Razor burn is the irritating feeling on your skin following shaving. It typically involves a reddening of the skin and razor bumps which are ingrown hairs that often develop into zits.
How can you shave without getting razor burn or otherwise irritating your skin?
Razor burn occurs frequently on men who have sensitive skin. However there are also a number of shaving mistakes you might be making that contribute to razor burn.
Let’s look at the most common reasons men get razor burn and how you can avoid it.
How To Avoid Getting Razor Burn
Choose A Decent Razor
While using an expensive razor with 5+ blades isn’t necessarily a must-do, look at what you’re using for shaving currently. Picking the cheapest razor you can find may lead to razor burn, more cut and nicks and an overall crummy shaving experience. Pick a decent quality razor with 2+ blades or a Double Edge (DE) single blade razor. If you suffer razor burn, consider upgrading your razor.
Choose A Decent Shaving Cream
You may also choose a decent shaving gel, soap or tube. While the widely available canned shaving creams are cheap and easily found, they may not be your best choice. Canned shaving creams foam up really nice and fluffy, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best choice. A shaving gel might be a better choice for you. Soap-based shaving cream is an old-school option that many men swear by. Shaving cream from a tube doesn’t foam up as much but in my experience, it goes on like a thick soap and works well for me. If you suffer razor burn, try different shaving cream options. Many creams these days help sensitive skin and have aloe vera, jojoba and other skin soothing ingredients.
Shave After Showering
Hot water and steam from a shower helps to soften your skin and beard whiskers, getting them ready to be shaved. After your shower, apply the shaving cream and let it sit for a few minutes to further soften the skin. The longer you can wait to shave after waking up, the better. We’ll talk about that in more detail below.
Replace Razor Blades Regularly
Using dull razor blades is a quick way to increase the chances of razor burn. Sharp blades cut hair precisely and easily. Dull blades tug on your whiskers which may irritate the skin. You may need to shave the same area several times, increasing the chance of skin irritation. You may also press harder with the razor which also increases the chance of irritating your skin. Replace razor blades regularly before they get dull. You’ll feel the difference when shaving and need to figure out yourself when blade replacement time has arrived.
Consider An Electric Shaver
Having used both electric shavers and disposable razors, electric shavers have a few advantages. Electric shavers come in two main forms: Rotary blade shavers with 2-3 round rotating blades and foil head shavers with 1-2 flat, rounded foils. While razor blades actually make contact with your skin and scrape against it to cut the hair, electric shavers have a protective case (rotary shaver) or foil (foil shaver) covering the cutting tool. So the blades don’t actually touch your skin. Newer electric shavers have wet/dry option so you can use them in the shower and often with shaving cream. If you experience skin irritation and razor burn from manual shaving, a good quality electric shaver might help.
Shave In The Direction of Hair Growth
This is also called shaving with the grain. Shaving against the grain means shaving in the opposite direction of hair growth. In my personal experience, shaving the back of my head and my neck against the grain used to cause me a great deal of razor burn so I stopped doing it. These days, I use a better quality razor, am a better shaver and can shave against the grain with no trouble. But if you have sensitive skin and get razor burn, don’t shave against the grain.
Shave Less Frequently
Do you have to shave everyday? If so, that’s understandable but if you can take a day off between shaves, your skin may thank you. Less shaving = less irritation to your skin.
Shave At Night
Most guys shave in the morning because…tradition. It’s a habit. You get up, you shave. What about shaving the night before and then not shaving in the morning? We’re often in a rush in the morning. If you rush while shaving, you’re likely to cut yourself and irritate your skin. Plus, our skin is our puffiest when we wake up having been lying down in bed since the night before. It can take hours for accumulated fluids to flush out of our face which is why shaving later in the day may offer you an advantage against razor burn and shaving irritation.
Moisturizer
A good quality moisturizer after shaving will help to soothe your skin and may prevent irritated skin and reduce the chance of ingrown hairs, assuming you follow the above advice.
Conclusion: How To Shave Without Getting Razor Burn
- If you want to know how to shave without getting razor burn, your best bet is to use a decent razor/shaver and shaving cream to start with. Try out different options and don’t go cheap.
- Shave after showering and wait as long as possible to shave after waking up. Consider shaving at night or at least later in the day if possible.
- Don’t use razor blades when they’re dull. Dull blades increase the chance of razor burn, skin irritation and cuts.
- Shave with the grain, in the direction of hair growth.
- Consider using an electric shaver. A wet/dry shaver enables you to shave in the shower and use shaving cream if desired.
- Use a good quality moisturizer after shaving especially if you have dry skin.
How frequently do you suffer from razor burn and how do you deal with it?