Unwanted hair is a fact of life for most adults, unless you’ve taken the plunge with electrolysis, and when it comes to hair removal, shaving is still the most popular method on the planet. Shaving can be quick and convenient, but there are also several issues associated with regular shaving, so we thought we’d take a look at what those issues are and give you some suggestions of how to deal with them.
Razor Burn
Let’s be real here; shaving may give good results, but dragging a super sharp blade across your skin is never going to be a gentle process and razor burn is usually the after-effect. As well as ensuring that your razor isn’t blunt, the best thing to do to avoid razor burn is to properly prep and lubricate the skin. Use Dermalogica Pre-Shave Guard before shaving to soften hair and reduce drag, then use Dermalogica Close Shave Oil during your shave to allow the razor to glide across the skin.
Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs can be both uncomfortable and unsightly, but are easily avoidable with the right products and technique. Shaving WITH the grain of the hair and not against it is absolutely vital, as is cleansing the face and lifting hairs with a product such as Dermalogica Daily Clean Scrub.
Spots
If you have sensitive skin, shaving can really exacerbate it and cause breakouts of spots and pimples. Ensuring that your razor is spotlessly clean is essential as you don’t want to introduce bacteria into the area, and using a post-shave treatment such as Dermalogica Soothing Shave Cream will also help, as it will calm irritation and reduce the risk of breakouts.
Dryness
Replenishing the moisture lost through shaving is another important step in maintaining good skin, but not everyone wants to use a thick, rich cream on their face directly after shaving. Decleor Soothing Aftershave Fluid is an ultra-light fluid designed to hydrate the skin and replace essential oils without clogging pores or feeling too heavy and also helps with the healing process if you have small nicks or cuts after shaving.
Regrowth
Obviously, unless you opt for the aforementioned laser hair removal, regrowth is ALWAYS going to happen and makes daily shaving a bit of a thankless task. Decleor Triple Action Shave Perfector is a clever little potion which actually helps to reduce re-growth, allowing you to shave less often with continued use. It also opens the pores and makes the skin more receptive to other post-shave products, so using it before you moisturise will actually give you extra bang for your buck!