Shaving is essential to personal grooming, but it can be painful and difficult. It’s common to experience irritation when you shave your bikini line, legs or underarms. Shaving discomfort can be the result from dehydrated skin, ingrown hairs, or old razors. However, you can adopt these safe hair removal hacks before and during shaving to help make the process smoother:
1. Exfoliate prior to shaving for a closer shave
Exfoliation helps remove dead cells from the skin’s surface, reducing friction between your blade and your skin. This makes it easier for you to get a closer shave. Additionally, if there is any dead skin build-up, your razor will have trouble getting through. If you already do some form of exfoliation like a sugar scrub, continue doing this weekly to ensure a closer shave.
2. Shave in the shower
This keeps water contained in the shower and also works well to shave those hard-to-reach places. When you shave while showering, you can rinse off shave gel and hair as you shave. Shaving in the shower also helps to keep skin moist, apply shower gel or soap to the area prior to shaving and apply a moisturizing body butter lotion after towel drying.
3. Change razor blades frequently
Razor blades wear down over time and become duller faster than most people realize. Dull razors require frequent replacement. Changing your blade every two weeks or sooner, depending on how much you use it, can help extend its life and save you from painful chafing or razor burn. If you notice that the edge of your blade isn’t cutting correctly, it could indicate that the blade needs replacing.
4. Moisturize after shaving to prevent razor burn
After applying moisture to your skin, wait at least 15 minutes before applying shaving cream. The extra time allows the moisture to penetrate deeper into your skin, making it easier for your razor to remove hair. You can also consider purchasing pre-moisturized shaving cream that contains ingredients like aloe vera. Finish your shaving with a moisturizing body butter, body oil, or lotion to seal in moisture from your shower and keep skin smooth.
5. Use hair removal creams
If you want a close shave but are struggling to find a hair removal method that doesn’t leave your skin full of nicks, chafing and razor burn, a hair removal cream may be your best option. Also known as depilatory creams, hair removal creams have a lotion-like consistency that you can smooth over the armpits, bikini line, or legs to remove unwanted hair. The cream literally breaks down the hair cuticle and completely removes it from the surface quickly. Virtually painless, hair removal creams are gaining in popularity. Shaving is one way to eliminate excess hair. But there are many ways to achieve the same results. By experimenting with different methods, you can choose which works best for your lifestyle and preferences.
