Shaving with finesse is an art and can really transform the appearance of your skin. A soft, glowing, and smooth skin will lift your spirits as you see yourself in a mirror after a nice shave. However, a daily shave, if not done properly, can cause cuts and give you coarse skin. Following proper shaving tips can be a savior in this case.
Generally, men have thicker skin, a lot of facial hair, and large sebaceous glands that tend to make their skin oily. Moreover, every person has a distinctive hair growth pattern. Thus, it is imperative to know how your hair grows and follow important shaving tips, so you can prevent razor bumps. Stand in front of the mirror to study your face and get acquainted with the direction of the hair growth on your face.
Applying more pressure to the blade will only make you cut your hair below the surface of the skin. As this hair grows back, it will curl beneath the skin thereby causing a razor bump. It is best to change blade regularly since a slightly dull blade will make you press harder on your face resulting in ugly and painful nicks and cuts. A sharp blade will help to shave the beard right at the surface without giving any razor bumps.
If you do not follow the right shaving tips accurately, you may end up saddled with rough skin, painful ingrown hair, ugly razor burns, and aching scratches and cuts.
Important shaving tips
Prepare your skin
- Never directly use the razor on the face. It will only cause friction, leading to irritation, unnecessary pain, grazing, and razor burns.
- Avoid applying shaving cream directly on a dry face. Rinse your face with a good quality pre-shave cleanser and warm water. This will remove extra oil and dead skin cells, which clogs the blades.
- Warm water moistens and softens the facial hair and makes them easy to cut. The steam coming from the hot water helps to open the pores. You can also apply a hot damp towel on the face for a few minutes.
Use a high-quality shaving cream for a smoother shave
A good shaving cream is not foamy, but rich and creamy so it can provide proper lubrication. It also moisturizes facial hair and shields the skin from the sharp blades. For best results, apply and leave the shaving cream on the face for few seconds before shaving.
Use a high-quality shaving brush
This is an essential tool since it helps to evenly spread the cream on every strand of facial hair. Thus, it becomes easy to cut and have a smooth shave.
Also, it has an exfoliating action and helps eliminate dead skin cells besides minimizing the risk of irritation or razor bumps and blemishes.
A good quality brush will help to create a rich buttery lather and better lubricate the beard and skin.
Apply the correct shaving cream application technique
Apply the cream in a circular motion around the parts with facial hair and end up with a skyward stroke away from the face.
Use a sharp razor
A dull blade will cause itchiness, rashes, and razor burns. Therefore, replace the blade or cartridge after every five to six shaves. Also, it is important to prepare the razor by soaking or rinsing it in warm water before using.
Never shave in the opposite direction
Shaving against the grain where the hair grows makes you susceptible to razor cuts, inflammation, razor bumps, and infections.
Shave the lip and neck area using the right technique
Puff your cheeks. This technique will expand the skin around the mouth area and thus the blade can glide through safely on this extremely sensitive part of the face. You can stick the tongue between the gum and lip area in order to stretch the lip area. Shave the neck area in the end so that the shaving cream or gel can soften up the hair, thus making it easier to shave. Moreover, try to tilt your head back and pull the lower part of your neck down in order to stretch the skin.
Use short and gentle strokes for shaving
Never forget to rinse the razor in between strokes in order to prevent clogging.
Rinse with cold water after shaving
This is important to close the pores. After this, you can pat dry with a soft, clean towel.
Apply aftershave lotion and moisturizer to rehydrate facial skin
Apply a good moisturizer instantly after you put down the razor. This will help soothe skin and replenish moisture.
Do not over shave
Over shaving can lead to skin irritation, rashes, and razor burns.
The aforementioned shaving tips will make sure that the shaving process does not have a harsh and drying effect on your skin. Opt for one right now!
