Shaving is one of those things in life that you’re expected to know how to do, there’s no instruction booklet. Although, judging by the number of men out there with botched facial hair styles and bumpy, razor-burned skin, there should be. But whether you’re a whiz with a razor or bungling beginner, every guy can use a refresher on shaving basics. Here is our list of everyday shaving slip-ups, and more importantly, how to repair them.

Uneven hair growth
Not everyone is blessed with being able to grow a full forest on the face. Some guys, no matter how hard they try, can only get as far as patchy, irregular-looking facial hair. Testosterone levels and enzymes that trigger hair growth are one part of the equation. And unless you’re crazy enough to get a beard transplant (yes, it’s possible for a pretty price), embrace your inner baby face and keep yourself clean-shaven all the time.

Blind spots
It can be hard enough to shave the visible hairs, but what about those hard-to-see spots like behind your jaw? Even the nooks and crannies underneath your nose and around your mouth are cause for concern. Using a shaver with a special trimming blade like the Gillette Fusion will help you reach the tough stuff.

Dry skin
Parched pores form a sealant on the surface of the skin. The result: flakes, redness or worse, ingrown hairs trapped underneath the dry, scaly outer layer. Fortunately, the fix here is fast and easy: Use an all-purpose moisturiser with SPF every day after showering for soft, supple skin (a blade’s best friend).

Sensitive skin
Blame it on your parents, the weather or just plain bad luck, having sensitive skin is no fun when you’re forced to lop off your beard five days a week. But all it takes is some preshave and postshave rituals to relieve even the most delicate dermal layers. A beard-softening oil, face wash or exfoliating scrub will help prepare the beard for battle. An aftershave balm in the form of a soothing cream moisturiser is the ultimate way to prevent against bumps and burns once the deed is done.

Ingrown hairs
This little gem is arguably the most painful problem in the bunch, and naturally, one of the hardest to remedy. An ingrown hair is most commonly caused by the broken end of a hair -- typically caused from shaving -- growing sideways or curling back underneath the skin. And while your first instinct may be to go fishing with tweezers, resist temptation. Grab a hot washcloth instead, which calms the irritation and brings the hair to the surface of the skin. Then, you have a green light to pluck away. Topical treatments like a simple salicylic acid also work wonders to help soothe and remove.

Nicks and cuts
The last thing you want is to look like you got in a brutal brawl with your blade. Slicing and dicing can occur when your razor is too dull or alternatively, when it’s fresh out of the gate and too much pressure is being applied. As usual, make sure the blade is sharp and go easy on the handle -- it should glide effortlessly.

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