There are tons of ways to remove unwanted hair from your body and depending on the pros and cons, everyone’s favourite method may differ. One of the most popular methods would be shaving as it can be done the quickest, it’s easy and also convenient. However, shaving only cuts off the hair mid-length and doesn’t yank the individual hairs out from the root, and the hairs would then grow out again very quickly. This would mean that you’d need to shave every other day to ensure you don’t get little stubs of hair growing out. With shaving also comes other pesky side effects such as developing nasty razor bumps and ingrown hairs. To avoid that from occurring, we’ve got some tips for you!
1. Do a wet shave – The first rule about shaving is that you should never do it dry. Get in the shower as per normal so that the hairs are softened and your pores will be opened up before you shave. This will avoid irritation and inflammation on the skin. It’s also more convenient for clean up afterwards.
2. Exfoliate – Exfoliate your body once a week with a body scrub or daily with a loofah as it is more gentle. It prevents dead skin cells from building up on the surface of the skin and avoid ingrown hairs from developing. There’s also another plus – you’ll have glowing skin!
3. Use a shaving gel or cream – Never shave with a razor alone and always use a shaving cream, gel or even some hair conditioner when you shave. This will form a protective barrier between the razor and your skin, giving you a much closer and smoother shave.
4. Adjust your shaving technique – Use the slightest pressure when you’re shaving. Do not tug your skin or press the shaver onto your skin as this will sometimes cause the razor to shave away the top layer of the skin, causing you inflammation and red bumps. Also, always use a sharp blade when shaving so you’ll get a more precise shave.
5. Rinse with cold water or use a wash cloth – Right after you shave, rinse the area with cold water or use a cold damp wash cloth and place it over the shaved area for a few minutes. It will help tighten the pores, soothe the skin, as well as relieve any aggravation caused by the shaving.
6. Use salicylic acid or toner – Salicylic acid exfoliates, moisturises, cleanses the pores and helps prevent infection. Hence, every time after a shave, you should wipe the area with a cotton ball soaked in some salicylic acid. This will make a difference on your skin and if you can’t get any salicylic acid, use an alcohol-free toner instead to soothe the skin and restore the skin’s natural pH balance.
7. Don’t store your shaver in the washroom – You shouldn’t keep your razor in the shower because the humidity and heat will accelerate bacterial growth and rusting. We know it’s really convenient, but store it in a cool and dry place to prolong its wear time. After about five times of use, you should always replace your razor blade with a new one!
8. Treat already ingrown hairs – If you’ve already got ingrown hairs, carefully lift the ingrown end out with tweezers. Don’t harshly pluck the hair out as it will make the hair regrow deeper under the surface of the skin. After that, treat the area with alcohol-free toner to soothe the skin and reduce redness.
