The Men's Room

Is your skin really sensitive?

Man with toothache holding his face in painMany of my clients tell me (before I shave them) that they have sensitive skin. The first thing I ask is if their skin reacts to certain products that are applied to their skin. If their answer is yes, then I keep this in mind with the products I use during the shave. But, 9 times out of 10, they answer is no, and the irritation occurs after they shave themselves. So perhaps they – and you – don’t actually have sensitive skin? Maybe you just aren’t shaving correctly.

 

Here are a few reasons…

 

(1)  Prep: Most men go straight into shaving without making sure that their face is clean and properly moistened. Lack of moisture is a main cause of post-shaving irritation.

 

Solution – Clean you face with warm water and your face wash of choice. Then apply your pre-shave oil (if you’re a fan) and shave cream or gel (I prefer, shave creams).

 

(2)  Shave: Shave with the grain. If it is not close enough, re-lather (keeping the face moist) then shave across the grain. If you are someone that gets irritation form shaving then going against the grain should be your last resort. .

 

(3)  Refresh: This is an extremely important step. Why? Because you’ve just finished removing a thin layer of skin off of your face with a razor! Invest is a good post-shave product, one that will heal and moisturize your skin, so it can be ready tomorrow for another shave.

 

I know what you must be thinking… this sounds like a lot and you don’t have time. I hear this a lot from my clients as well.  However, it should not take any more than 10 minutes out of your morning.  Besides, if you enjoy a smooth shave without irritation.  Instead of a shave that feels like you used a dull kitchen knife, then 10 minutes out of your day can’t be that bad…right?

**See My: How to Shave Video here

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4 Comments

  1. John @ Manliness Kit March 24, 2015 at 8:33 am

    That’s a great post. Having a sensitive skin myself, preparation for shaving is the most crucial step if you want to avoid skin irritation. Shaving oil can really s(h)ave the day.

  2. Justin Hong April 1, 2015 at 7:23 am

    Thanks for this post! It seems like going through this process would be helpful in reducing irritation and is simple enough to do.

    As a follow-up: how much do you think the actual razor itself impacts the shave and/or the irritation from a shave?

    • Craig the Barber April 1, 2015 at 9:41 am

      Thanks for reading Justin and for the comment! As for your question, razors can definitely impact the irritation level of a shaver. So being familiar with the sharpness of certain brands would be very helpful. However, with these above steps shaving irritation can be reduced or avoided with the sharpest of razors!

      • Justin Hong April 8, 2015 at 7:23 am

        Great – thanks, Craig! Appreciate the advice.

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