How To Avoid Razor Burn

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Whether you are shaving your face, legs, underarms, or bikini line, the last thing you want to end up with is razor burn. Razor burn hurts and looks messy if you are trying to put your best face forward. Here are a few things you can do to ensure that you end up with a clean shave every time.

Soften Hair

First, soften the hair before you shave it. The hot steam from a shower softens up the hair so that it can be cut more cleanly. For this reason, it is best for men to shave their beards after the shower and for women to shave at the end of the shower. If you really want to soften the hair, you can even add conditioner to your beard or other areas for the duration of the shower to make it as silky as possible before you shave it off.

Exfoliate

Next, exfoliate the skin. Dead skin can get caught in the blade while you are shaving and cause you to have to go over the area more than once. This will increase your chances of razor burn. Using a scrub prior to shaving can make life a whole lot easier.

Shave With the Grain

Always shave with the grain. Many men and women will shave against the grain thinking that this will give them a closer shave. While it may feel like it, it is because it is getting so close that you risk shaving the skin as well as the hair that should be removed. It is better to shave an area twice going with the grain than to shave an area once going against the grain.

Use a Sharp, Clean Blade

Make sure your blade is sharp. A dull blade pulls some of the hair as opposed to shaving it off. When it is pulled, there is a chance that it could pull some of the skin into the dull blade as well. Sometimes you may actually cut yourself, but for the most part, you will simply end with a bad case of razor burn.

Clean off the blade after every stroke. It can be easy to feel rushed when performing the delicate task of shaving. Instead of taking the time to rinse the blade, you may just flick off the shaving cream, but this just makes it harder for you to get close to your skin safely.

Rinse

Finally, don't simply pat your face or skin with a towel and move on. Rinse the skin with cold water to close up the pores, wipe on some moisturizer or razor bump cream, and clean your blade. To clean your blade, rinse it thoroughly in hot water and dry it with a cloth. This keeps bacteria at bay and lengthens the life of your razor.
[custom_author=Peter Wendt 3]