The reason why we shave is to look clean and fresh. This is why when we shave, we shave everything off clean. But how come, after we shave, our aftershave skin sometimes tends to look like It didn't get the memo. It looks red, it's sensitive, and it – looks – rough.
What's worst? You start noticing bumps here and there after a few days. Definitely not what we want.
We're talking about skin irritation, breakouts, and all the bad shaving results to the skin. If it's becoming more of an expected outcome for most of us men, whether in our teens or not, there are steps that we need to take into consideration to avoid these skin problems.
What Causes Bad Results After Shaving?
If we want to avoid having razor burns, skin irritations, and acne breakouts after we shave, we need to find out what causes them. The following are the most common reasons that cause skin problems in men after shaving:
Roughness and friction
A rough skin surface doesn't go well with the friction made when shaving. With men who do heavy-duty work, rough skin is common. Dust and dirt build-up is the common contributors to having rough skin. If there's one thing you need to address first, it's this.
Dirty pre-shave face
A rough skin gets worse if you let it become your pre-shave face. Shaving with a dirty face can only increase the chances of skin irritation. As you start shaving, the pores will catch all the dust, dirt, dead skin cell, and oil that your unwashed face has collected.
Dull blades
Roughness is just as much of an issue as dullness. Let's not lie. We sometimes stick to using one razor for extended periods. The more you use a blade, the duller it becomes, and a dull blade = more friction, always. Worn-out blades are common culprits to acne breakouts and redness on the skin.
The number of blades
If the blade's sharpness is a factor in how well or how bad your blade will slide on your skin, the number of blades your razor holds is also. If you have sensitive skin, you need to be particular about this. Having too few or too many blades affects how well your razor works on your skin.
The way you shave
If you have acne-prone skin, your sensitive skin will need you to shave gently. Sometimes, we shave too close to the skin because we want to cut as much hair as we want to look cleaner. What this also does unknowingly is cutting too closely that it creates irritation and micro-cuts.
If you want to avoid skin irritations or breakouts after shaving, here's the right way to shave with a straight razor using a straight razor guide.
Say 'Goodbye!' to Aftershave Skin Problems
Now that we are now aware of what we have to avoid, the following are the good practices we men need to normalize to take ourselves further away from aftershave skin problems.
Clean your face before shaving
Say goodbye to roughness and friction by cleaning your face well before shaving. Don't use soaps; soaps tend to be harsh on the face. Use an alcohol-free and gentle facial cleanser to get rid of all that dirt, oil, dead skin that may result in skin irritation and breakout if dealt with friction when shaving.
Warm-up your face
You can also warm up your skin if you want to loosen up all the surfaces before shaving. Warming up the skin can also loosen up pores and everything on top of it, resulting in less clogging. If you shave with relaxed and loosened skin, the chances of your skin being reactive to razors get lower.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating does an excellent job in getting rid of the top surface of the skin. This tears off the dead skin cells lying on top of your skin surface and are clogging up your pores. If you get rid of those, you'll have better skin to shave with.
Make sure to use cream and the right razor
If you have sensitive skin, make sure you use shaving gels or creams. Using them serves as a 'softener' that will work in between the blade and your skin. Because one-bladed razors will require more pressure, more friction, and 4-5 bladed razors are too much – using two-bladed razors would be best.
Shave towards the grain
Shaving against the grain cuts the closest to the skin. Thus, it tends to leave the skin with micro-cuts that cause skin irritation and breakouts. If you shave towards the grain, you'll be shaving more gently and will be causing fewer abrasions to your skin's surface.
Shave towards the grain and detail your edges right with this handy straight razor guide.
Moisturize or apply aftershave products
Because shaving commonly works with friction, applying products that help soothe the skin will significantly decrease aftershave skin problems. Moisturizing or using certain aftershave products can help provide your alarmed skin the relief it needs.
Groom for men is available anywhere, and it is important to find the right product that will not irritate your skin. Buy the ones that you think are right for your skin.
Louie is the father behind the travel blog Browseeverywhere.com. He has a background in photography, E-commerce, and writing product reviews online at ConsumerReviews24. Traveling full time with his family was his ultimate past-time. If he’s not typing on his laptop, you can probably find him watching movies.
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