I’m a new father. Well, he’s 15 months now, but I still consider myself a newbie to the skill of caring for a wild little human child. And let me emphasize that he acts like a miniature lunatic sometimes. There is no off switch on this kid. His batteries never die, and his response to “No!” usually involves flailing his arms and releasing whatever fragile item that had been in his grasp seconds before.

Brand new Beatles mug from Liverpool… slam dunked over the baby-gate onto the tile bathroom floor. In a mere 14 seconds he unzipped the suitcase, withdrew the ceramic mug and ran to the other side of the room, poised for its discharge.

All kidding aside, I haven’t shaved at all since our return from our England/Scotland/Wales trip. Not because I haven’t wanted to, but because when your to-do list includes diapers, cat poop, puke (human and feline), mystery stains, feeding (human and feline, again), and unexpected chaos, taking a nice clean razor to your face tends to fall down the priority list.

I’m not even trying to pretend that I’ve always been a clean-cut, razor-toting young gentleman. As many people know, I left college in my early twenties to start a band and tour the world. It wasn’t even a poppy, “I’m gonna make it” band either. We played hardcore, heavy rock music. Screaming and all. We performed in bars, VFW halls, basements of fans, all-age venues that no longer exist, and eventually had enough success to tour all over the world, and even get paid enough to keep doing it. Regardless, I had a tendency to always sport a beard, year-round, regardless of season or locale. We often slept in the bus, and shaving was neither convenient nor prioritized.

When I transitioned to a traditional office job after investing in my next venture, I spent several months “cleaning up” my look. I cut my long hair, started shaving regularly, and even wore suits to the office daily. But I was the boss, so I could really do whatever I wanted. I was getting married, growing up, and wanted a more professional appearance to accompany my more professional lifestyle, although anything looks more professional than spending your evening in a Toledo dive bar on a Thursday.

Since my son was born (and I left my 9-5 position with my company), I’ve felt a mental shift back to that rugged-looking rock star that I played so well. This time with a toddler in tow. The point is that I haven’t “clean” shaved in over a year. I always keep a scruffy-headed (nerf-herder) look about me that feels comfortable. But one thing I’ve always avoided in my life is constant conformity in any form. I realized that my wife was in the same boat as me. We needed a night out, and she deserved a husband who didn’t look like she picked him up off the streets.

I immediately picked up the NEW Gillette® Mach3® Signature Edition from Costco. I don’t like buying things over and over, so I got the pack that includes the razor and 14 extra blade cartridges. With the Gillette® Mach3® Signature Edition razors, I get a smooth shave that’s up to 100% redness-free every time. (It’s possible with Mach3®.) It’s been about 15 years since I bought my first Gillette® razor, but somehow the prices have dropped significantly from when I first had to buy these bad boys on my own. And you don’t even need a Costco membership to buy online (with a surcharge). I did not know that.

In case you haven’t noticed, I enjoy mixing things up pretty regularly. In high school, I was the guy that had different color hair every semester. In college, I decided that piercings and gauged ears were my thing. The point is, there is always a time that you need to reset, create a clean slate, and start fresh. Whether it’s your face, your career, your relationships, or yourself personally, constantly evaluate what’s important to you, and make sure to stay out of the “ruts” that life can throw you. And always have a good razor, it can do more than you think.

With that being said, here are 5 tips for “hacking” your shave:

These are personal tips and in no way guarantee that they will make you look more attractive or desirable in any way.

Shower before you shave.

I don’t do anything in the morning before showering. The hot water and steam will help to open your pores, making for a better shave afterward.

Use fresh blades.

Don’t overuse your blades .As soon as you feel resistance (or the blade has been used 7-10 times), pop in a new one. It will reduce irritation, time, and effort to your shave. Ain’t nobody got time for that.

Use good cream (or gel).

Pretty self-explanatory. Your blade is only as good as the lather you’ve got on your face. You don’t want to use the cheapest, because you’ll come out looking like Joaquin Phoenix (during that weird phase a couple years ago). You can pick up the Gillette Fusion ProGlide 2-in-1 Shave Gel in Ocean Breeze in the 3 pack 6 ounce size at Costco while you’re grabbing your new Gillette® Mach3® Signature razor.

Don’t try to complete in one pass.

Lather up, and shave with the grain. Don’t worry if you missed some. Re-lather, and go across and against the grain all over. Don’t try to get every square inch in one pass.

You don’t have to shave daily.

This is my favorite tip. Mostly because I’m lazy, but also because I still like to rock the stubble when appropriate. Change things up. Grow a beard, let the shadow go every couple days. The thing about styling your facial hair is that it’s up to you. Use the right tools and experiment with what you (and your significant other, of course) enjoy best.

With that being said, I’m taking my wife out to a nice dinner; we’re dressing up, celebrating our lives together, and taking a step back to appreciate our accomplishments. And she’ll definitely appreciate that I shaved for it.