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The Complete Guide to Irritation Free Shaving

Are you suffering from irritation when you shave?  You're not alone.  According to a recent survey, over 50% of those asked claim that they suffer from some form of irritation following a shaving session.

But not any longer! Follow our complete guide to irritation free shaving, waxing and epilating below and say goodbye to irritation from shaving, forever:

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Step 1 - Cleanse the Area Thoroughly

It goes without saying that you need to cleanse the area that you will be shaving to remove dirt and other substances that may cause unnecessary friction.

Having a hot shower, or a bath, and cleaning the area thoroughly is optimal, however if you're in a rush, you can use a flannel under hot water.  This also has the added benefit of opening up the pores, leaving your hair in a prime condition for removal.

Step 2 - Exfoliate

Removing dead skin cells through exfoliation is one of the key points to preventing ingrown hairs during regrowth.  

There are two types of exfoliation, mechanical and chemical.  Chemical is far too harsh for shaving preparation so you should stick to mechanical exfoliants such as:-

  • ​loofahs
  • washcloths
  • scrubs
  • brushes

Not all parts of the body are the same, and you should modify your exfoliation routine to suit the treatment area. 

Body Part

Exfoliation Guidelines

Face

Use a facial scrub with round micro-beads or a gentle soft-bristle scrub brush:-

Armpits / Groin

In these regions we recommend that you use a sugaring scrub:-

Arm / Leg Area

In these regions you can take your pick from a sugar scrub, nylon bath towel, stiff bristle scrub brush or natural loofah sponge:-

Step 3 - Soften Hair and Skin

You should then be sure to soften your skin and hair ready for the shave.  

Heat and moisture is the absolute best way to soften your skin.  We recommend that you have a warm/hot shower prior to shaving.  Alternatively you can apply a hot, damp towel to the treatment area for a similar effect.

You should also make sure that you use a good shaving cream to minimise irritation and the chances of razor burn.  This shaving cream is perfect and comes with a combination of Eucalyptus and Menthol.

Step 4 - Minimise Friction

​During the actual shaving process, be sure to minimise friction as much as possible. 

Shave "with the grain" - this means that you should always try to shave in the direction that the hairs are growing. Going against the grain can give you a closer shave but at the expense of causing irritation including razor burn, shaving bumps and temporary inflammation.​

Use a sharp tool - it's really important that you make sure that your hairs are not being "pulled out" instead of cut. The best way to achieve this is to always use a sharp razor.

If you're using a cartridge razor this will mean replacing the cartridge when the razors become blunt, which may be every week or two. If the expense is adding up, then consider switching to a safety razor - the savings that can be made by switching from a cartridge razor to a safety razor will amaze you.​

Step 5 - Moisturise

Always use a good post hair removal moisturiser to make sure that your won't react to being too dry.  We recommend using using Nivea Soft, complete with vitamin E and Jojoba oil

Treating Pimples/Razor Burn After Removing Hair

If you suffer from irritation after shaving then you're either getting tiny infections in each pore or your skin is not getting enough moisture and the pimples are reacting to being dry.​

Here's the best pimple/razor burn treatment regime to help you recover as quickly as possible:-​

  1. ​Apply witch hazel toner - Soak a cotton swab in an alcohol-free witch hazel toner, such as this one, and apply the swab to the treatment area.
  2. Apply argan oil - once the witch hazel has been absorbed, apply a few drops of pure, cold-pressed argan oil.  Argan oil is high in oleic acid content and so servers as a great moisturiser.  It also has some wide-spectrum antiseptic properties

There You Have It...

This is all you need to know about how to achieve an irritation free shave!

Massive thanks to ​squidboots from Reddit SkinCare Addiction for the inspiration for this post. 

We hope you find this guide useful and that it solves your shaving irritation problems! Let us know in the comments box below your experiences with this routine and any other hints and tips that you may have...

Paul
 

I'm a computer science graduate, have a passion for self development and created this site as a side project due to the lack of complete, understandable, helpful and truthful information about hair removal available online.

  • Avatar Noah Filipiak says:

    Do you apply the witch hazel and argan oil every time, like an after shave, in order to prevent pimples? Or is it only for treating a pimple/irritated spot?

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