Until This Year I Had Never Grown a Beard, Here Are All The Tricks I’ve Learned

I was asked to participate write a post sponsored by Schick Hydro® at Walgreens. Although I have been compensated, all opinions are my own.

I’m going to walk you through my beard prep routine, and the steps I take to get date-ready for a night out on the town.

Everyone already knows that getting ready for a date night can be pretty stressful. You have to come up with the perfect thing to do, dress to impress, and look your best. What if I told you that getting ready for that big date night could be a whole lot easier with the help of Schick?

Here’s a full step-by-step process of how I primp my beard for those important date nights so I’m left both fresh and fashionable.

Keep reading on my top tips for growing an impressive beard.

To start out, make sure you stop by Walgreens to grab these supplies:

• Schick Hydro® 5 Razor
• Edge® Sensitive Skin Shave Gel

Step #1: Start out with a fresh Schick Hydro® 5 Razor

Once the razor is out of the package, you may want to trim the edges of the area that you plan to shave to make for a smoother cut. Never ever just start shaving your beard without trimming first.

When it comes to choosing a razor, I like Schick Hydro® 5 Razor because it has lubrication built into it, leaving you less susceptible to razor burn and it’s especially made for men with sensitive skin.

Here’s some of the tech built into the razor:

• Features auto-replenishing gel technology
• With 7 Hydrating Gel Pools* (*Hydrates throughout each shave)

Step #2: Wash and exfoliate your face

Now that you’ve trimmed your beard and you have your razor all ready, it’s time to wash your face with a great exfoliant. This will open the pores and prepare your skin for the shaving process. Besides, it’s always best to shave clean skin so you can avoid getting any nasty infections.

Step #3: Apply your favorite shaving gel, in my case, Edge® Sensitive Skin Shave Gel, to the intended area

My go-to shaving gel has always been Edge® Sensitive Skin Shave Gel. It’s a name that people know and rely on and I love how soft it leaves my skin feeling afterwards.

Step #4: Start your shave

The longer you wait to start shaving, the worse the shave is going to be. Your pores should be nice and opened up from washing your face, so you want to shave soon thereafter so that you have the best, softest shave imaginable. It is important that you shave with the grain, not against it.

If you’re not sure what that means…

Here’s a great tip: Gently run your fingers along your stubble. One way will make your hairs stand up, while the other will make them lie flat. You want to shave in the direction that will make your hair lie flat.

In my case, since I keep the bulk of my hair longer, I only shave along the bottom of my neck at the top of my cheeks.

Step #5: Wash your blade often

Even though the Schick Hydro® 5 Razor has built in lubrication, you still need to wash your blade often for a number of reasons. For starters, washing the blade will help free the blade trimmings from it, thus creating a smoother shave on your face. Simply swirl the blade around a sink filled with water and tap it against the side. Once the blade is clean, go back to shaving.

Step #6: Wash your face again

This time, you are washing your face in order to clear off the excess shaving cream. You want to check to make sure that you haven’t missed any blatant patches.

If you have, apply a bit more warm water and shaving cream to the area and go over it in slow, short strokes with your razor. Otherwise, splash some cool water onto your face.

Step #7: Towel dry

Just like warm water opens your pores, cold water closes them. Once you’ve applied the cold water to your face, consider your shaving session over. It is important to then grab a clean, dry towel and gently pat your face.

You’re done! Enjoy the fruit of your labor and wear this trimmed beard with pride. There’s no doubt that your date will appreciate it, too!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Walgreens. The opinions and text are all mine.