One of the things men hate to do is shave their faces. Whose great idea was it to scrape a metal blade against the softest and most irritable part of your body anyway?Once a little bit of stubble was in style and can even be quite sexy, the majority of men continue to opt for the clean look.

The clean-shaven trend may be due to the fact that many people tend to correlate an unshaven face with sloppiness. When you are late for work, you're unshaven; when you do not plan on leaving the house all day long, you are usually unshaven. No wonder it's associated with negligent personal grooming.

However, a little bit of stubble can be very stylish when the occasion is appropriate. Going to a nightclub on a Saturday night, or on a ski weekend getaway in the middle of winter, are examples of where stubble looks good. It also depends on your profession, since corporate America frowns on facial hair. A designer or artist, on the other hand, will look just right with a scruffy style.

Another reason most men keep a freshly shaven look is for the sake of women. Women seem to love the feeling of a smooth, clean-shaven man's cheek against their own. This is understandable since most of them take exceptional care of their face, and don't want the unnecessary irritation of a prickly face against theirs.

One would think that after doing it for so long, men would become experts at shaving. Nevertheless, We still get emails every week from men who want tips on how to shave properly, or on how to get a closer shave. So, seeing as how it is part of a clean-cut look men are trying to perfect, here are some tips on getting that perfect, nick-free shave.

Always use a shaving gel or cream. These will keep the hairs moisturized and will help reduce friction. Stay away from any cream or gel that contains numbing agents such as Benzocaine or Menthol because they will close your pores and stiffen your beard.

Always use a clean and sharp blade, as this will require less pressure. Less pressure means less nicks and cuts. Start by shaving the easy areas around the cheeks first. This will leave more time for the tougher hairs to absorb the moisture and soften up.

Always shave in the same direction as your hair growth, first. Known as going with the grain, this will result in fewer ingrown hairs and get you a decent shave on most areas of your face. If you still need to get a closer shave, go against the grain.

WHEN YOUR DONE…

It is important to rinse your face thoroughly with cold water once you are finished. This will remove any leftover traces of shaving cream or soap, as well as stop any bleeding if you have cut yourself. There are many aftershave products that will moisturize and soothe your face. Your skin is very sensitive at this point, so try to use an alcohol-free product. If you can follow these simple tips, you'll be on your way to the best shave of your life.

Here are a few interesting facts about shaving:

* - There are between 10,000 and 20,000 hairs on a man's face.
* - These hairs grow at a rate of 1&Mac218;4 inch every 2 days.
* - Density is lowest on the lower cheek and highest on the upper lip.
* - Hairs protrude from the skin at a 35-60 degree angle.
* - Analysis of shaving remains shows that we take off as much skin as hair.
* - The skin on our face regenerates itself every 15-20 days.
* - Wet hair is 70% easier to cut than dry hair