A CLOSE SHAVE

Dear Heloise: I loyally read your column in the Daily News in Longview, Washington, and I’d like to share some advice (after 68 years of shaving) for a more comfortable shave, especially for men like me who have a tough beard and sensitive skin. (The same procedure can be applied to women for shaving their legs.)

First, wet your face with hot water. Then take a heaping teaspoon of baking soda and make a paste with liquid soap and water. Make sure to vigorously rub in the paste while keeping the skin very wet. Then thoroughly rinse. (This is called exfoliation, aka the removal of dead skin, which allows blades to better cut whiskers. This also helps prevent ingrown hairs and a rash.)

Next, rub in a few “squirts” of hand or body lotion into your whiskers, then apply or lather shaving cream. Now the razor should glide down as though it were wiping whiskers off with a washcloth, and the blades should last for longer.

After a cold water rinse, a splash of witch hazel and a small dab of the same lotion can leave your face feeling smooth and comfortable. — John M., Longview, Washington

SWIMMING

Dear Heloise: I really agree with the recent letter from someone with a nephew who drowned because he did not know to swim. In the past, parents were urged to teach their children to swim. I did so because I didn’t want this to happen to our young sons.

After swimming lessons did not work, I purchased a device that I think was made of styrofoam and had an adjustable belt to fit around the chest. They got used to swimming in shallow water with it and eventually swam in deeper water with me alongside them.

In subsequent days, I started cutting off about 1/7 of the styrofoam each time they swam with it. Finally, it was obvious that they were really swimming on their own, and they agreed to try without the device on at all. (OK, I did have to convince them to do this with a promise of a reward, which could also be called a bribe.)

Anyway, both of our sons learned to swim, which was a relief to all their relatives. If a private pool or body of water is not easily available, signing up for advanced swimming lessons could be an option so that they can practice their new skill. — Peggy, An Avid Fan of “Hints From Heloise.”