How to Prevent Shaving Discomfort
You have probably seen those men who have little wads of toilet paper stuck to their face. In fact, you may be one of them. Therefore, you know perfectly well that those wads are not the latest fashion statement, designed to complement you tie or handkerchief. Those wads are there because you missed getting that most elusive of worldly things- the perfect shave.
You just missed it, too, didn’t you? You missed it by a nick.
Nicks, scrapes, burns, It may sound like the inventory of an emergency ward but most men encounter these discomforts on a regular basis in their own bathrooms.
So here are some tips on how to avoid turning you morning ritual into a nightmare and keep the toilet paper off your face.(Of course, women who shave their legs are not immune to these discomforts, either. so while this article is primarily geared toward men, the advice can help women get a softer, gentler shave as well.)
Be prepared.
Proper preparation is the key to a good shave, says Gordon Scarbrough, owner of Moler Barber College in Portland, Oregon. That means, Moistening and softening your face before you even apply the soap, For the best results, do it with a warm, moist towel or washcloth held to your face, At the very least, splash try soaking in the tub for a few minutes before shaving the legs.)
Follow the grain.
Shave with the grain; that is move the razor in the direction that the hair grows, advises Andrew Lazar, M.D., assistant professor of clinical dermatology at Northwestern University School of Medicine in Chicago. Generally , that means shaving down on the face and neck and up on the lower neck.
Shave in the shower.
It’s the perfect place to shave, says Scarbrough, because the steam and not water soften and moisten your skin and beard, Shaving your face as your final shower duty makes good sense for your skin.
Cut up your credit cards.
Well, at least don’t use them as a measure of proper shaving. Joseph P. Bark, M.D.,chairman of dermatology at St. Joseph Hospital in Lexington, Kentucky, says men have been trying to live up to an old shaving commercial that showed a credit card being rubbed against a shaved face. “If it made a lot of scraping sound, you didn’t pass the credit-card test,” says Bard. He says to cash in that tired idea, and instead invest in the notion that shaving less closely will save you a lot of discomfort.
Stop playing doubles.
“The bad actor in all this is the double-track razor,” says Bark, He says the first blade pulls up the skin around hairs, then the second blade shaves off the nubbin of skin. “It’s like using a nuclear weapon to mow your lawn,” says Bark. Try a single-blade, disposable razor instead.
Froth your foam.
Many men think that foam out of a can is moist enouht to apply directly to dry skin. Wrong, says Scarbrough. You need added moisture, or it will almost be like shaving dry skin. splash water on your face liberally before adding the foam.
Be sharp.
A dull blade can scrape your skin, so don’t try to get too many shaves out of one razor. Some men’s beards are so coarse that a razor will be effective for only one shave, says Scarbrough.
Try an electric.
Electric razors don’t shave as closely as a double-track razor, so they may be less likely to irritate the skin, says Bark.
Use a quality aftershave.
Cheaper brands are just plain alcohol, says Scarbrouhg. “They burn like sin and really don’t do much, ” A good aftershave should refresh th skin , cleanse it of Bacteria, plus heal it from the shaving. He looks for loe vera or other natural healer as part of the ingredients.
Try a sunscreen.
Bark recommends using a sunscreen as an aftershave, “Use a sunscreen as an aftershave every day of your life and you can look younger and not have skin cancer.
Say styptic.
Ask for it at the drugstore and keep it handy in the bathroom so you can use it when you nick yourself, You can get a styptic pencil or styptic power. Dab it on the nick, press down momentarily with your finger, and the bleeding should stop. Alum contained in the pencil or powder draw the skin up to seal the wound, says scarbough. Rinse off any residue, and you’re ready to face the world-without that snippet of toilet paper.
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