Shaving: the moment when boy becomes man. A rite of passage that can leave you pretty cut up – quite literally. Like most things in life, good technique comes with experience, but a well-made razor goes a long way to helping you secure the smoothest, closest shave.

Since you are quite literally putting a blade to your own throat, there’s no excuse for lack of diligence when choosing your weapon. Some basics: you want a razor that can glide over the contours of your face, removing hairs without it leaving your skin looking as though it has been attacked by a cheese grater. The quality of the blades is more important than the quantity of them (otherwise we’d have razors with 30-odd blades by now).

Manoeuvrability is also key. You certainly don’t want to go over the same patch again and again. To skip a harsh leathery appearance after too much shaving, look for lubricating features such as a moisture strip that will soothe and help repair your skin as you shave (not to mention, indicate roughly when the blade is dull).

“As shaving is such a personal thing, the importance of the right razor is second to none. Both the weight and shape of the razor will affect your shave, how you use the razor and how it glides over the skin,” says Chris Beastall, founder of acclaimed men’s grooming blog Ape To Gentleman. “Be sure to try out a few different handles before you even start to look at blades. Also remember that blades vary in weight, which affects the sharpness of the blade.”

Getting it wrong in front of the bathroom mirror can result in a rash resembling aggressive acne, so once you’ve selected your razor, there are some general shaving guidelines to follow, too. Showering before shaving will open your pores and, as a result, minimise redness. Doing so also means your skin will be clean, helping swerve irritation (or worse, infections) caused by dirt.