How to Shave

Barber’s Blueprint Guide

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(from the archive: “The Proper Way to Shaving”)

1- Before you shave, wet your skin and hair to soften it. A great time to shave is right after a shower, as your skin will be warm and moist and free of excess oil and dead skin cells that can clog up your razor blade.

2- Next, apply a shaving cream or gel. If you have very dry or sensitive skin, look for a shaving cream that says “sensitive skin” on the label.

3- Shave in the direction that the hair grows. This is an important step to help prevent razor bumps and burns.

4-Rinse after each swipe of the razor. In addition, make sure you change your blade or throw away disposable razors after 5 to 7 shaves to minimize irritation.

5- Store your razor in a dry area. Between shaves, make sure your razor dries completely to prevent bacteria from growing on it. Do not leave your razor in the shower or on a wet sink.

Note- Men who have acne should take special care while shaving. Shaving can irritate your skin, making acne worse. 

  • If you have acne on your face, try experimenting with electric or disposable blade razors to see which work best for you.
  • Use a razor with a sharp blade.
  • Shave lightly to prevent nicks and never try to shave off the acne as both can make acne worse.

Regards,

Arthur I.

Barber’s Blueprint

181 Mulberry St.

New York, NY 10012

Stop In @ Barber’s Blueprint and book an appointment for a Traditional Hot-Shave.

Barber’s Blueprint in New York City is a sensory-inclusive hair salon that creates a safe space for children and adults with sensory disorders and special needs to get haircuts.

SEE HOW A ‘SENSORY-INCLUSIVE’ SALON MAKES HAIRCUTS EASIER FOR KIDS WITH AUTISM

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“It’s very important to be able to be a beacon of hope for those families.”

Charlotte Paine has two sons with sensory issues, and she used to cut their hair while they slept because getting a professional haircut was such an ordeal.

Then she found Barber’s Blueprints, a New York City hair salon that says it is the first to become certified “sensory-inclusive” by an organization devoted to serving people with autism. Now Paine and her children, ages 8 and 9, get haircuts without fear.

“They enjoy it, you know?” Paine said. “They’re fond of going to a barbershop to be able to go get a haircut. Our children get that now too … It’s nice that they can have that experience, the same as every other kid.”

https://www.today.com/parents/ssensory-inclusive-salon-serves-kids-autism-t169770

Arthur, owner of Barber's Blueprint is interviewed about celebrity hair on WDEL Radio

Barber’s Blueprint on WDEL Radio

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Arthur, owner of Barber’s Blueprint, is interviewed on WDEL Radio.

‘Celebrity Hairstyles’ Listen Here:

Back to PRESS

Top 5 Back to School Hairstyles to match your Kids Personality & Rock the New School Year

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#1.- The Hipster *THE UNDERCUT*

A disconnected haircut with contrast of long hair in the front while buzzed short on the sides.

#2.-Class President *MAD MEN HAIRCUT*

A comb over with a hard part representing a twist on a Classic look. 

#3.- The Athlete *CREWCUT* 

A Short modern Buzz cut with an etched design on the side.

#4.- The Prankster *FAUX HAWK*

 Relatively short sides while longer on top.  Styled to a point in the middle. 

#5.- The Rebel *POMPADOUR*

Hair swept & rolled upwards that’s worn high over the forehead in a James Dean fashion.

***Barber’s Blueprint wishes all the NYC families a very Happy Back to School and don’t forget to stop by B.B. to send you off back in Style. 

Barber's Blueprint, Arthur, Head Barber is wearing a leather Barber's Blueprint apron and relaxing between haircuts

Is your Hair Beach body Ready? (MENS Summer Survival Guide)

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Is your Hair Beach body Ready? (MENS Summer Survival Guide) read and find out the Pro Tips from a Celebrity Barber.

What haircut is the best this summer? This summer is all about the undercut- Think maroon 5s front man Adam Levine, and Brad Pitt from Inglorious Basterds. It’s about that edgy, rockstar vibe. Clients want to feel Hip & Masculine. Whether their in the boardroom or the bedroom. It’s about having that vibe. It’s a haircut that really easily translates from work to play too. From tailored professional to edgy  rocker it fits all molds. Often times your hair and your haircut speak before you do. It’s the first impression. So this summer we see a lot of Men really diggin on that cool vibe. 


How often should you get a cut? Typically you should aim to get a haircut every 3-6 weeks depending on how quickly your own hair grows. Everybody is different but A lot of clients want to keep looking sharp longer and usually get a shape up in btwn haircuts every 1 1/2 weeks to make sure their haircut is looking fresh. It also maintains the integrity of the original haircut a lot better that way. Fresh is best. 

What are you top beard/facial trimming tips?I love to tell ppl. That the key to mainting a well groomed beard / facial hair is upkeep. Ppl automatically think beards are easy, and it’s actually the opposite. It’s really not. In order to get that Viking bad ass look you see everywhere. Takes a lot of work. For you and your barber. It’s a collaboration. We trim it tight at the shop and your job is to do the upkeep. That means trim the beard hair daily to maintain the outlines under the chin and neck. Sides of face etc. use good grooming products. Beard oils kick ass. Invest in a good one 

What products and moisturizer do you recommend and why?Well as luck would have it. We here are at Barber’s Blueprint have our own product line coming out this fall. After 20 plus years in the Men’s grooming industry. We learned a thing or two about what works and what doesn’t and packaged that up along with really clean pure ingredients into a really cool hip product for your hair and beard & with the theme of staying hip all our products are Infused with CBD of the highest purest form that is available on the market. As well as being organic and environmentally substantial because we care about the planet. So we’re pretty psyched because it’s revolutionary hair care. Our CBD hair  pomade and CBD beard oil is unbelievable for hair. I mean talk about a product that will become a real staple in a Mans grooming routine. So be on the look out for that this fall- pre orders will be available exclusivly on our website & each product is Artisan crafted and hand poured. It’s a beautiful thing. Barber’s Blueprint Artisan CBD pomade and Artisan CBD oil.  As far as what we recommend try to find products that are made with jojoba seed and shea butter because those are so moisturizing and good for the hair and beard. As for the moisturizer If you want to be fancy raid your girlfriends product drawer lol they got some good stuff in there, but in all seriously Kiehl’s has some great moisturizers that are not too heavy and leave your skin feeling fresh. #1 rule. Sunscreen boys and girls. Not just for the summer but winter too. Winter sun can be brutal, we have a client who climbed Everest and got wickedly burnt. And even though you may not be climbing Everest but the concrete jungle instead or the work office. The sun in the winter can still be pretty harsh & with this Summer heat Moisture & sunscreen year round. Super fluid by Kiehls is pretty good one for that. Little barber tip from a barber dad. Swipe your kids sunscreen. Their UVA UVB protected and usually super clean and not heavy for the skin becuz their made for babies. So if you have acne prone skin. There’s a tip that will change your game. Remember you and whoever you choose as your barber are in a hair relationship together. It’s true. It’s a collaborative effort. Choose wisely and have fun. 

The double edge safety razor, a brief history:

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The double edged razor came into popularity in the early 1900’s. Also known as “safety razors”, double-edge razors are comprised of a single razor blade with two sharp sides on each end of the razor handle.
A guard protects one’s facial skin from all but the edge of the razor, as opposed to a straight razor, which has no guard, hence the name “safety razor”.
Once the standard, the double-edge safety blade has been largely replaced by the “easier-to-use” multi-blade razors. However, there are some advantages to Double-Edged old school razors:
Why Use a Double-Edge Razor?
  • Affordability: Replacement blades are more affordable than current multi-blade razors and the thinking is that their two sides extend each unit’s lifespan.
  • Better Access: In many cases, the blade’s slimmer design enables improved access and removal of hair in tough-to-reach areas like under the nose and neck crevices.
  • Closeness: Many feel these blades provide a closer and smoother shave than multi-blade counterparts.
How To Shave With A Double-Edge Razor?
First, rinse your face with moderate to hot water . This is necessary to compress the skin. The hot temperature of the water will open your pores and soften the stubbles on your face.
Work up a good lather with shaving cream. Don’t be afraid to be thorough in doing so, the more the better.
Double edges should gently glide across the face, and even with light pressure, will adeptly remove stubborn stubble.
Double edge razors should move across the beard area at an angle of approximately 30 degrees. Shaving should commence slowly and carefully with short, light strokes in the direction of hair growth. Another important thing to keep in mind when shaving with the double edge is to be soft- handed.  Obviously no slicing or side-to-side motion!
Stretch The Skin: More so than with multi-blade cartridges, double edge razors do their best work on skin that is held taut. So, when taking passes on the cheeks or neck, use that free hand to stretch these areas. In doing so, you will insure a smooth comfortable shave without irritating your skin.
Remember practice makes perfect. If you follow these rudimentary steps you will be shaving like a pro in no time.
If you are interested in purchasing a Double Edge Safety Razor, we have them available @ BarbersBlueprint.

 

How to Shave…

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1
Trim hair with clippers or scissors if you’re starting with a full beard. Electric clippers are best for this purpose.
2
Wash your face with an exfoliate facial wash. Some people like to use a hot wash cloth. The heat and moisture will help to soften your beard (if you have one) and lift up the hairs, as well as open your pores. However, be careful that the water isn’t too hot. Hot water slackens skin and pulls moisture away.
3
Have your shave kit ready for when you finish washing your face so you can start right away before your beard has a chance to dry and your pores have a chance to close. If you’re using a disposable razor, fill the wash basin with cold water and drop it into the sink to let it soak(hot water will only make the blade expand and be duller).
4
Put a few drops of shaving oil in the palm of your hand and rub it into your beard before applying the shaving cream, this will allow the razor to glide across your skin and will help to reduce razor burn.
5
Apply your choice of shaving cream with a shaving brush. The brush will further help to soften your beard and exfoliate your skin . It also helps to float the whiskers out away from the blades while you are shaving. If you’re short on shaving cream, gel or foam, use conditioner or specialty shaving oil. Letting the lubricant sit on your face for up to a minute can amplify its effects. Avoid using a bar of soap, as this can leave a residue on the blade, dulling the edge and eventually causing rusting even on stainless blades. At a push, you can use a liquid soap as these are formulated differently.
6
Pick the right blade. Your choice of blade should be made individually, but you should take into account the coarseness of your beard, the texture of your skin, your preferred shaving method, and other details. For heavy bearded men with more sensitive skin, it is generally good to use a multiple-blade razor (2,3,4,5).
7
Start with one side of your face and work steadily towards the other side, doing small sections at a time. This way you won’t miss anything. Use short, light, downward strokes (with the grain), keeping the flat of the blade almost parallel with the face, to remove the bulk of the hair. Use your free hand to pull your skin tight. Rinse the blade often to keep it from clogging. Swirl it around in the filled sink and tap the razor against the side of the sink to free up beard trimmings. Continue until you have shaved your entire face in a downward direction.
8
Rinse your face with warm water and then run your fingers over your face to find any rough areas that you may have missed. Look for missed patches near sideburns, around your mouth and close to your nostrils. Apply shaving cream and gently pass the blade over the area in a different direction (e.g. across the grain) but not directly against the grain (see Tips and Warnings). Pay special attention to hairs on your neck and jawline, which generally do not grow straight up or down, but in many different directions that simple up and down motions can miss.
9
Rinse your face in cool water and pat dry with a clean towel. Apply a non-alcohol shaving balm. Aloe and tea tree oil can help prevent dry skin and razor burn. However, if you are going to use Tea Tree Oil, it should be at a very low concentration, since it’s potentially irritating to freshly-shaved skin.
10
Soothe any nicks or small cuts after shaving by drenching your face in cold water. This will help to close up the cuts and stop bleeding, you can then apply witch hazel to soothe the cuts and prevent razor burn. Then add small pieces of moistened kitchen paper or toilet roll to the cuts that still bleed.
11
Buy a styptic pencil if you are susceptible to nicks and cuts. When using a styptic pencil, simply wet and gently spread across the area where the nick occurred. The material on the pencil will constrict the blood vessels near the cut and block anymore blood from coming out.
12
Take care of your shaving implements. Rinse and dry your equipment thoroughly, and store in a dry place. Clean equipment is less likely to introduce bacteria and infection to your open, freshly shaved pores. Change the blades as needed. A dull blade will leave