Spending 10 minutes each day, men spend an average of 150 days of their life in shaving. On the face of it, shaving seems to be the most flawless activity they perform during the day. However, this daily (often, mechanical) routine of men tends to disturb the skin’s balance and can also be harsh for the skin if not performed correctly. Careless shaving can lead to:
1. Ingrown Hair:
Dermatologists say that if hairs are very fine or curly or are cut in the wrong direction, they are unable to outgrow the skin’s surface. As a result, they grow under the skin, leading to skin spots. The best approach to avoid this problem of having ingrown hair is to shave in the morning itself. While performing the shave, it is important to be mindful of the direction of hair growth. Once done, you should then systematically finish your shave by applying a product based on fruit acids (AHAs) in the end. Such products are beneficial for skin as they keep it hydrated. They are known to boost the skin’s natural exfoliation process, which in turn helps remove small dead cells that accumulate on the skin’s surface, making it easier for the hair to penetrate the skin.
2. Redness:
Shaving is usually a vital part of men’s grooming routine. As it is performed almost daily, it is going to be harsh, causing the skin to aggravate. Using shaving gels, alcohol-based or menthol aftershaves and non-hydrating aftershave lotions only make things worse. Therefore, to avoid redness and inflammation on the skin after shave, make sure that the products you use are based on an alcohol-free formula that is specifically designed for sensitive skin.
3. Tightening of Skin:
Shaving depletes the lipids in the hydrolipidic film. This film, which coats the skin’s surface, is responsible for making the skin feel comfortable. However, regular shaving ends up doing the opposite for the facial skin. To avoid this problem, make sure to pick products that have a moisturizing effect on your skin. A shaving cream combined with a day cream enriched with moisturizing ingredients will help you avoid any feelings of discomfort on the face.
4. Cuts on Face:
To avoid cuts on face while shaving, the best practice is to change the blades on your shaver. If the blades are too old, they would not cut the hair but jerk them out instead. Also try stretching out the skin while performing the shave; it helps the blade glide along more smoothly.
If the above things are taken care of, many of the problems related to shaving will automatically go away.