Shaving: How to Get Smooth Results Every Time
Shaving is the most basic of grooming routines, and as with most things we do, it should produce satisfactory results every time. It doesn’t take long to learn how to use a razor, but to maintain smooth, irritation-free results, there are a few considerations.
Everyone’s skin is different, so it’s important to find the right way to remove hair from your body. Some want to go to a laser hair removal specialist, others prefer waxing, while many choose to shave. If you find that your skin is suitable for shaving, you ought to choose the right razor for your skin type. You’ll also need to experiment with different shaving techniques to find the method that gives you the best results.
With the following tips, you can eliminate shaving irritation and get smooth results every time.
Exfoliate your skin first
Exfoliating prepares your skin for shaving, preventing irritation and ingrown hairs. Exfoliating also removes dead skin cells, which can help your skin appear smoother. If you’re looking to shave your legs with smooth, sleek results, be sure to exfoliate first. If you’re looking to avoid spots and ingrown hairs when shaving your beard, exfoliation will help to remove excess oil and dirt. Clean skin leads to fewer infected pores, and will give your skin a beautiful post-shave glow.
Rinse your blade after every swipe
The worst mistake you can make when shaving is to not rinse your blade between swipes. On each swipe, the blade fills with hundreds of tiny, cut hairs. You need to get rid of these hairs between each swipe, or the blade will not be able to cut properly on the next swipe. A blade full of hair will also irritate your skin, leaving microscopic cuts invisible to the naked eye. This results in a painful rash otherwise known as razor burn, which can then become infected, leaving your skin red, raw and inflamed.
Shave with, then against, the grain
Most people find that shaving in the direction of the hair growth using light strokes first, and then following up again with re-strokes against the grain provides the closest, smoothest finish. It can be tempting to shave against the grain on the first pass, but this can tug at the hair follicle, tearing the hair and leaving the pore inflamed. When you shave with the grain first, the hair is shortened, leaving it short enough not to be tugged on the second pass against the grain. This also helps to avoid ingrown hairs, which are painful and can last for weeks if infected.
Use warm/hot water
If possible, always have a hot shower before shaving. Hot water opens your pores up, washing away oil and bacteria that can lead to infection. Hot water also softens hair, making it far easier to shave off. When shaving, rinse the razor with warm water. This will help to wash away any dead skin clogging the blades, resulting in a smoother shaves. Be careful not to go too hot, however, as this can irritate your skin. Never use cold water before or during shaving, as this will shock your skin, closing your pores tightly and resulting in more resistance. Cold water also results in goose bumps, making your skin uneven and harder to shave. Save cold water for after your shave as it will cool any irritation and close your pores, preventing them from becoming clogged by sweat and dirt during the day.
Use shaving oil, not shaving foam
Skin requires moisture to be healthy, but shaving removes this moisture as the blade passes over, removing the top later of skin and moisture. Unfortunately, we’ve been conditioned to think we need shaving foam for a clean shave, but shaving foam is full of chemical astringents that strip the natural oils from your skin. It might make shaving easier and result in a closer shave, but it will also leave your skin dry and prone to cracking. Eventually, this will lead to prematurely aged skin, so it’s better to use a shaving oil instead. Olive oil works well and has been used safely for centuries, and will remove the need to apply handfuls of moisturiser after shaving, saving you time and money.
Aftercare
It’s important to realise that the process of shaving is not complete when you’re finished with your razor. Your skin has just been through a lot, so slapping on make-up or spraying on deodorant isn’t going to do you any favors. We’ve all experienced a time where we’ve shaved and immediately gone to apply perfume or aftershave, only to find our eyes streaming at the stinging sensation currently burning our skin. Heavily perfumed cosmetics will lead to irritation, whilst make-up will clog the pores you’ve just finished scraping with a very sharp blade. Avoid applying cosmetics for a couple of hours after shaving, or use hypoallergenic, non-comedogenic products gentle on the skin.