Hair removal is as much a part of our beauty routines as cleansing our skin and applying moisturizer before bed, but this wasn’t always the case. Until the second world war, women would rarely show their legs off, which meant that hair removal from this part of the body wasn’t seen as being a beauty necessity. Most women wore nylon stockings to cover their legs during the day, which meant that hair removal wasn’t needed, that was until the war meant that nylon stockings were in short supply, which is when shaving became a popular hair removal method for women.
Today, hair removal is a beauty necessity for women across the world, with shaving being the number one choice for many of us, simply because of how quick, easy and affordable it is. Shaving offers a great short-term solution to leg hair, but the problem is it can also come with side effects such as razor burn, ingrown hairs, and stubble. Despite having been shaving for years, many of us make faux pas when we shave, impacting the quality of the results. Want to learn how to improve your shaving game? Then read on, for advice about all the most common shaving faux pas and how to avoid them.
Not exfoliating before shaving
Have you noticed that your razor gets clogged up quickly? It might not be your hair that’s to blame; it could be dry and dead skin cells. If you fail to exfoliate before shaving, then as you shave you will remove all the dry and dead areas of skin, which will clog up your razor. Exfoliate your legs with a coffee scrub or exfoliating mit before you shave, and it will not only make your razors last longer but will also ensure you achieve a closer shave.
Failing to lubricate your skin
Razor burn hurts, there’s no doubt about that. It’s one of the most irritating parts of shaving, especially as it can cause little bumps to appear all over your freshly shaven legs. The easiest way to prevent razor burn (and achieve a closer shave) is to lubricate your skin before shaving. While a lot of women choose to use soap for this, it’s much better to use oil, such as coconut oil or shea butter, or men’s shaving foam, as these formulas will allow the razor to glide more easily over your skin, preventing razor burn and the associated soreness.
Slicing open your skin
Cuts and nicks are a natural part of shaving, or are they? When you cut yourself shaving, there’s reason for it. Usually, it’s because the razor is blunt or you are shaving at an angle which means the blades get your skin rather than the hairs, such as shaving diagonally. To prevent slicing open your skin when you shave, swapping your razor for a new one on a regular basis is a must. If you still struggle to prevent cuts and nicks from occurring, it could be worth considering swapping to an electric shaver. Take the shavers featured on http://www.shavingmachine.org/best-electric-shavers-women/; they are just as effective as wet shavers, perhaps even more so, and they come with the added bonus of not having to worry about cutting yourself, as they are much less likely to cause nicks than a razor is. Electric shavers have a lot of benefits and can make a great alternative to razors.
Only shaving against the grain
The ‘normal’ method of shaving is going against the grain of the hair, for instance, leg hair grows downwards, so we shave up our legs. However, if you have sensitive skin, shaving against the grain can cause irritation, so it can be better to shave with it - believe it or not, you can still achieve a clean shave this way. If you have normal skin that isn’t prone to sensitivity, the best way to shave is against the grain and then with it, as this guarantees the best results and a longer regrowth period. To learn more about the best ways to shave, resources like http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/beauty/ can be useful.
There you have it, a guide to the most common shaving faux pas that we are making.
Leave a Reply