Men's Shaving Solutions
For most men, shaving is a chore that they would rather avoid. This is especially true when the results of their shaving are razor burns, ingrown hairs, and small cuts. However, for those who want a clean-shaven face, there aren’t too many other options. There are ways to create a more enjoyable shaving experience while minimizing shaving discomforts; one such tool is a nick-free shaving crème.
There are a number of important steps to take prior to shaving to create a better experience. First, it’s important to wash your face with warm or hot water. This is especially important for teenagers and those who suffer from acne as warm water opens facial pores and softens both the stubbles and the skin. The ideal way to wet your face is in the shower, where the steam and warm water will serve to weaken the facial hair and make for an easier shave. As you wash your face notice how your hair grows. One direction is more resistant than the other; this is the direction that goes against the hair grain (nap). After washing your face you’ll need to apply a lubricating or lathering agent, such as nick-free shaving crème, shaving gel, or shaving oil. Lubricating agents serve an important purpose. They elevate your hairs while making them softer, thus making it easier to reach hairs as closely as possible to the surface of the skin, and providing a closer shave. Ideally, men should leave their nick-free shaving cream on their face for a full minute before starting the shave, to ensure that the hair is sufficiently soft.
As you shave, shave in the direction of your natural hair grain and avoid pressing down on the razor. Many men find that by moving in the direction of their hair nap, they reduce the risk of cuts, razor burns and ingrown hairs. Rinse your razor often, cleaning off the hair, dead skin and your nick-free shaving crème or gel. This will keep your blade sharp and will enable you to know which areas of your face you’ve already covered. Make sure to only shave the area that is still covered by crème. After shaving, wash your face with cold water and apply an after-shave moisturizer to replenish and re-moisturize your skin. This will also help to prevent any redness or razor burn caused by shaving.
For the closest possible shave, make sure to replace your razor frequently. Not only do dull razors prevent the closest shave, but they tend to cause unnecessary nicks and razor burn. Many barbers also recommend lathering your shaving crème with a shaving brush, which raises the hair and allows for an easier cut. Don’t be tempted to over shave. Shaving too much or too roughly will likely cause adverse results.
Finally, it is important to care for your face properly after the shave. Wash your face gently with cool water and pat it dry. Since you have just removed several layers of skin cells, it is also vital to moisturize the new skin with a specially formulated after-shave moisturizer. Doing so will provide your skin with a healthy glow and will keep it feeling fresh all day.
Many of the side effects of shaving can be minimized if you take certain steps throughout the shaving process. With careful attention to this advice and with the purchase of quality shavers, nick-free shaving crème and a proper after- shave treatment, your face will feel better after shaving- and you will feel better about your face.
