Hair removal is hands down the least glamorous part of any grooming or beauty routine. Regardless of how much you prefer the feeling of silky smooth skin, the actual process of removing hair often feels messy and tedious. Luckily, as technology progresses and the beauty world grows by leaps and bounds, the options for shaving are as diverse and individualized those who use them. You no longer have to settle for the same pack of bright single-blade pink razors that quickly rust (unless that’s what you’re into), because there are options galore.
But before we dive into our favorite hair removal products, we chatted with Dr. Omnia. M. Samra-Latif Estafan about hair removal methods that are easier on your skin. She gave us the lowdown on the most common mistakes people make when shaving, and what she recommends to fix common problems.
“The two most common damaging mistakes that people make when shaving are not cleansing the skin to be shaved first, and not using any moisturizers, such as shaving the skin dry,” Dr. Samra-Latif Estafan says. “Both methods increase the risk of cuts, infection and ingrown hair.”
Make sure to cleanse prior to shaving
Dr. Samra-Latif Estafan says to always cleanse the skin first to remove anything that can increase the risk of irritation, razor burns, razor bumps, and infection. She recommends a pH balanced product, such as the Nelly De Vuyst BioFemme Cleansing Foam, since it can help prevent dry and flaky skin and includes the antibacterial ingredient tea tree oil.
Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize
She then went on to share how important it is to deeply moisturize your skin after hair removal, in order to prevent razor burn and bumps.
“Moisturizing shaven skin is key after shaving to maintain hydration of the skin. Issues post-shave, such as razor burn and razor bumps, are annoyances of shaving. Burns happen during shaving or immediately after that cause tiny red blotches on the skin that can be painful and itchy.”
Dr. Samra-Latif Estafan says essential oils have many positive effects on post-shaven skin. “Evening primrose oil is known for its topical soothing and moisturizing effect of both skin and hair,” she says. “It also promotes smoothness of the skin, a great remedy for sensitive red, dry and irritated skin post-shave.”
Dealing with ingrown hairs
She capped off her advice by sharing how ingrown hairs function, and the best ways to straighten out hair growth so it doesn’t curl back into the skin. “Razor bumps happen when the hair regrowth will curl back onto itself rather than growing straight,” she says. “It can cause pain, swelling, itchiness, and infection.” Dr. Samra-Latif Estafan suggests using a product that has lavender and tea tree oil, both of which contain anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties and will help reduce ingrown hairs and razor bumps.
Steps To A Smooth Shave for men
Steps To A Smooth Shave for women
1. Exfoliate first to lift the hairs and prepare for a better shave
Exfoliating before shaving is one important preparation step that can help get rid of dead skin cells so they won’t gunk up your razor and hinder a close shave. You can even use portable sonic face cleansing brushes to exfoliate your legs and get a good scrub before taking a razor to your gams.
2. Redefine the meaning of the word shave: try other means of getting hairless legs and pits
Simply because we were raised with the idea that the only way to get rid of hair was via razors or Nair, we can change that logic. Explore other hair removal options, like waxing or threading.
3. Buy a fresh razor after three uses
If you decide to go the disposable razor route, remember to “dispose” of them as often as you can, aiming to use each one for no more than three shaves.
4. Use hair conditioner as a replacement for shaving cream when in a pinch
Slather dollops of hair conditioner or other supple lotions you have on hand onto your body to keep the razor sliding smoothly.
5. Shave downward, then upwards
We’ve heard it time and time again: Shave with the grain. But honestly, who really does that? Most of us jump in the tub or shower and shave our legs in an upward direction. That’s fine for those who don’t have sensitive skin. For those that do, experts suggest shaving downward first and then upward – if the upward direction close shave doesn’t cause problems.
