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No matter how well versed you may think you are in shaving, chances are you may be doing something wrong. Heck, even professional barbers make mistakes.
© iStock
So, what are the mistakes that men make during shaving? Why do most men, in spite of taking precautions and utmost care while handling a razor, still get rashes from shaving and burn their skins? Well, these are the most common reasons for razor burns:
1. Dull Blades © iStock
The sharper the blade, the quicker and more effectively you make a stroke. Dull blades also tend to tug at the skin and bruise it, sometimes quite badly.
As a rule of thumb, you should always change your razor cartridges after 5 or 8 shaves, depending on your beard growth.
2. Pressing Too Hard © iStock
When you’re handling a razor, you should ideally let it just glide over your skin, and let the blades do the work.
Instead, what most of us end up doing is press the razors a little too hard onto our skin, and make a stroke. Its almost as if we’re trying to peel our skin off. That’s not how you’re supposed to be doing things.
3. Shaving Foam Or Gel Doesn’t Suit You © iStock
Not all shaving foams or gels are made equally.
Ideally, your lubricating agent, should lather well, spread easily, soften your stubble, and most importantly, suit your skin type. If you have sensitive skin, you’re already causing it to rash, before even touching the blade.
4. Improper Lubrication © iStock
Now, even if you have the right shaving foam or gel, you need to make sure that it lubricates your skin properly. You should ideally let the lather soften up your hair for some time, but not too much that it starts drying up. Also, do keep in mind the coverage of the lather. It has to be thick and luscious across all the parts where you’ll use the razor.
By not doing these things you greatly mitigate the chances of having a razor burn. But do keep in mind, you cannot remove the risk of having a razor burn completely. So, what do you do when you actually get a razor rash?
Dealing With Razor Rash
1. Use A Cool Non-Alcoholic Aftershave © iStock
First and foremost, after washing your face with cool water, apply some non-alcoholic aftershave if you have it.
Regular, alcoholic aftershaves cause a burning sensation even when you don’t have a razor rash, so imagine how painful it would be when you indeed have one.
Just dab a little aftershave on your palm and rub it gently on the skin.
2. Ice Packs & Cold Towels © iStock
After you’re done with the aftershave, get an icepack or a cold towel, and press it against the rash or the afflicted area. This will immediately cool things down since most rashes and skin burns are caused by friction and heat.
Do not put ice directly onto the skin, as this may cause the skin to get even more irritated.
3. Aloe Vera Gel © iStock
Once you’re done with your ice pack, apply some aloe vera sap, or better yet, a thick layer of aloe vera gel. This will soothe your skin in a better way, and start healing the afflicted area.
Plus, aloe vera ha some good anti-microbial properties that prevent the afflicted area to develop infections.
Wash it off after 20-30 mins, using regular water.
4. Petroleum Jelly or Vaseline © iStock
Now, throughout the rest of the day, just apply a thin veneer of Vaseline on the afflicted area.
This will not just protect the rash from the elements but also speed up the healing process. Make sure you refresh the veneer every 3-4 hours
5. Change Your Razor And Your Shaving Routine © iStock
Although we strictly advise against this, but if you indeed need to shave the next day or the day afterwards again, change your razor, and if possible tweak your shaving routine a little.
Take a warm shower before you shave. This always helps by making your shaving experience a whole lot smoother.
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