Well, I wouldn’t give up on shaving so quickly.

Depilatories (i.e. Magic Shave, Nair…) can be a great hair-removal alternative for some, but I’ve consulted with men who have experienced nightmares with their use, and I’ve also tried my share of them with mixed results.

The main concerns are: (1) Can your skin handle the aggressive nature of these products, and (2) Can you wait two to three days for your face to heal before you are able to use them again?

In short, since everyone’s face has different sensitivities, I feel that it’s much easier to control a razor’s cutting ability rather than depend on the effectiveness of a chemical. The skin quality (oily vs. dry) can also play a role in the success of a depilatory. Unfortunately, finding out whether it will work with your skin could result in an increased level of skin sensitivity. My suggestion is to practice proper shaving techniques, buy a good razor and shaving cream, and give that razor another try before going down an alternate route.

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**From Craig the Barber’s expert Q+A at Men’s Life Today

So the short answer is … no, shaving daily does not cause shaving bumps. You can rest your skin as long as you’d like, but unless you change the way you shave, you’ll keep getting those bumps.

The primary cause of shaving bumps — also known as “ingrown hairs” — is hair growing back into the skin. So the frequency of shaves isn’t the root of the problem; it’s the method of shaving. Proper preparation, along with shaving with the grain, is the best way to keep the hair above the skin line. As long as you keep the hair above the skin line, the hair has more of an opportunity to continue growing outside of the skin, therefore greatly reducing the chances of getting shaving bumps.

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**From Craig the Barber’s expert Q+A at Men’s Life Today

The Cool Fix by Shaveworks

Here’s the breakdown…

1. Tackles four shaving woes – ingrown hairs, razor bumps, razor burn and redness
2. Filled with exfoliating agents that slough off dead skin, leaving the area clearer
3. Boerhavia Root Extract – helps to calm and soothe redness on contact
4. Unisex- it’s formulated not only for you, but  for her as well.  Go ahead you can share!

Moderately priced @ $25 a bottle.  Don’t worry… unless she decides to use it as body lotion, it will last you at least 6 months!

Rating: ★★★★½ 

Enter, Kyoku for Men’s Razor Repair Balm.

Packed with aloe vera, chamomile, ancient Japanese oils and the age-old after shave splash – Witch Hazel. With so many ingredients added to this tube, the reduction of redness and inflammation was evident. However, the calming sensation does not last very long. Not to mention, the ingredient witch hazel can be a difficult scent to mask, which unfortunately creates a lingering reminder that you’ve used this balm.

Bottom line… not the best follow-up to such a great shave cream!

Rating: ★★★☆☆ 

Through a series of emails from readers regarding razor burn and ingrown hair issues, I’ve quickly come to realize that many of us are relying too heavily on post shave products to prevent these problems…

Of course I am a fan of razor burn and ingrown hair treatments; however, nothing beats first knowing how to properly shave your face. Once a clearer understanding of how to shave your face has been accomplished, you will notice how much more effective these remedies can be!

So here are a few tips you can try that can help you get better results out of your favorite shaving tools, and see if you won’t be amazed as to how much more effective your razor burn and ingrown hair products will be (if you even need them at all)!

To gain the advantage, check out my Quick and Classic Shaving Tips & Tips to a better Electric Shave.

Oh, and just in case you’re currently struggling with ingrowns, here’s how to solve that problem as well! ~ Quick Question…!

Good luck!

Let me help shed some light on this.  But first, I need to establish that knowing the correct way to shave (Quick & Classic Shaving Tips),  is the #1 step to reducing ingrown hairs.

So let’s begin.

Two things you MUST stop doing!

1. Shaving against the grain
2. Following the trend of multiple blade  razors (all have lift-cut engineering)

Why? Because both practices promote a smoother shave by cutting the hair “below“ the skin line. However, the main objective in reducing ingrown hairs is to control the hair.  And, the only way to control the hair is for you to see it.

Most men that suffer with ingrown hairs have curly or wavy beards.  These beards grow at an angle out of the skin anywhere from 0 – 40 degrees (very low to the surface). So your best bet is to shave in a way that will keep the hair “above” the skin line.

I recommend…

1. Shaving with the grain
2. Less is more…blades that is.

• Try single or double blades – more control in customizing the length of the beard.
• Consider razor blades with guards that prevent the hair from getting cut too close (ex. Bump Fighter razor blade w/ Bump Guard)
• Replace often – use same razor no more than 3 times

Or…

Try electric shaving

• Foil electric shavers that allow you to shave with the grain (for ex. Braun)
• Trimmers (T-Outliners by Andis or Taler Trimmers by Oster)

There are quite a few post shave products on the market that are designed to assist in remedying this issue as well (i.e. 3-in-1 Post Shave, The Cool Fix & Bump Patrol).  However, as I stated earlier, knowing the correct way to shave is the first step.

Question: I used to get tons of nicks and bumps from shaving, but ever since I started to apply twice the amount of shaving cream, it has helped drastically. Am I doing the right thing, or will this practice eventually create another problem? - David S.

Answer:

David, this is a great question! I think it’s great that you took your time to figure out a solution to your shaving issues. As long and you follow your shave with a post-shave regimen (i.e. after-shave balm & moisturizer), the only long term affects you may suffer is a lighter wallet! But, in my opinion it’s worth it if your face look s and feels better.

The process you discovered, is actually an age-old barbering practice used for decades upon decades. It is called “over-prepping“, and it is employed when a barber is called to work on what is recognized as an unusually tough beard. The shaving cream is designed to create moisture in the beard while protecting the skin from the blade. The more moisture, the easier it will be for the beard to come off.

Just be conscientious to avoid clogging of the blade, as it usually leads to nicks, and a not-so-smooth shave. So rinse your razor frequently and enjoy your new trick.

Yeah! I said it…

Why?

Because the goal of getting a “baby’s butt” smooth shave is not the answer for everyone… Period!

As a barber, my goal is to take a look at a man’s skin and beard, and make an assessment as to how I should shave him the closest I can; comfortably and irritation free. Surprisingly, in some cases the end result may not always be “baby butt” smooth. Because, not only is the comfort of my client’s face paramount, but too close can lead to hours and even days or irritation.

You see, the reason for shaving is to remove the appearance of the beard on the face, not so that your face must feel like umm… an adolescent child’s.

So, the next time you’re shaving and the results remind you why you don’t enjoy shaving that much, consider shaving “just enough” to get the hair off while still looking and feeling good!

Have you ever noticed

Well, if you have, here’s why…

The aggressive nature of shaving, whether it’s with a razor or an electric shaver, can cause skin discoloration. The rubbing or scraping action of the blades can cause minor cuts to the skin, causing “hyperpigmentation“, which is the skin’s way of replacing color to the damaged area.

So, how do you avoid unnecessary darkening of these shaved areas?

1. Prep well –  Whether it’s a wet-shave or an electric shave, make sure you follow the necessary steps to prepare the skin for shaving. This will reduce any nicks that may result. (See: Electric Shaving con’t…(tricks for a better electric shave) or my Quick & Classic Shaving Tips).
2. Avoid shaving against the grain - This practice can not only cause irritation, but in some cases nicks to the skin, which result in the hair being pulled and snagged instead of cut.
3. Avoid rubbing alcohol or aftershave products that contain alcohol – Alcohol can dry, harden and even darken the skin. Stick with aftershave balms that do not contain the ingredient alcohol.

Well, the reason the hair is stuck in the first place, is because it was growing below the skin’s surface.  So, pulling the hair out entirely will only force the hair to start regrowing from below the surface again, causing the same issue.  So, whenever you see an ingrown hair bump forming, pull the hair out of the bump but keep it intact.  That way, it ensures that the hair will be ready for the next shave! 

Side note: Guys… this works for the ladies as well, so pass it on.  They’ll love you more for it!