To shave properly, two of the most important steps are to open the pores before shaving and know the direction in which the blade passes, so that the skin is slightly irritated and thus prevents growth of ingrown hairs, cuts or the appearance of red spots.
However, there are other essential secrets to letting the beard always pervade and they include:
1. Wash your face with hot water
Using warm water before shaving helps open the pores, allowing the blade to pass more easily through the skin, in addition to leaving the hair softer. In this way, the skin becomes less irritated and causes less pain, in addition to avoiding the appearance of red spots on the face.
So a good tip is to shave after showering, for example, since it is ideal to keep the water in contact with the skin for at least 1 minute to allow the heat to have time to relax the pores properly .
2. Always use a shaving cream or oil
Just like using hot water before shaving, the use of this type of creams or oils should not be optional as they are very important to reduce the amount of friction between the blade and the skin throughout the process. Thus, there is a lower risk of feeling the skin burning and irritated after shaving.
3. Use a shaving brush
The best way to apply the shaving cream or oil is to use a shaving brush, as its hair produces a slight exfoliation of the skin, allowing to remove dead skin cells, while also spreading the product throughout the skin .
By using this method, it is easier to prevent hairs from becoming ingrown after shaving, as there is less risk that dead cells will block the passage of hair through the pore. Check out other important tips to avoid ingrown hairs.
4. Use a razor blade with more than 3 blades
Although using a razor blade with more blades does not necessarily mean a better shave, razor blades that have 3 or more blades help reduce the risk of causing skin cuts as they allow you to keep your skin more taut. Thus, these types of blades are the best option for those who are beginning to shave or for those who always suffer with multiple cuts.
5. Shaving towards the hair
This is probably the most basic tip, but that is ignored in many cases, especially since many men do not know that the direction of hair varies according to the region of the face. When the hair is cut in the opposite direction there is a greater chance of getting stuck when it grows again, which is why some men have ingrown hairs on only one region of the face.
Therefore, before shaving, you should try to find out how the hair is growing in each region of the face, such as the cheeks, chin or neck, for example, and then shave accordingly. A good way to do this is to run a finger or a credit card by the beard and try to figure out in what sense there is less resistance.
6. Rinse face with cool water after finishing
In addition to allowing the remains of the cream or oil that remains on the face to be removed, washing the face with cold water also allows the pores to close, preventing them from being opened and accumulating dust and dead cells, which, in addition to causing ingrown hairs, very irritated skin.
7. Pour a shaving cream or gel
The products used in after shaving, such as aftershave creams, gels or oils, contain refreshing and anti-inflammatory substances that help the skin recover faster from aggressive contact with the blades. These properties not only leave the skin less irritated, but also leave a pleasant sensation of freshness and hydration.