No one likes that persistent and painful tingling of razor burn after your daily shave. Some guys may just accept razor burn as part of their daily routine, since what else would you expect to happen when you run a sharp blade over your skin on a regular basis, right? However, the truth is that that painful sensation is simply a result of a lack of patience and preparation before you shave and is entirely preventable almost one hundred percent of the time if you preface your shave with a few simple steps. Courtesy of 18|8 Fine Men’s Salon, your men’s grooming destination in Palm Beach Gardens, here is a step-by-step guide on how to prevent razor burn.
Prep Your Skin
When you go to your local PBG barber for a shave, there’s a reason that they put some hot lather on your face. The heat and moisture open up your pores and soften the hairs, making it easier for the razor to glide across the skin smoothly and cut the hairs cleanly instead of getting caught and pulling on a dry and rigid hair.
At home, you can replicate this process by simply prepping your skin with some hot water, which will also relax the pores and add some moisture to the hairs. You can even add in some pre-shave oil that will soften the hairs even more and create a protective layer on your skin that the razor will be able to glide over without irritating your skin.
Use A Clean, Simple Razor
With disposable razors, you’ll may have noticed that every time you see a commercial for the a new model that has two or three more blades that the previous one. These constant “upgrades” for razors have led to a misconception that more blades makes for a better shave, but it’s actually the opposite. A simple razor with one or two blades is what you want to get the best shave with the least amount of razor burn and irritation. Also make sure that it’s clean, since no one wants a small cut to get infected just because you used a dirty razor.
Let’s take a two blade razor as an example. These razors are often designed so the first blade lifts the hair and pulls it a tiny bit further out of the pore, and the second blade follows through by cutting the hair. When you add more blades into that equation, all you’re doing it repeating that process. For four blades, the third blades tries to lift any hair that’s remaining after the initial cut, and the fourth blade is there to cut off the remnants. In the end, you just have more, sharp blades running across your skin and causing irritation and not getting a closer shave.
Take It Slow & Steady
Shaving is all about precision, which can be achieved by being patient with your shaving strokes. Shaving isn’t a race, so just take your time and glide the razor over your face. If you miss a few hairs, it doesn’t mean you messed up or you need to press harder because it’s just something that will happen no matter what. Just go back with the same gentle approach and do another pass until your skin is perfectly smooth.
Splash On Some Cold Water Or Post-Shave Balm
What you do after you put the razor down is one of the most important parts of shaving. Since you’ve opened up your pores with that hot water and pre-shave oil in the beginning, you might have some of that oil or some excess hairs that are now sitting in your open pores. By splashing some cold water on your face, you’ll wash away all of that stuff to leave your pores nice and clean, while also closing them up to protect them from other impurities. You can even get some post-shave balm, which acts as a protective barrier over your skin and pores, keeping dirt and oils out to keep your skin looking and feeling clean throughout the day.
Contact 18|8 For More Men’s Grooming Tips
At 18|8 PBG, we specialize in making it easy for guys to look their best, offering a full range of barbershop and salon services designed just for men. If you have any questions about how you can step up your grooming game, or if you would like to schedule an appointment for some professional care, just contact us at 561-567-0088. You can also book your appointment by using our easy online reservation system. We look forward to helping you look your best and feel even better.
