Brad Pitt and George Clooney were delightfully clean-shaven and fresh-faced, prancing up and down the Venice Film Festival red carpet for their film Wolfs. When the credits rolled on the crime romp, the two hugged before grooving to Sade’s Smooth Operator. Is this the start of something new? I’m calling it, boys: the clean shave is back, and it’s here to stay for summer!
Brad Pitt and George Clooney: Clean shaven on the Venice Film Festival red carpet.Credit: Getty Images
While on this trend trajectory, I was recently at lunch with Australian cricket captain Pat Cummins and was struck by his fresh-faced, preppy look. Not a beard hair in sight. My sons are both bearded, as are a sizeable proportion of the male population, but the look of a freshly shaved face is something really joyous.
Bradley Stainton, founder of barbershop and eponymous grooming brand Pankhurst London, says: “Most men are now veering towards a clean shave, while those who are choosing to keep the beard are instead opting for a shorter, much more groomed style.”
On a purely practical level, a beard can appear to alter your face structure, cover your blemishes and is less maintenance than clean shaving. But if you want to show off your sharp jawline and cheekbones, shave off that beard, even if it’s just a temporary change. Mix it up.
Shaving gets a big tick on the grooming front: it exfoliates the face and removes dead skin cells, making it much easier to apply skincare products – and it often makes men appear younger. Check in with your loved ones to see which version they prefer.
So whip out the shaving cream, and get the razor ready.
Start by treating yourself to a professional barber shave. Our pick in Sydney is Face of Man and, in Melbourne, Kings Domain.
At home, shave after showering, or use a warm, wet towel on your face to make sure your whiskers are softened. For a really smooth face, try a three-pass shave: first with the grain, second across the grain, and lastly against the grain. All this should be done with a very light touch. To avoid irritation on your neck, shave with the grain of your beard. And for a traditional shave, try a double-edge safety razor, shaving soap and a badger brush.
Invest in a good quality post-shave balm, such as L’Occitane’s After Shave Balm, $49, to apply after washing your face with cool water and gently patting your skin dry.