Shave without bumps

A man shaving
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No man loves razor bump. Do you know that a proper shaving technique can help reduce or eliminate razor bumps? How can this be achieved?

Cut the number of shaves down

Except on rare instances, cut down shavings to three or four times a week. This will give the skin time to heal from the last shave and will not force some of the slow-growing hairs back into the skin.

Use a sharp razor blade at all times

Making use of dull blades could prompt a re-shaving, which increases the chances of irritation— this leads to bumps

Use clean blades

Be sure to always use a clean blade when shaving with a razor. This can be best achieved by only using new blades and discarding ones that have been previously used three or more times.

Replace blades as needed

If you use an electric razor, replace the rotary blades or foil after a few months. Do you shave daily? Then, replace them sooner. This can be a challenge since many rotary blade components cost more than half of what the entire razor is worth.

Always shave in the direction of hair growth

 Most hair on men’s faces, slant downward, so be sure to shave in that direction while shaving with a handheld razor. This is also important around the neck areas since shaving against the grain is one of the main causes of pointy, sharp hairs that can burrow back into the skin. Splash cold water on your face, after the shave, so that you can close the pores.

 Do not stretch your skin while shaving

 Pulling your cheeks, chin or neck while shaving in order to get a closer shave can cause darkness and discoloration of underlying skin tissue. This is especially true for light and fair-skinned black men with dark, coarse hair.

Moisturise

Moisturise during the shave or right afterward. The skin is put under stress during a shave, and a thin layer of it is removed. Any kind of moisturiser will help the remaining skin heal. Fast-healing skin is less likely to take on bumps.

 Watch what you eat

 Many skin irritations may subside if certain foods are avoided. Fatty foods, foods containing oils, cholesterol and sodium, can make your skin more susceptible to damage while shaving.

Give up on razors, use a depilatory

Depilatories work well on most skin, but not on all. They can remove facial hair in a matter of minutes, but just like blade shaving, they can cause a bit of irritation and redness. Be careful not to use alcohol-based aftershaves or creams immediately after using a depilatory. Mixing the two is like throwing flames onto your face.

 Grow a beard

This may not be the best solution for those required to shave daily. This way, you will eliminate the razor bump worries and ingrown hair issues. Even better, you can get rid of those sharp blades!