by Garrett Munce

1) Go Slow And Use The Right Razor for Manscaping Gillette Sensor2 Plus Pivoting Head Disposable Razors amazon.com $12.94 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FVBCCO/" id="8c78a004-de90-32b9-a11c-b1637d28829a"> BUY IT HERE </a> It should go without saying, but shaving slowly is especially important when you go down below. I have seen disasters from guys getting careless with razors and scissors down there, says Rieder. The skin is particularly delicate and there is not much separating the blade from your nuts! If you are going to use a razor, Janczyn recommends <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FVBCCO/" id="e008df8c-569c-328f-a483-25e449d20ad9"> a two-blade razor </a> . Fewer blades mean less irritation and fewer cuts. They also clog up too quickly, he says, which increases frustration and makes people go a little too hard with the blade. A simple razor like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B005FVBCCO/" id="db84975e-2435-30cd-a09d-4f07a3f56f57"> Gillette Sensor 2 </a> is perfect. It still gives you the close shave you need, but is more gentle on your junk (or anywhere else) than versions with more blades. Remember: more is not better, says Janczyn. Gillette

2) Avoid Cross Contamination When Manscaping Schick ST2 for Men Sensitive Skin Disposable Razor amazon.com $10.47 <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J5IVKTI/" id="b5b8e438-28f9-317d-ac93-872783fcad0c"> BUY IT HERE </a> The most important part of manscaping, according to Rieder, is cleanliness. Always shower before attempting to manscape. It will not only help soften the hairs and make them easier to cut, but it also helps get rid of bacteria that may be lurking on the skin (especially in areas like your groin or your pits). Then, before you set in to mow the lawn, wash your hands again. The same cleanliness rules apply to the tools youre using. Never use the same razor for your body that you do for your face, says Janczyn. We have different bacteria on our body than we do on our face, so keeping blades separate can help prevent spreading things like jock itch and even staph. Ideally, you want two sets of razors, he says, and make sure both sets are always sharp. Using a disposable razor for your body is a good way to minimize the risk of contamination. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00J5IVKTI/" id="93e464d3-e922-305d-a698-0c6dab234b71"> Inexpensive packs of Schick ST2 Sensitive Skin Razors </a> are perfect to make sure youre always using a new blade (dull razors increase your risk of nicks and irritation). Plus, you wont ever be tempted to use it on your face if you throw the razor out after every use. If youre a minimalist, Janczyn says you can take a razor from your face to your body, but never vice versa. Schick

3) Shaving your Balls Takes Flexibility Manscaped The Lawn Mower 2.0 manscaped.com $59.99 <a href="https://www.manscaped.com/products/lawn-mower-manscaping-2?variant=12574215438416" id="ba0ed539-2ad2-38a5-af49-01c6dddf3dc6"> BUY IT HERE </a> If youre going to attempt to shave your own balls, do some stretches first. It takes flexibility and patience, says Janczyn. He recommends laying a towel down on the floor and standing in front of your bathroom mirror. Make sure you have good lighting. There are all these different crevices that you need to be able to see, he says. Before you start, relaxrushing through it will not help. When youre shaving a delicate area like your junk, you can only do small strokes with the razor, says Janczyn. Make sure you allow yourself enough time that you dont get frustrated. As you go, pull the skin tight (especially on your sack) to make sure youre getting an effective shave. If bathroom yoga isnt your thing, or taking a blade to your toolbox is a little too extreme, Rieder recommends using a manscaping trimmer instead of a razor. Clippers are way safer and decrease the risk of cuts, irritation, and ingrown hairs, he says. Look for a clipper specifically designed for delicate areas, like the <a href="https://www.manscaped.com/products/lawn-mower-manscaping-2?variant=12574215438416" id="e925285c-4743-3340-abb2-ba6566b9fb92"> Manscaped Lawn Mower 2.0 </a> which is gentle enough for your family jewels and has multiple length settings so you dont have to go fully hairless if you dont want to. Manscaped

4) Use a Pre-Shave Oil Before Manscaping American Crew Ultra Gliding Shave Oil amazon.com $8.99 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GV2P3C" id="4a0e9ead-bbab-392b-a85a-1ca302d93e73"> BUY IT HERE </a> No matter where on your body youre manscaping, you need to make sure to protect your skin first. The same rules apply to shaving your body as shaving your face. Razors offer a close shave, but can also cause post-shave irritation if there is inadequate lubrication, says Rider. Prep the skin before you shave with a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GV2P3C/" id="875e626e-9bc9-3774-a9f3-8ec60310c762"> pre-shave oil </a> to help protect your skin. It will help the razor glide across your skin easier and soften coarse body hair so its cut more easily. You can use the same shaving oil on your body as you do your face, just make sure it has skin-healthy ingredients and wont clog your pores. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001GV2P3C/" id="6d12179f-523f-3a3a-a9ea-9744559f763c"> American Crew Ultra Gliding Shave Oil </a> uses fatty acid-rich olive oil to hydrate skin and rosemary leaf oil for an antimicrobial bonus. American Crew

5) Fade Your Body Hair With a Trimmer for A Natural Look Philips Norelco OneBlade Electric Trimmer and Shaver amazon.com $39.95 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B078BDHV9P" id="3d584f1c-5b9d-3f96-aa93-fad28301ab63"> BUY IT HERE </a> If youre trimming your body hair, instead of shaving it off completely, think of it the same way you do the hair on your head. Not everything should be the same length. You want to achieve a natural fade, says Janczyn. The hair on the outside of your chest should be closer to the skin and the hair in the middle of your chest should be a bit longer. Not only will it look more natural, but it creates an optical illusion of more defined pecs without hours of bench presses. It also lasts longer. If you trim your chest hair all one length, it looks fake as it grows in, says Janczyn. He recommends using a trimmer and scissors to make sure you are getting the exact length you want. At Manscape Spa, the contour chest and body hair by hand to create an artistic look. But at home, a trimmer with multiple settings works wonders. Start with the longest length and then work your way shorter only in the areas you want to crop close. You can always go closer if you want, Janczyn says. Janczyns preferred trimmer is the <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B078BDHV9P/" id="d734d919-a283-308c-abc7-af090100dd6e"> Philips Norelco OneBlade </a> because of its versatility. It comes with multiple length attachments and is small and light enough to use on even hard to reach areas. It can do the entire body, he says. If youre going to use it on your face, which he says works well too, just make sure to have a different blade reserved for your body. Philips Norelco

6) Be Prepared for Stubble Fur Ingrown Eliminator Mitts ulta.com $18.00 <a href="https://www.ulta.com/ingrown-eliminator-mitts?productId=pimprod2004291" id="ee9a6368-eb10-318f-af62-ce1f36459f9d"> BUY IT HERE </a> If youre completely shaving, stubble is going to be a reality. And fast. It only takes one to three days to get stubble, depending on how quickly your hair grows, says Janczyn. If youre shaving for a special event, like a bodybuilding competition or pool party, shave the day before. It will make sure irritation is at a minimum and stubble hasnt had time to show. If youre consistently shaving, be prepared to do it every few days. As hair grows back in, it can be itchy and uncomfortable. Janczyn recommends using a <a href="https://helloseen.com/products/hair-conditioner" id="077c53cf-e142-30f1-ab5a-ed08ef1210a4"> hair conditioner </a> on your body right before getting out of the shower. Conditioners contain silicones which will put a nice coating on the hair, so when it grows out it wont be as itchy on the skin, he says. You can use the same one you use on your head, but if youre going to use it with consistency, look for one that wont clog your pores like <a href="https://helloseen.com/products/hair-conditioner" id="f04eca9d-1366-37e9-aa6e-ca476730028e"> SEEN Conditioner </a> . The reality of stubble is that if your hair is curly or coarse (and our body hair is typically coarser than the hair on our heads), ingrown hairs are likely. The best way to treat ingrown hairs, according to Rieder, is to prevent them in the first place. Good shaving practices like the above should be enough to keep them to a minimum. But when they do happen, use a specific ingrown treatment like <a href="https://www.ulta.com/ingrown-eliminator-mitts?productId=pimprod2004291" id="7375a2c3-ead2-3c0e-a359-e87d4465bd37"> Fur Ingrown Eliminator Mitts </a> , which will help exfoliate and release hairs caught under your skin. Fur

7) Know Your First Aid Aquaphor Healing Ointment amazon.com $9.58 <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0107QPFBU" id="98d61fb6-e49a-3fea-aa2c-27972d43b4fb"> BUY IT HERE </a> Its a reality of shaving that cuts happen, even to the most experienced among us. And when youre manscaping sensitive areas, theyre even more likely. Then add the fact that you might not always be able to see where youre shaving (like under your balls or on your shoulders) and its basically like using a weed whacker blindfolded. If you see blood for any reason, stop immediately, says Janczyn. Wait for a couple of days for the spot to scab over and you can finish shaving, making sure to avoid the area thats still healing. Better yet, cool it for a couple of weeks until the area is completely healed. If you cut yourself manscaping, clean the area with soap and water, says Rieder. Hold firm pressure for ten minutes on any area that is bleeding. Once the bleeding has stopped, he says to apply a petroleum ointment like <a href="http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0107QPFBU/" id="072b3c6b-749f-3b0b-a7f7-d326c80010cb"> Aquaphor </a> to the cut and then cover it with a bandaid. Keep doing that every day till the scab falls off. Tinier cuts dont need to be covered, but should be kept clean. And of course, if the bleeding doesnt stop, seek medical attention, he says. Aquaphor

The 7 Best Manscaping Tips for Shaving Your Balls and Everywhere Else

The purpose of any type of beard beard product is to hydrate and soften beard hair, says <a href="https://www.instagram.com/jenbennetthair/?hl=en" id="15c96875-c9f7-3538-aa59-2216aaae3d9a"> Jennifer Bennett </a> , barber and Head of Education for <a href="https://rudysbarbershop.com" id="8d541574-b6fc-30e6-ac54-1af1b2844b96"> Rudys </a> . Which one you choose ultimately depends on how long and thick your beard is. Somebody who has a really long, very big beard might find a thick balm hard to work through, so an oil might be better for them, she says.

But that doesnt mean beard oils are only for ZZ Top. Theyre role is to hydrate and protect, not just the hair itself, but also the skin underneath, which can get dry quickly. Well-hydrated skin and hair is softer, less itchy, and all-around healthier.

Bennett advises washing your beard a few times a week with shampoo or beard wash and to always follow it up with a beard oil. Before applying the oil, use a comb, brush, or your fingers to smooth it out and give it the shape you want, she says. Apply a small amount to your hands and, starting with your cheeks and chin, massage it in like youre giving yourself a face massage. Its important to massage the product all the way down to the skin. Then use your fingers in a downward motion to make sure the rest of your beard is covered (if its long).

<h1> What to Look for in the Best Beard Oils </h1>

The most important part of any beard oil is the oil itself. Some oils are really heavy and just stay on the surface, says Bennett. Look instead for oils like argan and jojoba oils, which sink into the hair and dont create a film or greasy feeling. I like beard oils that smell good, but dissipate fast, she says, since overpowering fragrances can irritate sensitive skin. Scent is not the reason to use a beard oil, she says.

These are the 12 best beard oils for men to tame their facial hair, no matter how long or wild it is.

Bennetts personal pick, this lightweight oil has all the good stuff (argan and jojoba oils) as well as squalane, a potent moisturizing ingredient more commonly found in facial moisturizers. Its ideal for taming frizz and smoothing facial hair of any length.

An oil that's lightweight enough for you to use in your beard and your hair? This one fits the bill. Theres not hold to speak of, but its adept at smoothing out frizz and moisturizing the hair on both your face and your head.

This oil is best suited for shorter beards where you can still see the skin underneath (short beards need oil, too!). The nourishing ingredients hydrate skin and help protect it against redness and irritation.

The jojoba and sweet almond oils in this 3-in-1 oil are powerful hair hydrators and will make your beard look shiny and healthy. And if you decide to get rid of your beard, it will double as a protective pre-shave oil.

The shea oils in this beard oil are perfect for hydrating and smoothing even the coarsest beard hair. Its especially good if you tend to have dry skin or notice dandruff-like flakes in your beard, which means your skin needs extra moisture.

This all-around great beard oil contains a big dose of vitamin E, a potent antioxidant to help protect both your facial hair and the delicate skin underneath your beard. Its a powerhouse product that does more than just keep your beard smooth.

The real draw of this beard oil is the light, fresh scent. While many oils smell woodsy or spicy, this one uses mint extract to create a natural freshness that wont make you smell like you sprayed your beard with Windex.

Coco butter and shea butter sound like heavy ingredients, but somehow dont weigh down this innovative formula. Its best suited for fuller beards and coarse hair, so use it sparingly unless your beard gets grizzly as the drop of a hat.

The scent of this beard oil comes only from the natural ingredients and is as close to unscented as you can get. The lack of added fragrance makes it especially good for anyone with sensitive or dry skin.

Sweet almond oil, another lightweight hair-healthy oil according to Bennett, takes center stage in this naturally derived oil. A little goes a long way with this rich oil, but still wont weigh your beard down or make it too shiny.

The avocado oil in this version might be too heavy for thinner or shorter beards, but for thick coarse hair, its hard to find something more nourishing. Use this one sparingly at first (you can always add more if you need it).

If youre not a cologne guy, but still want to smell great, turn to a scented beard oil like this one. The fragrance is similar to a fancy cologne (a mix of black pepper, sandalwood, and vanilla), but still hydrates and protects your facial hair from dryness and flakes.

You probably know that you should be conditioning your hair (at least, we hope you do). No matter what kind of hair (or how much) you have, conditioning is an important part of any hair care regimen. And that includes the hair on your face. Facial hair of any length requires upkeep and keeping your beard hydrated and soft will help it not only look better, but feel better too. Facial hair tends to be coarser and drier than the hair on your head and needs its own version of conditioner to stay...

​The Best Beard Oils to Soften and Smooth Your Facial Hair

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by Garrett Munce

Articles written by the author

The 7 Best Manscaping Tips for Shaving Your Balls and Everywhere Else

​The Best Beard Oils to Soften and Smooth Your Facial Hair

The Best Beard Oils to Soften and Smooth Your Facial Hair