Do you also suffer from annoying razor burns?
Many men suffer from razor burn every day during and after shaving. Razor burn is a temporary irritating skin irritation caused by shaving. The most common symptoms are a burning or chafing feeling after shaving and red, slightly chafed skin. These irritations can sometimes last for one or two days after shaving. The question is of course what are the causes and how can you prevent it?
What are the causes of razor burn?
Many men hate shaving. Why? Because they suffer a lot from razor burn during or after shaving. Shaving is, so to speak, a daily torture. Some even think it is part of shaving and walk around with these red spots and rashes for years. After shaving, all kinds of ointments and creams are used to extinguish razor burn. Often in vain.
The main causes of razor burn are either your own shaving technique or the wrong razor or the wrong shaving product. Below are the most important or common causes of razor burn:
- shaving too often and/or shaving too much on the same spot on the skin;
- applying too much pressure with the razor on the skin;
- shaving against the direction of beard growth;
- making insufficient preparation, for example not sufficiently wetting the face or not using shaving foam;
- clean your face before shaving with hot water and/or regular hand soaps;
- shower with hot water before shaving;
- shaving with multi-blade cartridge razors, such as the Gillette Mach3 or Fusion or Wilkinson Quatro;
- shaving with dull razor blades;
- shaving with dirty razor blades;
- shaving with the cheap retail (drugstore and supermarket) shaving soaps; these shaving soaps are aggressive and have a strong dehydrating effect;
- shaving with the cheap retail (drugstore and supermarket) ready-made shaving foam from an aerosol can;
- shaving with overly perfumed shaving products;
- regularly change from wet shaving to electric shaving and vice versa;
- scrub the skin immediately before or after shaving;
- Use an alcohol-containing after shave product immediately after shaving.
How do you prevent or reduce razor burn?
Razor burn can occur immediately after shaving. It also happens that it only manifests itself during the day.
The great thing about wet shaving is that you have a lot of control over it. There are various ways and treatments that can prevent or reduce razor burn:
- Give the skin a rest by not shaving for one or more days. The skin can relax and recover or heal.
- Shave your skin only once instead of twice or three times.
- Do not apply pressure with the razor on your skin. Don't get a super close shave.
- Shave with gentle and light movements. Do not apply too much pressure. Let the razor do its work.
- Do not shave against the direction of beard growth. Shave only once as much as possible in the direction of hair growth.
- Wet your face with lukewarm water before shaving. You will get the best and most comfortable shaving result with a classic shaving soap or shaving cream , warm water, shaving brush and a little bit of time. It is precisely this combination that ensures that the beard hairs become softer and softer and that the skin is well protected against the razor. And finally, the skin is nourished or cared for by the various nourishing oils and fats in these shaving products.
- Do not shower with hot water before shaving. This can dry out the skin slightly. Do not clean your face before shaving with regular hand or bath soap. These soaps can dry out the skin. If necessary, use a pH-neutral cleaning gel . These products are friendlier to the skin.
- If necessary, use a preshave oil or cream before shaving. A preshave product provides extra protection while shaving.
- The common multi-blade razors with 3 to 5 blades are one of the main causes of razor burn. Too many blades scrape your skin too often and at the same time. Switch and use the classic safety razor . Or if you dare, use the straight razor . Many of our customers who switch from the cartridge razor to the safety razor or straight razor indicate that they no longer suffer from shaving irritations much less or not at all.
- Always use sharp blades and always clean the razor or blades thoroughly after shaving.
- Only use good classic or traditional shaving soaps or shaving creams. A good shaving product should do three things: soften beard hairs, protect the skin well (oily creamy slick layer) against the razor and nourish and care for the skin. The cheap retail brands do the exact opposite. These shaving soaps dry out very quickly, do not protect the skin sufficiently and dehydrate or irritate the skin.
- Ready-made shaving foam from a can softens the beard hairs much less than a classic or traditional shaving soap or shaving cream. Has a less full and creamy protective slick layer. The caring and nourishing effect is much less.
- Many shaving products are scented and contain so-called perfume ingredients or fragrance oils. These perfume ingredients are often synthetic and can irritate the skin. In this case, use neutral or unscented shaving products as much as possible. Or use traditional shaving soaps or shaving creams with naturally scented essential oils.
- Wet shaving with shaving soap and razor one day and electric shaving the next day is not good for the skin. Your skin has to get used to it every time. Shave wet or shave electrically.
- To prevent ingrown hairs, it is sometimes advised to scrub your skin regularly. Don't do that just before or after shaving! By scrubbing you remove your protective outer stratum corneum. When shaving with the razor, you also partly remove these protective layers.
- Always use a nourishing and soothing after shave balm after shaving. If you suffer from razor burn, always avoid alcohol-containing after shave products. Too much alcohol can further dry out and irritate irritated skin.
- After shaving in case of razor burn, apply a small amount of talcum powder . Talcum powder provides peace and soothes the skin. It soothes razor burn.
Our advice is to look step by step at what causes razor burn. Don't immediately buy a new razor or another shaving soap. First work on your own shaving technique. If necessary, use a preshave oil before shaving. Put away that cheap crappy shaving soap and buy a good shaving soap or shaving cream. Stop using a strongly perfumed balm and use a neutral, well-caring after shave balm. Many - not all - of the shaving problems are within your control and can be solved yourself. If you follow the above tips and tricks, you will notice that the razor burn will diminish and perhaps disappear completely. After shaving, a satisfied and satisfied smile slowly appears on your face.
