Face shaving: Shaving 101 | All you need to know

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Shaving 101 is all about face shaving. Face shaving is basically removing the peach fuzz off of our face. We all have vellus or soft little hair all over our face which is also known as peach fuzz. When we shave, we remove the peach fuzz along with a bunch of dead skin cells and gunk. This gives us a softer, clearer and smoother looking skin. There are some advantages why we do face shaving like better product penetration, smooth soft skin and many more which we will be discussing in detail.

The myths around shaving:

We used to think that shaving is just for men and it is the reason why men get thicker beard, which is not true. There are other aspects why men have beard and women don’t and it has nothing to do with shaving. The common myths that we always hear are-

  • Does shaving make your hair grow thicker? Absolutely not! This is just a myth. When we look at our hair structure, we can see that the hair has less thickness on the top as compared to the root. Shaving creates a blunt cut to the hair. So, when the hair grows back it feels coarser on the surface but the thickness does not change. In some cases, women grow beard as a result of hormonal imbalance or hereditary reasons. It has nothing to do with shaving.
  • Does shaving make your hair grow faster? This is also not true. Shaving does not affect your hair growth cycle.

How to do face shaving?

The steps to follow while shaving:

  • Wash your face properly with soap or face wash. You should not have dirt on your face while shaving. Use a good cleanser which cleans your skin thoroughly. Since shaving itself is a form of exfoliation, avoid using any exfoliating cleanser, it will increase the risk of over-exfoliation.
  • Use shaving cream to soften your hair. It will be easier to shave if you are using shaving cream. Not just men, but women also can use shaving cream.
  • If you are not using any shaving cream, do it on a clean dry face. Doing this on dry skin also makes sure that the blades don’t go rusty when you shave.
  • Use a clean face razor. Don’t use a body razor. Always use a face razor for shaving. The razor loses sharpness after 2-3 times. Do not use a dull razor, change the razor after using 2-3 times.
  • Tilt your razor at 45-degree angle and you can hold your face tight with your hands. Then, slightly move your razor in the direction of hair growth.
  • Take your time. Make short strokes with your razor.
  • Clean your blades after every use.

Aftercare

  • Since shaving is a form of exfoliation, avoid using any products which has alpha hydroxy acids(aha), beta hydroxy acids(bha) or any other exfoliating ingredients.
  • Do not use any physical form of exfoliation like scrubbing.
  • You can use a hydrating serum and moisturizer immediately after shaving to restore the moisture to your skin.
  • You can also use a soothing or hydrating mask.

Advantages

  • Smooth skin- since it strips off the dead skin cells from our skin, the skin feels smoother and softer.
  • When you are travelling and don’t have time to go to a salon, you can always carry your face razors with you.
  • Waxing strips the skin too much. It is better to avoid waxing your face. Shaving is the better option.
  • Skincare product penetration– it helps skincare products to penetrate more into the skin.
  • Makeup application- makeup sits on skin perfectly on smooth surface.
  • Clear looking skin- skin looks brighter,clearer.
  • You don’t have to wait for salon appointments. You can do it by yourself at home.

Disadvantages

  • It causes irritation. Now that you stripped your moisture barrier a little. Your skin is now vulnerable to dryness. You can lessen the dryness using a hydrating moisturizer.
  • Ingrown hairs are the most common problem of shaving. The small red bumps that you see on your face it may not be acne. It can be ingrown hair which causes irritation. Over the counter razors lose sharpness very easily. So, avoid dull razors. You can also try exfoliation to reduce the red bumps (not immediately, maybe start exfoliating after 2-3 days). If it still does not help, get a diagnosis.
  • Acne-prone skin types should do it very carefully. Avoid areas where you already have acne, otherwise it can lead to having more acne on your face. Read my blog on fungal acne: https://demystiifyingbeauty.com/how-to-treat-fungal-acne/
  • Very sensitive skin types should also avoid shaving. It increases irritation, redness on their skin.