Back in 2012, Steve Tobak wrote in an article for CBS: “Want a great job? Then shave.” However, a lot has happened in the facial hair universe since 2012, with the popularity of beards skyrocketing among men of all ages and professions. 

With that in mind, how important is shaving for work today? And will not shaving hinder your career opportunities?

Jim Edwards of Business Insider, still lists forgetting to shave as a notable pre-interview mistake. However, he also advises: “If you’re rocking facial hair, make sure it is impeccably groomed” – perhaps a sign that workplace attitudes towards shaving are beginning to soften.

Use the company’s culture as a guide

A survey by Deloitte says 52% of millennials consider workplace culture to be very important when finding a new job, with value placed on diverse and flexible organisations. 

This means that companies are having to work harder on their culture to attract the right talent. If you’re a great fit for the job, a lot of interviewers will be happy to have you aboard, whatever you choose to do with your facial hair.

However, this doesn’t mean that all employers are equally open-minded about facial hair. Professional recruitment specialists HRC Recruitment say that facial hair should be “avoided altogether,” adding that a “fresh shave look inspires the most professionalism.”

Despite this view, even the strictest employers can often make exceptions. In the British Army, where protocol is to be clean-shaven when dressing in Army uniform, commanding officers can grant written permission allowing facial hair.

Do some research and trust your judgement

One thing you can do is browse a company’s website and social channels. Rip Bains from Lovely Beards recommends “[running] a quick search for the company name on LinkedIn and [doing] a quick scan of their current employees’ photos. See any beards? If so, you’re probably good to keep yours, too.”

While most companies probably won’t expect employees to shave, even for those that do, there is likely to be leeway if you choose not to shave for a specific reason. Don’t be afraid to open dialogue with the company inviting you for interview – they may respect the fact you raised the subject in a professional manner. 

At the end of the day, it’s your choice. Niall Sullivan of Blades Magazine believes suitability for the role should take priority: “As long as you prove that you’re the best candidate for the job, what does it matter whether you have facial hair or not?”

A boost in confidence

Regardless of the employer’s stance, shaving might give you a much-needed boost. Interviews can be nerve-wracking, no matter how experienced you are. Looking your sharpest could be just what you need to stride into the interview with confidence.

If you do decide to shave before an interview, we’ve got everything you need. Our range of razors, refill cartridges and Shave Gel will help you Get Closer to your smartest shave yet.

It seems the UK is back in love with the barber. The country’s barbering industry is expected to grow over the next five years, as people seek to add touch of class to their beauty routine.

One of the most iconic features of a visit to your barber is, of course, the classic hot towel shave. Not only does it feel fantastic, it also softens your beard, making shaving easier and causing less irritation to your skin. 

While hot towel shaves might seem like the preserve of a luxury barber experience, why shouldn’t you be able to do it yourself? 

The five steps below will teach you how to hot towel shave at home, like a pro.

STEP ONE – GET A TOWEL

Selecting the right towel is an important step in achieving a great feeling hot towel shave.

While hand or face towels often provide the easiest option, to heighten the experience and maximise comfort, why not invest in a professional barber’s towel or high-quality flannel? If you don’t want to go this far, most towels will do the trick.

STEP TWO – ADD OIL TO THE TOWEL

It doesn’t need to be a specific kind of oil. However, according to Men’s Health “Eucalyptus is probably what you’re most familiar with [as] gyms and spas use the menthol scent on their hot towels.”

You can tailor the oils you use to cater for any allergies you might have, or even to help with an ailment. For example, you could add sinus clearing vapour rub to your towel if you are suffering from a cold.

STEP THREE – HEAT THE TOWEL

The towel can be heated up in various ways, the simplest being to run it under the hot tap in your bathroom.

Alternatively, you could boil the kettle and pour the boiled water onto the towel, or even heat the towel up in the microwave for 30 seconds. Just be sure to take caution not to burn yourself at this stage.

STEP FOUR – APPLY THE HOT TOWEL

Place the hot towel on your face for about a minute, by which point the towel should begin to cool down. 

Now it’s time to sit back and enjoy the feeling as your pores open and your facial hairs soften. It should be a very relaxing experience, so make the most of it!

STEP FIVE – REMOVE TOWEL AND SHAVE

Once you take the towel off your face and set it aside, it’s time to move on to the shaving stage. Having gone to all this effort so far, it is important to top it all off with great shaving technique.

Luckily, we’ve got you covered. Discover how to shave without causing irritation here. To heighten the comfort, all of Dorco’s razors are suitable for sensitive skin, featuring an advanced lubricating strip with soothing ingredients to prevent skin irritation.

So, to summarise: 

1. Get a fresh face towel / face cloth
2. Pick an oil and add it to your dry towel
3. Heat your towel
4. Apply the hot towel to your face

Then go ahead and proceed with your usual shave.

By following these simple steps, you can ditch the luxury barber and achieve a great hot towel shave from home. Already tried a hot towel shave? We’d love to hear how you got on!

Unless you have a chemistry degree and can decipher weird names like ‘sodium lauryl sulphate’, you’re not alone if you’re wondering just what’s in your cosmetics and toiletries. Unsurprisingly, more and more health-conscious consumers are turning to natural alternatives when it comes to personal pampering – and it’s not just the bohemian cool kids. From homemade skin scrubs to nature-made moisturisers, there are plenty of safe, cheap, all-natural alternatives out there.

So what are they, and how can they help us achieve smooth, beautiful skin?

Exfoliating

Any hair removal aficionado knows that exfoliating your skin, prior to getting your shave on, helps reduce the likelihood of bumps, burns, and ingrown hairs. What they might not know is that most people have all the ingredients for a top-notch exfoliator in their kitchen cupboard.

Grab a jar with a lid and mix up half a cup of sugar, 3 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil, and 2 tablespoons of honey – and hey presto! That’s all it takes. The olive oil will pamper your skin with moisture and antioxidants, the honey will help fight any bacteria, and the sugar will gently polish away the dead skin cells. Since the skin on your face is more delicate however, this concoction is better suited to your body.

Creaming

While there’s plenty of tried and true shaving foams, gels and creams on the market, there are some fantastic all-natural alternatives that you can make at home. A cup filled with 1/3 shea butter, 1/3 of coconut oil, and 1/3 olive oil creatures a luxurious shaving cream that leaves your skin feeling soft, smooth and pampered. You’ll need to melt the shea butter on a hob first, before adding the olive and coconut oils. Then whip the mixture together with a mixer.

The best thing about this shaving cream is that you don’t need your legs to be wet to use it – making it the perfect go-to treatment when you’re shaving on the fly. If you want to make your cream extra special, you can also add essential oils catered to your skin’s needs.

Moisturising

There’s a huge choice of natural wonders out there that are perfect for some post-shave nourishment – it’s all about finding the one that works for your particular skin type.

Here are some of our favourites:

• Castor oil: Packed with fatty acids that help it quickly sink into the skin, castor oil is fantastic for hydration. The linoleic acid contained in it creates a barrier over the skin, locking the moisture inside to do its thing.

• Coconut oil: Coconut oil also sinks deep into the skin with ease and without leaving a greasy feeling in its wake. As well as a great moisturiser, it also boasts some antibacterial, antimicrobial and collagen-boosting properties, making it fabulous for anti-aging too.

• Shea butter: Brimming with vitamins A and F, shea butter is an exceptional moisturiser. Because of its rich texture, it’s great for those with really dry skin, especially during the colder months.

Shaving

At Dorco, we’re pretty big on the all-natural thing too. Take the Dorco Eve 6: we’ve given it an advanced lubricating strip loaded with powerful natural extracts. There’s calendula, a flower-derived ingredient that helps soothe dry skin and shaving irritation, as well as argan oil, which nourishes both normal and sensitive skin types. With a little creativity and experimentation, you can go all-natural before, during, and after your Dorco shaving experience.

Ah, Valentine’s Day. The only day of the year when our significant others buy our affection with chocolates, flowers and jewellery – and, if we’re lucky – a fancy date night to boot. It’s sort of like a second Christmas.

Of course, Valentine’s Day isn’t Valentine’s Day unless we’re reminding our significant others how gorgeous we are. So it’s the perfect opportunity to get preened and pampered to perfection. Unfortunately, female grooming is awash with pitfalls: a burnt top lip and a rosy red razor burn can transform your date night from a romance novel-worthy dream, to a cringy romcom disaster. 

So, ladies, here’s a heads up on some of the most common grooming mishaps, and how to avoid them.

Razor burn, baby burn

Roses should be red, not your pegs. You don’t want to have to cover up your luscious legs because they’re inflamed or covered in itchy bumps. So avoid razor burn by using a fresh blade, taking plenty of time, and pampering your skin afterwards. The Dorco Eve 6 offers a lubricating strip packed with calendula extract and argan oil, so it pampers your pins as you go. Lovely.

Hair removal scream

For most of us, date night means smooth legs. While hair removal creams can be a lazy lady’s best friend, they can also be the reckless lady’s worst nightmare. If you ever find yourself skim reading instructions, then it’s probably better you avoid hair removal cream altogether. No one wants to be nursing chemical burns in strange places on Valentine’s Day. If you dare to go bare, this is one occasion when it’s worth seeking out a professional.

The Mask

Valentine’s beauty maintenance means finally using that fancy facemask you got for Christmas, right? Not necessarily. It’s suggested by some beauty pros that you should use a facemask 10 days or so before any special occasion. That way, if you have a reaction, your skin has plenty of time to calm down and recover – and you won’t meet your date looking like your filter fell off. 

Hairy situations

If you’re planning to shake things up with a new hairstyle, then go for it – so long as you’re turning to professionals to get the job done properly. Trimming your own fringe, attempting a DIY dye job, or trying that elaborate up-do you saw on YouTube can all result in dodgy ‘dos – and you’ll be bewildering your beau for all the wrong reasons.

Make-up mishaps

Valentine’s Day make-up is all about keeping it alluring – and for most women that means a smoky eye, a slick of kiss-proof lippy, and flawless skin. But if you’re experimenting with a new look or a new product, make sure you test it out prior to date night. It’s amazing how you can quickly go from red carpet glam to a black-eyed racoon when an eyeshadow is way more pigmented than you expected it to be.

Have fun getting prepped, primed and smooth for your special Valentine’s day. And remember: if your date turns out to be a disaster, at least you’ll have that box of chocolates to come home to.