How to Prevent Razor Burn

Posted on March 12th, 2009 by Elaine

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Shaving is an important routine for men and women, and although it works great, you sometimes encounter a painful and uncomfortable skin irritation when you do it, called razor burn. You don’t have to suffer this all the time though, because there are ways to avoid it. Here are some tips on how to prevent razor burn. (Tips on how to shave properly)

What You’ll Need:

Razor or electric shaver
Twin blade razors (those with moisturizing strip and pivoting head work well)
Facial scrub lotion
Shaving gel or cream
Facial moisturizer or aftershave
Water
Alcohol

Shave After Taking A Shower

Putting your everyday routine into proper order will help avoid razor burn. Make sure you take a shower or wash your face first, before you shave. The steam and warm water soften your facial hair and skin. Also, make sure it’s been 20 minutes after you wake up before you shave, so the body fluids that welled in your face will disperse. Another tip: exercise first before you shave, so the sweat won’t irritate your freshly-shaved skin.

Exfoliate First

Removing dead skin and bringing out ingrown hairs help reduce razor burn. Before you shave, scrub your face with a loofah or a facial scrub. You’ll have less rashes.

Shave With The Grain

When you shave, make sure you use short and deliberate strokes, and that you’re shaving with the grain, rather than against it. Shaving against only increases your risk of getting inflamed skin, irritation, cuts and ingrown hairs. Short strokes are also important, because long ones make you press down hard on your skin causing razor burn.

Use A Moisturizer

Having something in between your skin and the razor helps prevent razor burn, which is why you’ll need a moisturizer. A quality shaving gel or cream will do this. Make sure you pick one that’s made specifically for shaving, since ordinary soap dries out the skin, increasing irritation. Wet the entire area to be shaved with a generous amount, and let sit for a few minutes before shaving to increase facial hair softness and reduce skin irritation.

New, Sharp Blades Will Do The Trick

Old blunt razor blades leads to uneven cuts, more pressure and eventually razor burn. Make sure you always use new and sharp razor blades when you shave. This might mean more frequent razor changes, but at least you get to avoid unpleasant razor burn pain. To lengthen the life of your blades, wipe them clean after use. If you have an electric shaver, keep it free from hair and clean the blades regularly. When not in use, put your blades in a container with alcohol, to keep it sharp and irritate your skin less.

Don’t Apply Too Much Pressure

A closer shave is more ideal, for many men and women. To get this though, what they do is press down harder on the razor, causing the painful burning sensation. Don’t put too much pressure on the blade when you’re shaving. You’ll get the close shave you want, but you’ll get irritated at the same time.

Clean Your Razor

Your razor can become a home for a number of bacteria. If you keep using a filthy razor when you shave, you transfer the bacteria to newly opened pores or fresh cuts. Always clean your razor after shaving, washing it with cool water and wiping with a clean towel. You can also dip it in rubbing alcohol or use small moisturizing strips.