How to get rid of irritation after shaving

A burning sensation on the skin, an unpleasant rash and redness on the face – these sensations are experienced by most men after shaving. It would seem that we have safety razors with 5 blades, which are extremely difficult to cut. A bunch of shaving products that supposedly contribute to a painless shave and guarantee that there is no vacuum after. But there are still unpleasant sensations. Today we will learn how to shave properly and will analyze more than 10 tips on how to get rid of irritation after shaving for a man.

Can you shave?

How well do you know how to shave? The question is very strange, since in the opinion of most people, it is enough to buy a razor in a supermarket and some kind of shaving foam for 100 rubles. But do you know what movements and in which direction you should shave? What's the difference between a classic safety razor, a 3-blade razor and a straight razor? What is the water temperature for a more comfortable shave? What creams or lotions help with shaving? Today we will give answers to these and many other questions so that you do not have any 'blank spots' in your knowledge of the culture of men's shaving.

Just buying a shaving razor and foam doesn't mean you know how to shave!

Why does irritation appear after shaving?

First, let's figure out what problem we will fight when we shave. Shave irritation is tiny cuts that appear from a razor blade and cause itching, pimples and, in some cases, clogged skin pores. It is not uncommon for the irritation after shaving to persist for several days. Surprisingly, shaving cuts up to 2 layers of skin! It's not as scary as it sounds. Old layers of skin are exfoliated in one way or another, and shaving helps to do this and promotes skin renewal. But, without knowledge and little experience, men doom themselves to unpleasant sensations. So, let's take a look at 11 tips on how to remove irritation after shaving.

Tip 1. Prepare your skin – steam your beard and face.

Facial hair and beard hair are very coarse, but can be softened with warm water. Hair absorbs moisture and swells. Swollen hair follicles are weak and much easier to cut.

The easiest way to moisturize your face and beard hair is to take a hot shower for a few minutes. There is an alternative way to moisturize hair, and is often used in barbershops – compress with a warm towel on your face. It is enough to rinse your face with warm water, then wrap a damp warm towel around and hold for a few minutes. It is worth noting that no water should drip from the towel, so wring out the towel carefully. The heat causes the blood vessels in the face to swell, which contributes to a smoother, more comfortable shave.

You can steam your face with a warm towel, as is done in classic barbershops

Never shave with cold water or use shaving products on dry face. This practice is the main cause of skin irritation after shaving.

Tip 2. Use shaving oil.

Before shaving, use shaving oil to soften skin and hair. The oil will make it easy and simple to shave off your hair and avoid cuts on the skin of the face thanks to the oil film that does not wash off with water. Comfort is guaranteed throughout the entire shaving process!

Shaving Oil by American Crew

The pre-lubricated skin surface reduces the friction from the razor, which causes skin burning sensations. It should be noted that 3-5 drops are enough for one procedure. Any remaining oil is easily washed off and leaves no greasy residue.

A quality shaving oil can be a substitute for cream, soap, or shaving foam. However, using a shaving cream or soap increases the comfort of the process.

Tip 3. Buy a good shaving cream.

Shaving creams high in moisturizers and lubricants trap moisture on your face, lifting your hair upright. The best shaving creams create a thick lather that is composed of tiny, subtle bubbles. This foam provides the best lubrication between the skin and the razor, allowing the blade to glide over the skin without damaging it.

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There is a small recommendation: after you have applied the thick foam made from the cream, let it soak into the skin for just 1 minute. This will improve your comfort while shaving.

Shaving Cream by Proraso with Eucalyptus

What if you use ready-made shaving foam and don't waste time preparing the foam, you ask. My answer is unequivocal – ready-made foam is worse than any shaving cream or soap. Often, ready-made shaving foam is a terrifying cocktail of dubious chemicals. Judge for yourself, can a quality product cost 100-150 rubles? Of course not. And do not pay attention to beautiful ads that say otherwise. Touched by marketers who release shaving foam for 3 or 5-day stubble, in parallel with regular shaving foam. I wonder what is the difference? Hence the advice – don't use brands that are advertised everywhere. Good products do not need advertising, people learn about them through recommendations or in good barbershops / specialty stores.

Tip 4. Use a shaving brush.

Use a quality natural bristle shaving brush to prepare your skin as effectively as possible before shaving. The badger shaving brush is the best thing you can buy in stores today. If you have sensitive skin, try to refrain from using synthetic fiber brushes.

Muehle Badger Shaving Brush

A shaving brush is useful in a number of ways. First, the shaving brush helps lift your hair, allowing for the shortest shave possible. Secondly, it is most convenient to use a shaving brush to whip up high-quality foam from shaving soap or shaving cream. Thirdly, by massaging your face with a shaving brush, you thereby exfoliate dead skin, which reduces the likelihood of irritation after shaving.

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Apply whipped shaving foam in a circular motion, while trying to brush against hair growth, while lifting the bristles up and to the sides.

Tip 5. Use a quality razor.

In pursuit of economy, some of us rarely change razor blades or cassettes. Dull blades are a contributing factor to shaving irritation and burning. It can be compared to cutting a tomato with a dull knife. Essentially, the tomato will be crushed, not cut. The same thing happens when you shave with a blunt blade that does not shave, but rips the hair off your face. Running the razor over one section of your skin over and over again, trying to shave off your hair, rubs your face, causing irritation. The advice is simple – use only sharp blades and do not shave with a blunt one.

T-shaped safety razor R89 ​​from Muehle

There is also a small observation of people who use machines with 3 or 5 blades. If your hair gets clogged between the blades, try switching to a double-edged machine. According to the observations of men, in most cases, the problem with burning and irritation after shaving can be solved in this way.

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Using a safety razor with a double-edged blade is more economical in the long run. Yes, the machine itself is more expensive than machines with 3 or 5-blade cassettes, but double-edged blades themselves are much cheaper than cassettes (yes, yes … 10 times)!

It is worth noting that you will have to retrain yourself to shave, as shaving with a double-edged razor requires a different technique.

Tip 6. Improve your shaving technique.

Learn to shave properly with a razor to avoid irritation after shaving. Most of us did not take courses on how to shave properly, but simply took a machine, a shaving product, and somehow drove a razor across our face. Of course, we will not insert a course on shaving techniques, but we must list some correct habits.

The key to a good shave is a few things: less pressure, less resistance, less erratic movements.

1. Shaving in the direction of hair growth is the foundation of shaving. It is most convenient to start shaving in the cheek area, then in the mustache area and complete the procedure on the chin. It should be noted that the coarsest hair grows on the chin and they should have time to moisturize as efficiently as possible with prepared shaving foam. By shaving the hair on the chin last, we give extra time to moisturize. The hair on each person's face has its own direction of growth. If you are not sure about the direction of your facial hair, let it grow for a few days and you will see a picture.
2. Using a safety razor, apply minimal pressure and use short shaving strokes. Safety razors are heavier than cassette razors and are often heavy enough to shave off stubble cleanly.
3. Rinse the shaver in hot water after 2-3 shaving strokes. This rinses off any remaining shaver and removes any accumulated shaved hair. Hot water heats up the razor blade and makes it easier for them to shave. It is worth noting that hot water does not kill bacteria on it, so it is still worth disinfecting the machine and razor.

Tip 7. Do not shave twice in one place.

Train yourself to shave the areas only once, and not to shave twice without reapplying the shaving foam. Very often, hairs remain after we have run the razor over the bristles. You should not spend again on the same place, because now there is no shaving foam left on this area. Skip this place and shave further.

Don't shave twice in the same place

After you shave off all the smeared areas of your face, rinse off the remaining foam and reapply with a shaving brush on the places where there are not shaved hairs. This way, you will eliminate the risk of razor blades getting irritated after shaving.

By the way, professional barbers usually shave for the first time according to hair growth, and re-shave slightly at an angle. This method allows you to shave your face as cleanly as possible.

Tip 8. Rinse your face with cold water after shaving.

After shaving, rinse your face with cold water. This will prevent ingrown hairs from developing.

Rinse your face with cold water after shaving, not hot

When you wash your face in cold water, the blood vessels on your face narrow, and swelling and bleeding, if any, decreases. Note that towel drying should be done with a 'blotting' motion, not a 'wiping' motion. After shaving, your skin will be very sensitive and any rubbing with a towel will irritate your face.

Tip 9. Use an aftershave balm.

An excellent habit is to use an after-shave balm, which soothes irritation, moisturizes the skin and gives a pleasant scent all day long.

Proraso Aftershave Balm with Aloe Vera and Vitamin E

As we already wrote, the shaving procedure can remove up to 2 layers of skin. It is very important to use a quality product that will moisturize your skin and soothe it after shaving. In addition, many manufacturers produce a whole series of after-shave products, where different options are available with the addition of certain vitamins, nourishing ingredients and extracts.

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It is worth noting that there are both female and male balms. For men's shaving, it is better to use special men's after-shave products, as the manufacturer diligently selects aromas and extracts for the male consumer.

Tip 10. Use aftershave lotion.

Classic alcohol-based aftershaves or lotions are still available from reputable manufacturers. There is an opinion that these products are a relic of the past and alcohol-based shaving lotions dry out the skin. But, various oils and vitamins are added to the alcohol base, which nourish and moisturize the skin no worse than balms.

Proraso After Shave Lotion with Eucalyptus

Choosing a balm or aftershave is a matter of taste. Each of the products has its own feel after use, so it is difficult to recommend anything specific.

Tip 11. Disinfect the razor and blades with alcohol.

Shaving irritation is also caused by bacteria on the skin and open pores. After shaving, an infinite number of bacteria accumulate on the razor and razor blade, and there are 2 effective ways to combat this problem: replace the blade with a new one every time you shave, or clean the blade with alcohol. It is worth noting that changing cassettes with 3 or 5 blades is expensive, so there will be another reason to switch to shaving with a safety razor with a double-edged blade.

Disinfect the razor and blades with rubbing alcohol

Hot water does not kill bacteria, it only cleans the shaver and blade of shaved hair and cream residues. However, you can boil the water and disinfect the machine and blade in boiling water. This is a long procedure and not all machines will survive boiling in hot water, so this method is not recommended.

The easiest and most effective way to clean the blade and machine from bacteria is to treat with alcohol or any other antiseptic. Clean before and after shaving with an alcohol wipe, alcohol raster, with or without a spray bottle.

Finally

Today we looked at several options for how to get rid of irritation after shaving a man's skin. There is no need to apply all the tips at once, just try some of the above and see what works best for you. Try not to shave often and limit yourself to 3 or 4 shaves per week. In the interval between shaves, your skin will have time to heal and there will be no irritation.

Thank you for reading the article to the end. Waiting for your comments!