Are you making shaving mistakes? Shaving mistakes can cause you to have a rash, irritation or at the least, not have the smooth shave that you were hoping for. None of those are things you want! These are 7 shaving mistakes you may be making and some things you can do to avoid them.
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1. Shaving Dry
Shaving dry is one of the biggest shaving mistakes you can make. The only time you should ever shave dry is if you use an electric razor. Otherwise, this is one of the shaving mistakes that you will pay for. Always take time to shave with water. It will greatly reduce the chances of razor burn and irritation. It can also save you from a lot of pain from a bad shave.
2. Not Using Shaving Gel or Cream
You need to also use shaving gel or shaving cream. These products are a wonderful aid in shaving. They make the surface of your skin so much smoother to work with so that your shave is not harsh or rough. Some women claim they can get by with a bar of soap but I prefer shaving gel or cream. I have also heard that hair conditioner works well but I have never personally tried this. I think anything would be better than using nothing, though.
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3. Skipping Exfoliation
Exfoliation is an important part of skin care. But it has an important part in shaving, too. Exfoliation helps to get rid of dry, flaky skin so that you have a better surface to work with. You can exfoliate in several different ways. You can use an exfoliating product such as a sugar scrub or a loofah to exfoliate before you shave.
4. Shaving with No Certain Pattern
If you shave in many different directions, you can expect to have problems. Razor bumps, irritation and even ingrown hairs will probably be a problem for you. It is best to shave in one direction only. Decide which way is most comfortable to you and stick with it. I have always shaved my legs in an upward pattern.
5. Not Moisturizing Afterward
Another mistake you could be making is not moisturizing after you shave. Using lotion, body butter or another moisturizing product can help to make your skin feel smoother and soothe any irritation that may have occurred through shaving. Ideally, you should use one of these products every day but especially after you shave. Regular use of a moisturizing product will help you with preventing shaving mistakes because your skin will always be in better condition than if you didn’t moisturize. It does take extra time but once you get used to following this step in your daily hygiene routine, you will really miss it when you don’t do it.
6. Not Replacing Your Razor Often Enough
A dull razor is actually more likely to cut you than a new, sharper razor. A lot of us make the mistake of using a dull razor not because we don’t know any better, but because we forget to change our razor. It is just something that slips our mind. To help you keep from making this mistake, choose something to remind you of when to change it. Maybe it can be your payday or a certain day of the week that you change razors. How often you need to change razors will vary upon how often you shave.
7. Being in a Hurry
Being in a hurry can definitely cause more shaving mistakes. You are going to be more likely to cut yourself when you are in a hurry. You are also more likely to miss some spots which means you will not have the smooth shave you want. It is better to take an extra couple of minutes to shave the way you need to than deal with those mistakes. It can save you pain and aggravation.
These are 7 tips to help you avoid shaving mistakes. What tips do you follow? Share your wisdom with us!
Comments
Zaina: I endup peeling my skin most of the time...
Annemarie: Sorry meant as well, not as well as!
Niharika: Shaving thickens the hair.. Thats why I wax.. It was very painful in first few attempts but now my hair has become thinner and growth is significantly reduced.. and it doesn't pain anymore..
Jenn: I do the same with the conditioner! Also put baby oil in an old hair spray bottle and keep it in the shower and apply before you towel off. It works best while still wet!!
Lauren: I can't wait long enough for my hair to grow, I feel dirty with hairy legs so I have to shave !
Annemarie: Thank you so much for this, it really helps! The comments help as well as!
Miaan__: I recently started using conditioner to shave & I don't plan on going back! Not only does it give me a close shave & silky smooth legs, it is also cheaper (I have tons of the stuff that I never used!) AND it doesn't clog up my blades!
Brenda: Applying lotion right after showering can clog the pores in your skin. It is better to use baby oil.
Thelma62913: I disagree with #4 in terms of armpits. I need to shave in a number of directions in order for all the hair to be off. I am thinking of trying conditioner too since I just ran out of shave gel.
Audrey: True, true, true! I agree with every thing except for the shaving cream one and the exfoliation one. I never used shaving cream for a long time, and then when I finally decided to, I barely noticed a difference. It helped me not to nick myself(which I rarely do anyway), but it mostly just clogged up my razor and got between the blades..which wouldn't be so bad if it helped, but it doesn't for me. The only people I would recommend this for are first time shavers or people using a cheap razor that's likely to cut. And I don't exfoliate except on special occasions. As long as I moisturize, my legs have no extra dryness or flakiness. I use the Gillette Venus Embrace (or the Gillette Venus Olay when my skin is dry) in case anyone was wondering. The whole Venus line is amazing, in my opinion, at least compared to the cheap razors I used to get that came in a pack of 20.
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