Now it’s up to you to decide; do you want a wet or a dry shave? With a shaver, dry shaving is more skin-friendly, and less likely to generate nicks and cuts. Wet shaving is refreshing and smooth, as long as you remember the shaving foam. Make your mind up. Don’t hang around in the bathroom for ages, staring at your own reflection, contemplating the meaning of life. Wet or dry. Flip a coin.

Wash and rinse your face so that it’s really clean before you reach for your shaver. You don’t want a layer of dirt and sweat lubricating your skin’s pores. But don’t have a hot shower first, otherwise your skin will be hot, puffy, sweating and impossible to shave. Either way, make sure your skin is dry before moving on to the next step.

First, trim any long facial hairs with a trimmer. For a wet clean shave (including in the shower), smooth on some shaving foam or gel. Now you’re ready for action. Using circular movements, start shaving. Go with the grain on your first pass (that means shaving in the direction your facial hair is growing in) then go against the grain afterwards for a closer shave. If your skin is particularly sensitive, stay with the grain.

Remember: Gently pull your skin tight with your free hand to make shaving easier for the shaver blades, but don't overstretch it. You don't need a lot of pressure for a close shave, so try not to press the shaver too hard against your skin. Every 10 to 15 seconds, rinse off the shaver head, even if you're doing a dry shave—this helps clean off dead skin, hair, and dirt that can get in the way.