Getting a Smoother, More Comfortable Shave

Smooth skin that is silky and free of stubble is what all women aim for. No one wants to feel prickly or have irritated skin because it is annoying and can kill some confidence. There are some things that you can do to ensure you are getting a close shave that reveals nothing, but silky, healthy skin.

How is Your Skin?

Assessing your skin before shaving is very important. If you have razor bumps, excessive dryness or redness then shaving could just make this worse. This does mean that the hair will grow a bit, but it is critical to allow for healing. Once the issues are gone, you can shave without having to worry about worsening your skin.

Take Some Preparation Time

Before you shave take a shower in warm water so that the hairs can soften a bit. This will help to prevent some friction. This also helps to lubricate and hydrate the skin, and skin that is well-hydrated is less likely to become irritated.

Keep it Simple

When you are shaving, you do not want to go over the same area multiple times. The old rule that you should never shave against the growth direction is not true either. You can and will get a much closer shave this way. The key is to go over an area twice max so that the skin does not get traumatized.

Treat Irritated Skin

There are a variety of things you can do to calm irritation. If your skin is really sensitive stick with pure aloe vera. If this still causes discomfort then make an appointment with your dermatologist to get some advice on what you can use. A cool washcloth can help most people with mild irritation. This will provide an immediate soothing of the area.

If you are prone to ingrown hairs, you will want to exfoliate the skin at least once a week and not on a day when you shave. This will help to prevent hair follicles from getting clogged and trapping the hair in them. Benzoyl peroxide can also help with ingrown hairs by preventing inflammation. Before using a topical corticosteroid, consult a doctor. Ingrown hairs will eventually go away on their own as the body works to get them out.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize

Every single day you should be applying a moisturizer to your skin and this includes the skin under your arms because you shave here too. Now, if you have sensitive skin and lotion burns and stings on freshly-shaved skin, use an in-shower lotion when you skin is still wet or an oil while your skin is still wet. This significantly reduces burning and stinging on freshly-shaved skin and adds a big punch of moisture. Then, apply lotion after about 12 hours when the hair has started to grow more into the follicle. A good rule of thumb is to moisturize day and night, and always moisturize after a bath or shower because your skin is best able to absorb your creams and lotions at this time.