If it’s the classic clean-shaven look is what you dig, you’ve probably come across or, worse, experienced the accompanying after effects at least a few times – the post-shave irritation.
Nasty? Totally. Inconvenient? Duh. Unavoidable? Not really! Let’s scratch this itch the right way, once and for all with some tips.
First things first. What is post-shave irritation?
So, you got rid of that stubble. Day 1 is when you enjoy your baby-smooth skin that makes you want to keep touching it. For some, post-shave irritation begins right here. One way of identifying this is redness, dryness and itching a few hours after you’ve shaved. For the lucky few, post-shave irritation only begins on day 2 or 3. This can be characterized by acne-like bumps, razor burn, or worse, redness that can pass off as a rash. If any of this sounds like what you’ve been dealing with, then it’s most probably a form of post-shave irritation.
But, why does this happen?
Brands around the world have been at it in their R&D labs, trying to make shaving a safer, milder, and less irritating experience. Whether it’s multi-blade action, pre/post shave products, or products lined with soothing agents like aloe vera, the list goes on. So, why then, does post-shave irritation even happen in the first place? When you shave, you don’t necessarily remove the entire hair. All that it does is cut off the hair right at the base, at skin level. The blade action, coupled with how close you are shaving, as well as any bumps or ingrown hair end up irritating the skin, leading to itchiness, redness, and bumps, which we normally call post-shave irritation.
Okay, gotcha. So, how do I make sure that doesn’t happen?
While there’s no fool-proof way of completely eliminating this, there are a few ways you can smoothly deal with post-shave irritation. Here are a few:
Prep right. The drier your skin is, the more likely it is to feel irritated after the shave. Prep your skin at least 6-12 hours before shaving with a dense moisturizer or aloe gel to ensure it is moisturized and hydrated.
Trim longer hair first. If you go straight in with the razor, longer hair will require you to go back to the same area multiple times, leading to more trauma to that part of the skin. It’s best to trim out longer sections before shaving.
Shave in the direction of the hair growth. Remember, if you shave against the grain, you will be disrupting the natural growth angle of the hair follicle, resulting in ingrown hair.
Use the right shaving cream! Don’t use your shower gels or soaps. Depending on your skin type, pick a shaving cream / foam / gel that’s also nourishing.
Let it breathe. If you’ve got an itch, don’t scratch it. Ensure you air out your newly-shaved skin to avoid the itch getting worse.
Soothe your irritated skin. Aloe vera gel or a cooling after-shave lotion work great to help soothe irritated skin post shaving!
