how to shave properly

Shaving has been around for a while now and it‘s popular amongst both men and women. The reason behind that are shaving practicality and cost benefits. With this guide I‘ll try to give you an idea of what shaving tools you can use, how to use them and how to take care of your skin after you have shaved. Overall, just tricks on how to shave properly.

Why is Shaving so Popular?

Shaving offers a very simple way to remove hair. It‘s also not painful at all, unless you do it wrong and happen to cut yourself quite often. It‘s actually the least painful hair removal method that you can find just now except for depilation. It‘s one of the cheapest too! However, you do need to constantly refill your supplies and that can be costly. All in all, shaving proves to be one of the easiest and most practical methods to remove hair.

Shaving Tools You Can Use


Nowadays, both women and men shave, even though most of the shaving products are mainly built having men in mind. That‘s probably why women are starting to use more of the products that have originally been considered suitable for men. All the items mentioned below can be used by both sexes for various parts of body.

Disposable Razors

shaving cream razors

You've probably seen cartridge and disposable razors everywhere in the shops. That‘s because they are very popular. People see them and people buy them. They‘re usually colourful too and just so easy to use.

Check This Out to Learn More About Disposable Razors

Advantages

  • check
    Available everywhere
  • check
    Easy to use
  • check
    Super cheap
  • check
    No need to worry about dirty blades, you can just throw the plastic razor away

Disadvantages

  • check
    Affordable in short term but not long term
  • check
    Not environment friendly at all
  • check
    Tend to lose sharpness very quickly

Safety Razors

safety razor

There are two types of safety razors – single edge and double edge. Single edge safety razor has one edge while the other has two edges.

Advantages

  • check
    Disposable
  • check
    Easy to use
  • check
    Can give a very close shave
  • check
    Double razors last double the time
  • check
    Can easily replace blades
  • check
    Blades are very cheap

Disadvantages

  • check
    Takes time getting used to it, might cut yourself
  • check
    You‘ll spend a lot more money for shaving brushes, soaps

Straight Razors

straight razor shaving

Straight razors have been around for many years. People used them even before cartridge and safety razors.

Advantages

  • check
    More durable than other razors, last for generations
  • check
    Gives a close shave once you learn to manoeuvre it
  • check
    Environmentally friendly
  • check
    Saves money in long term
  • check
    Doesn‘t irritate as much as other razors

Disadvantages

  • check
    Needs regular maintenance
  • check
    Might be dangerous for an inexperienced hand

Electric Shavers

shaving with electric razor

Electric shavers are relatively new compared to other razors. However, they‘re getting increasingly popular for their efficiency and offered comfort. More and more people are using them, because they‘re great for travelling and offer a lot of benefits for those with extremely sensitive skin.

Advantages

  • check
    Offer a faster shave
  • check
    Easy to use while travelling
  • check
    Don‘t require additional products such as shaving cream, soap, gel, etc.
  • check
    Don‘t irritate skin as much as other razors, therefore great for those with sensitive skin
  • check
    Smaller probability of irritations, nicks and cuts
  • check
    Prove to be cheaper in long term

Disadvantages

  • check
    Don‘t offer as close shave as other razors do
  • check
    You‘ll either need to have batteries or source of electricity to be able to use them
  • check
    Majority cannot be used in showers
  • check
    Need more maintenance than other razors
  • check
    Can be quite an expensive investment

Shaving Brushes

how to shave at home

More and more people are starting to use shaving brushes. They tend to create good lather that you wouldn't be able to create with your own bare hands.

Advantages

  • check
    Raises up the hairs on your skin making it easier to shave them
  • check
    Can create far richer texture to shaving cream that can improve shaving experience
  • check
    Simply feels nice on your skin when you‘re applying that shaving cream

Disadvantages

  • check
    Can be an expensive investment
  • check
    Not a lot of choice in the market just yet
  • check
    Can be floppy

How to Shave Properly: Step by Step


No matter whether you‘re a lady or a man, the shaving procedure is pretty much the same for any part of your body. If you want to avoid ingrown hairs and keep your skin healthy and smooth, you probably want to follow these steps. Some of our body parts are not as sensitive as others, therefore you might need to be more careful when shaving face or bikini line. Taking care of your legs, back and other less sensitive areas is usually much easier and you might even be able to skip some of these steps. You know best which parts of your body are more sensitive and have drier skin. Therefore, have that in mind whenever you‘re shaving.

how to shave

STEP 1: Exfoliate

In case you don‘t know what exfoliation is – it‘s basically a process of breaking down dead cells into smaller particles and then washing or brushing them off your skin. Many didn‘t know the benefits of exfoliation up until a couple years ago. That‘s why it‘s natural that some of us still don‘t know why we should exactly exfoliate before shaving. No matter whether it‘s the face or legs that we want to remove hair from.

When you exfoliate, you remove dead cells that have been slowly clogging pores and just laying there on skin. If you remove that unnecessary layer on your skin, then shaving becomes a much smoother and easier procedure. That‘s mostly due to the fact that blades can get closer to your skin and cut hairs without running into dead cells. That makes the procedure more efficient, and razor is less likely to irritate or cut your skin since there is nothing in its way that would encourage it to do it.

Types of Exfoliation

There are different ways that you could exfoliate and that mostly depends on what body part you want to shave.

Face Exfoliation

If you‘re going to shave your face, it‘s best to use a natural scrub or exfoliating cream/cleanser to get rid of those cells. You could also use an exfoliating brush that could either be electric or just manual, in case you‘re not a big fan of creams or natural remedies. It‘s really up to you what you prefer.

Other Body Parts Exfoliation

For any other body part you can use either a loofah or exfoliating brush to remove those dead cells. If you‘re a fan of scrubs, go for it. However, do remember that more rigid body parts, need more attention and therefore stronger tools to remove that layer of dead cells. On the other hand, more sensitive parts like bikini line, could do just fine with a natural exfoliating scrub. Simply make sure you‘re not irritating your skin. Exfoliation should be a pleasant procedure that helps you to avoid ingrown hairs and razor rashes.

exfoliating loofah

STEP 2: Cleanse

Cleansing is something that many forget to do and a lot of resources that I‘ve been reading completely skin this step. However, I do feel like it‘s extremely important, especially if you‘re looking to shave a sensitive body part. Cleansing simply kills all the bacteria that‘s on your skin and could possible cause inflammation and rashes after you shave. It also softens the pores and cleans all the dirt that‘s on your skin and inside the pores. I advise to cleanse face, bikini line and underarms as those are parts that tend to suffer from razor bumps most frequently.

Ways to Cleanse Your Skin

There are a few ways you can cleanse your body parts. Some of the suit some parts better than others.

Steaming

It‘s simply the perfect method for those who want to shave their faces. Steaming softens up your pores and steam gets rid of all the dirt. It‘s a simple and yet nice way to get rid of any extra dust that‘s been gathering on your face and in your pores as well as bacteria that could potentially cause redness afterwards. Steaming will also improve your circulation and you‘ll get rid of some of the toxins that your body truly doesn‘t need.

Cleansers

You can always use a facial cleanser that you can just find in a shop. It will most likely do the job. However, if you‘re looking for something more natural that wouldn‘t dry out your skin and keep it clean, here are some of the recipes.

DIY Natural Face Cleansers

Honey Face Wash for Oily Skin

You‘ll need:

  • ¼ cup of honey
  • 1 tablespoon liquid castile soap
  • ¼ cup of coconut milk

Use this mixture to wash your face every now and then. Add a pinch of baking soda each time you use it. Don‘t use too much of soda since it can seriously dry out your skin and irritate. Just a little bit of will do the deed. Rub it into your face, especially the areas that are about to be shaved. Use it for the neck too.

Cleansing Balm for Drier Skin

You‘ll need:

  • 2 tablespoons of jojoba oil
  • 1 tablespoon of coconut oil

Just mix those ingredient as well as you can. You might want to heat up coconut oil just to keep it liquid when you‘re mixing. Massage the mixture into your skin once it‘s cool. Do it pretty much every day and enjoy the refreshing feeling.

STEP 3: Have a Warm Shower

Just right before shaving, it‘s a very good idea to get into a warm shower. Warm shower can do wonders to your skin and prepare it for the shaving procedure. It will soften your pores and let whatever is left in them to get out. Afterwards, it will be much easier for the blades to get closer to your skin since your pores will be open. Also, they will be able to smoothly go through your skin, without encountering dirt or dead skin cells. That will reduce the probability of getting razor cuts and irritating your skin. I personally think that warm shower is mostly necessary if you‘re shaving sensitive body parts such as bikini line, face and underarms. If you forget to take a shower before shaving your legs and you know that your skin there isn't sensitive, you can do it even without getting into a shower first.

Check Out More on Shaving Before/After Shower

warm shower

STEP 4: Lather Up

Shaving with a shaving cream significantly improves the whole procedure. A good shaving cream is supposed to moisturize your skin and protect it from unnecessary irritations. It also lets the blades glide smoothly on your skin without being able to cut on it. Therefore, using a shaving cream is highly recommended!

What Shaving Cream to Use?

When it comes to choosing a shaving cream that would suit you, have one thing in mind – it needs to contain emollient and be fragrance-free. Fraganced shaving creams tend to dry out skin more than necessary causing ingrown hairs and rashes. It‘s best to get something that was created with sensitive and dry skin in mind. Those shaving creams tend to work best with any type of skin.

DIY Shaving Creams

There are more and more people who prefer using products from their own kitchen, because they know what they‘re putting on their skin. I completely understand it and agree with that. That‘s why I‘m going to share a few natural shaving cream recipes that you can try at home and use them on daily basis for any part of your body.

shaving cream on legs, hand

Aloe Vera Oily Shaving Cream

You‘ll need:

  • ¼ cup Natural Aloe Vera Gel
  • 1 tablespoon of Olive or Almond Oil
  • ¼ cup of Liquid Castille Soap
  • Vitamin E or Grapefruit Seed Extract
  • ¼ cup of warm Distilled Water
  • Essential Oils (optional)
  • Foaming Soap Bottle

Mix all of these ingredients in a foaming soap bottle and shake it until everything is mixed. It should last for a couple months, depending on how often you use it.

Benefits: aloe vera is highly anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial. Therefore, you‘ll save your skin from all the unnecessary inflammations that might cause razor bumps and other irritation. Oils will keep your skin moisturised as they will coat the skin and keep its moisture in. It‘s a pretty natural way to avoid that skin getting too dry. Vitamin E will improve skin‘s moisture too as it reduces inflammation and strengthens capillary walls. All in all, a great shaving cream for those with sensitive skin!

Shea Butter and Coconut Oil Shaving Cream

You‘ll need:

  • 2/3 cup of Shea Butter
  • 2 tablespoons of Baking Soda
  • 10-20 drops of your chosen essential oil
  • 2/3 cup of Coconut Oil
  • ¼ cup of Olive Oil

Melt coconut oil with shea butter. Mix in the olive oil. Afterwards, add baking soda, mix and put it into the fridge. Let it cool down and harden. When it becomes hard, take a mixer and mix it until it becomes smooth and creamy. Then, just put it to a container and keep it in your bathroom. I should last for up to 3 months.

Benefits: shea butter is simply great for exhausted and sensitive skin. It helps it to keep the moisture in and contains vitamin E that helps to protect your skin from free radicals. Baking soda will kill any bacteria in its way and ensure that you won‘t have to suffer from inflammations after shaving. Also, coconut oil will simply make this cream smell amazing and that will significantly improve your mood. Trust me!

Check Out More Shaving Cream Recipes

STEP 5: Shave

When it comes to shaving technique, it‘s best to shave in all directions to really get rid of all the hair. Also, make sure not to push the blades against your skin too much since you can easily irritate or even cut your skin. I don‘t think you want to bleed! However, you still need to give it a little bit of strength. Just don‘t overdo it and you should be fine.

How to Shave Face Properly

How to Shave Legs Properly

STEP 6: Wash Your Skin with Cold Water

The reason why you have to wash your skin with cold wate is very simple. Cold water closes pores that we‘ve opened before with that warm shower. That ensures that whatever bacteria we might have caught from the razor won‘t get into our pores and cause inflammation. It also refreshes the skin and soothes it in case your skin got irritated.

STEP 7: Moisturize

Either use your moisturizing cream, coconut oil, olive oil or shea butter to moisturize your skin. You might want to apply a moisturizing mask if it‘s your face that you‘re shaving. Massage your skin and make sure it‘s fully coated so that it keeps that moisture in. That‘s very helpful in case of irritations as it will help your skin to restore faster. Here is a quick natual moisturizing mask that anyone can use to refresh their skin!

Cucumber and Greek Yoghurt Moisturizing Mask

You‘ll need:

  • ¼ of a cucumber
  • 4-5 spoons of greek yoghurt

Cut cucumbers into very small pieces and add greek yoghurt. Mix the ingredients as well as you can and let it stand for a little bit. Afterwards, apply the mask (probably just greek yoghurt) to your skin and let it sit there for around 10 minutes. Then, wash it off with cold water and let your skin rest.

face mask, face moisturizing mask

How to Get Rid of Razor Burn?


It‘s normal that now and then you might experience razor burn, especially if you don't know how to shave properly. Sensitive areas will suffer the most. It‘s important to be prepared for cases like that. Here are some of the things you might want to do to cure razor bumps and get your skin back into shape.

Apply a Cold Washcloth

Probably the first thing you want to do when your skin gets irritated and just seems all red and itchy is applying cold to it. A cold washcloth can truly soothe your skin and help your face muscles relax. It will also feel nice and the pain, if you had any, will subside.

Apply Emollient

You might want to use anything that would moisturize your skin to get rid of that dryness. Otherwise, your skin won‘t be able to heal and it will take ages to get back to where it was. You can either use a lotion, aftershave cream or just any moisturizing cream you usually use.

Use Natural Remedies to Get Rid of Razor Bumps

Believe me or not but a natural remedy is sometimes everything you need to cure razor bumps that have been annoying you for a while. I‘m telling that from my own experience! Here are a few recipes that you can try yourself and see the results!

Baking Soda Paste

You‘ll need:

  • Baking Soda
  • Water
  • Coconut Oil

Melt 2 spoons of coconut oil, add 1 spoon of water to it and 1 spoon of baking soda. Mix all of the ingredients as well as you can. Let the mixture sit and cool down. Afterwards, just use it whenever you feel the need. Watch and enjoy the results this remedy will bring!

Tea Tree Oil Mixture

You‘ll need:

  • 15 drops of tea tree oil
  • 2 tablespoons of a chosen oil (olive, almond or coconut)
  • Cotton pads

Mix all of the ingredients. Afterwards, wash afftected area with warm water, dry it out and apply this mixture with cotton pads. Simply let your skin absorb it and enjoy the benefits.

Check Another 28 Natural Remedies to Treat That Razor Burn

Avoid Shaving Until Your Skin is Fully Healed

Irritating your skin when it‘s already in that shape is simply stupid. The shaving procedure will turn out to be painful and simply damage your skin. Make sure to wait until your skin is fully healed to start shaving again. Otherwise, you might be stuck with a razor burn for a while. On the other hand, if you do wait and let it heal, you‘ll notice that your skin will be much more comfortable with a blade. It will be smoother too.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this shaving guide and find something new. Have you learnt how to shave properly? If there is anything else that I haven‘t covered, please let me know. Perhaps you have some of your own tips that you‘d like to share with the audience? Feel free to do that! We would all love to learn something new! Anyway, keep on shaving don‘t forget some of the tips I've mentioned, it might come to use one day or another. Now have a lovely day and happy shaving!

Resources:

http://www.healthline.com/health/beauty-skin-care/razor-burn#prevention3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shaving

http://www.webmd.com/men/features/mens-shaving-tips#1

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2133.2011.10783.x/abstract;jsessionid=38CFD0E78D15C2965671D9AFCD1C8E89.f02t04?systemMessage=Wiley+Online+Library+will+be+unavailable+on+Saturday+and+Sunday+i.e+16th+and+17th+September+at+3%3A00+EDT+%2F+8%3A00+BST+%2F+12%3A30+IST+%2F+15%3A00+SGT+for+5+hours+and+3hours+for+essential+maintenance.+Apologies+for+any+inconvenience+caused+.