Razor Burn

Sometimes in our bid to look clean and fresh we get a painful and unsightly razor burn, which inevitably results when improper shaving practices are done in removing unwanted hairs in the different parts of our body. Both men and women experience razor burn where body parts such as the face, neck, underarms, bikini lines, legs and chest usually suffer from mild rash, which disappears after a few hours or to even a few days. The adage “no pain, no glory” won’t apply here because one could get neat and dandy by simply following proper shaving techniques.

Razor burn is mainly caused by shaving malpractices, which include shaving in a rush, shaving using a dull blade, shaving without shaving gel, and shaving too closely or too hard. Following proper shaving technique would, therefore, help avoid razor burn to ruin your day.

So how to prevent razor burn specifically? Remember the following points.

Timing. Shave at the right place and at the right time. Do your shaving where you can properly set yourself in front of a mirror or rest yourself to clearly see the body parts you need to shave. Set also a proper schedule to do it, so you can avoid rush shaving, which puts you more prone to getting a razor burn. Shaving after shower is also the most preferable time to take those unwanted hair away. Your hair follicle is still soft minutes after a shower or bath making shaving easier to do with less irritation. If you don’t want to get a shower you can resort to damping the body part with a hot towel to achieve a soften hair follicle.

Moisture. Moisturizing the area to be shaved will also prevent razor burn. This will protect the skin from getting dry. Apply it before putting a light layer of shaving cream.

Sharp. It is almost needless to say that you must use a sharp razor blade in shaving. Dull blades would definitely result to cuts and nicks. It’s also important that you use a clean razor to avoid bacteria from getting in to your freshly cut or opened pores, which when get infected would result to a more serious case of razor burn. So clean your razor before and after use with a disinfectant or alcohol. It’s also advised to change razor blades every two weeks.

Direction. Don’t go against the direction of hair’s growth when shaving. When you do so, you might push the hair back into the hair follicle that would cause itchy and painful ingrown hair to develop and inflammation on your skin. So aside from shaving with the right direction, it would be helpful to do it more gently or without too much pressure.

Cool It. After shaving, rinse off the rest of the shaving cream with a cool tap water to help close your open pores and gently pat the shaved area with an absorbent towel. Do not rub. Applying a skin conditioner or a lotion with aloe vera instead of an after-shave perfume would also better leave your skin smooth, redness-free, and fragrant.

If you still can’t help but accidentally get a razor burn despite proper shaving practices, don’t worry because razor burn remedies can be readily available at home. Apple cider vinegar and aloe vera plant can serve as an immediate cure for razor burn. The two, among others, can be directly applied to the razor burnt area. A mixture of plain yogurt and pure honey can also treat razor burn, especially the more serious ones. Just apply the mixture on the razor burn, let it set for 15 to 20 minutes, and rinse it off with lukewarm water. Pat it with a clean towel and do not rub to avoid further irritation.

Getting that clean hairless look need not to be painful. You just have to get yourself aware and equip yourself with the right determination to follow the right way.