A good shave and haircut is now part and parcel of a healthy lifestyle for men. Not everyone sports a beard, goatee, or a mustache, so shaving may not be a cumbersome task every morning. I sport a trimmed goatee so I have to make that extra effort to maintain its right look and trim while shaving.

Whats strange in Kuwait is that most of the men I come across, would rather be in a salon to get the basic shave, that too many times a week. Getting a shave in a salon for me happens when I go in for a haircut. Shaving daily has been part of a routine for me ever since I began shaving. Of course one may argue that shaving tends to be a stressful activity and since your neighborhood barber would charge like 1 KD, its better to get it done in a salon.

On top of that there is a culture of designer trims in Kuwait and in Gulf region in general, so the upkeep of artistic look does require a masters touch [aka barber]. Its been couple of years only since I have had the goatee trim, and I do remember the contortions I had to perform to get the right trim, but with patience and practice, now it has become sort of second nature. But a big help has been the tools of trade. Yep..who says only women have the tools of grooming trade!

Following are must haves for a good shave, especially if you sport a beard and its variations:

1. Good shaving mirror: Best place to get one is in IKEA, they have circular retractable mirrors that one can attach next to the bathroom mirror. The mirror offers a close look at your face, and you don’t have to bend over stressing your back to get a good look while you shave

2. Shaving blades, razor and foam/gel: Gillette is no doubt the best in this area. Mach3 / Fusion series are preferable.

3. Trimmer: If you have a beard, this is a must. I prefer BaByliss Pro Charger which is very sturdy and efficient. Its cordless, so you don’t have to hassle with short cords, and comes with trim-size adjustable clips.

4. Finishing Trimmer: Another must have tool for giving you the precision touch to your beard and achieve that artistic finishing. Resembles like a fat pencil, and is intended to be used like a pencil to get those fine trim lines.But beware this needs a bit of practice or else you might end up drawing road maps on your face!

Now this might look like a big shopping list, but then it is much more cost efficient and hygienic than alternate day salon visits. A bit of patience and practice will get you a great shaving experience..everyday!