Tag Archives: shaving tips
Shaving with a Non-Foaming Cream or Gel
Non-foaming creams for shaving are preferred by some men because they are not alcohol based and these creams do not dry out the skin. These are actually shaving gels, and as a gel will quickly penetrate your whiskery layer and coat your face prior to shaving. Some men who constantly use non-foaming cream or gels, say that it offers more lubrication and protection for their skin. They can also use the product in the shower without washing it away prematurely.
Here are instructions on how you can properly use the non-foaming cream when you shave. You can start by washing your face with soap and warm water. The warm water will help in opening up the pores of your skin and the hair follicles. The warm water will also soften your facial hair or prickly stubble.
You can now get your non-foaming cream and apply it to the area you want to shave. The advantage of non-foaming cream is that they work well with water. It will not rinse off easily like the foam cream, so if you want to shave while in the shower or you are in the tub… this is the perfect shaving cream for you.
Most non-foaming shaving cream are glycerine based instead of alcohol based so it will further moisturize your skin even before you actually do your shaving. So it can be a good practice to apply it on your skin and leave it there for a couple of minutes before you start shaving.
The right type of razor is also important when using a non-foaming cream. Do not buy those cheap single blade razors that can easily cut or nick your skin. Choose the multi-bladed razors that has a moisturizing strip. This can give you a very smooth and clean shave. Another option is a water proof electric razor which also works well with the non-foaming cream. I haven’t done the electric shaver in the shower just yet, but that’s only because I don’t like picking the caked together whiskers out of the grille.
You always have to shave against the direction of the hair growth and use smooth and light strokes. You can also repeat the strokes even without re-applying the cream.
After you are finished shaving, you have to rinse off all the non-foam cream. This is important especially if you are planning on putting on soothing lotion to your skin.
Prepping Your Skin Before Shaving
Shaving has a correct process so that you can have a clean and closer shave. You don’t need to go to a barber shop to get a perfect shave, all you have to do is prepare your skin for shaving. The boy scout motto of ‘Be Prepared’ also applies prior to shaving.
You always have to wash your face before shaving. You can use a facial cleanser so you can get those dead skin flakes off and open up the pores of your skin. If you shave in the morning, it is better if you wait a while after waking up to allow the puffiness of your skin to subside. A few quick splashes of cold water on your face will also accelerate the reduction in puffiness, plus wake you up a little to ensure it’s just the hair being shaved off your face.
Dry facial hairs are always harder to shave so it is better to soak your beard and mustache with warm or hot water. Try soaking a towel or cloth in hot water, and wrap it around your face for one minute.
It’s not just applying the shaving gel or the shaving cream into your beard, you have to massage it into your skin and beard. Do this for one to two minutes and use cream or gel that is appropriate for your skin.
You have to make sure that your razor is clean and sharp before you use it. Blunt razors can cause razor bumps and it won’t shave your beard efficiently. You will eventually have nicks and cuts if you force blunt razors into your skin.
Once your skin is fully prepped for shaving, you can now proceed on shaving your beard. You have to shave in slow and short strokes. Follow the direction of the growth of your facial hair.
It’s also a good idea to invest in a high quality shaving brush to make the lathering of the cream easier. It also exfoliates the skin and lifts the whiskers for easier shaving.
Avoiding Razor Bumps
Some men tend to have razor bumps more often than others. This is because their facial hair grows inward or curves back and re-enters the skin. When the facial hair is lodged back into the skin, it is called ingrown hair and these are the ones that causes the red bumps. This becomes irritated, infected and it can cause more bumps. If this always occurs to you, you should have a good shaving technique to avoid this problem.
You should try to reduce the frequency of your shaving down to three or four times a week. By doing this, you are giving the skin time to heal from your last shave and it will not make those slowly growing facial hair to grow back into the skin.
Razor bumps are are caused by dull razors so you should always use sharp razors. If your razor is dull or blunted, you will have to shave that area several times which can increase the chances to irritate your skin more.
You can splash your face first with warm water before applying your shaving cream. When you apply your shaving cream, you can let it sit for a minute or two before shaving.
Shaving has to be slow and methodical in order to avoid cuts, nicks and avoid irritating the existing razor bumps. Also, you should always shave in the direction of the hair growth and do not pull on your skin when shaving.
After shaving, it is very much recommended that you apply a moisturizer to your skin. This will greatly help in healing the skin faster because if it heals quickly then it is less likely to have bumps.
To close your skin pores after shaving, you can splash cold water to your face.
Those are the steps and shaving technique on how you can avoid razor bumps on your skin. Just follow these quick steps and you won’t have to live with razor bumps each time you shave.