicks, irritation and annoying razor bumps.

How to Shave Your Chest

Difficulty: Easy

Time Required: 10-15 minutes

What You Need

• Comb and scissors or clippers (if hair needs trimming)
• A new razor cartridge
• Gentle body exfoliator or loofah
• Shaving oil (optional)
• Shaving brush (optional)
• Shaving cream or gel
• Unscented lotion (optional)
• Toner (optional)

Here's How

1. Choose your shaving cream or gel wisely. What you use has as much on the outcome of your shave the razor you use. Brave Shave is a good example of a product originally created for male body shaving.
2. A new quality razor is important. Stay clear of the straight, cheap disposables or you could end up with nasty nicks and cuts. A well-made razor with a pivoting head (and multiple blades if you don't have sensitive skin) should give you a smooth, close shave. A favorite with many guys is Gillette Fusion.
3. Trim, trim, trim. If you’ve never shaved, or haven’t in a while, it’s good to trim hair down as short as possible. You can do that by placing a comb flat on the skin and trim over comb with scissors. Or to make it quick and easy, use clippers or a body groomer with the shortest guard.
4. Jump in the shower and relax for five. Take a minute to breathe. Wash your body and your hair. The warm water will soften your hair and skin, allowing for a closer shave.
5. Exfoliate. By lightly sloughing away dead skin cells you will get closer results and minimize ingrown hair. Gently using a wet loofah will work great.
6. Use a bit of shaving oil. A couple drops of shaving oil under your cream or gel works as a barrier on your skin, so the razor will glide easier instead of dragging. It not only moisturizes, the oil also helps prevent razor burn, general irritation, and ingrown hairs- all big offenders when shaving thicker hair like in the chest.
7. Apply shaving cream or gel. Slather on a bit of cream or gel over damp skin. Skin that is too wet will make the cream run right down the drain. If you have a shaving brush, apply the product using small circles.
8. Shave. Using a firm touch, shave in the opposite direction of hair growth while holding skin firm. Don't go over the same area too many times or skin can end up irritated. You can always shave in the way the hair grows. Of course, you won't get as close of a shave but it works well on those who have very sensitive skin.
9. Rinse. In between strokes, be sure to rinse blade. A clogged razor won’t work well.
10. Dry, tone and moisturize. Pat skin dry, spray on a facial toner to help cleanse pores and fight post-shave pimples. A light unscented lotion will replace moisture, but you might want to skip this if you're prone to breakouts.
11. Keep the bumps away. Apply a product that will help keep ingrown hair, razor bumps and irritation at bay. A product such as Tend Skin will work wonders. If you don't use a bump-fighting product, be sure to exfoliate often so that hairs continue to point up when growing back.

Tips

1. Watch the direction of hair growth. Your hair has a mind of its own. It will grow in every direction, so adjust the blade's shaving direction to get the closest results.
2. Be extra careful around the nipple area and collar bone or other curves in your chest. Take extra time in these areas and use short strokes.
3. If you're not going to shave your stomach or lower abdomen, at least trim hair down so there isn’t such a noticeable difference between hair and hairless.
4. If you don't want to use a manual razor, try an electric one made for male body shaving like Philips Norelco Bodygroom.