Shaving Part 5

This post has all the Do's and Don'ts about shaving along with some tips I picked up! Here we go!

Do's :

1. Stretch & shave the underarm skin & behind your knees -  they supple & flexible to allow movement at these jointed areas, which can make it harder to shave as the skin moves with the razor. To keep these areas as taut as possible for a cleaner shave, stretch your arm up & reach your hand behind the shoulder, and pull your leg straight.

2. Leave fiddly bits until last - Ankles, back of knees & things are best dealt with as you get into the flow of a shave & are more in control of the razor.

3. Store your razor correctly - Wash your razor well after every use and store it in an upright postition & somewhere dry. DO NOT leave it on the bath side or your shower area, in pools of water as this is a breeding ground for bacteria.

Don'ts :

1. Do not soak in the bath for too long before shaving - The skin will over-hydrate and swell slightly as it begins to absorb water. This will compromise the smoothness of the shave. The optimum time for a pre-shave soak is approximately 1-2 mins.

2. Do not apply too much pressure on your razor - A precision made razor like that of  Gillette Venus is designed to glide with minimum effort over the skin's surface. Forcing the razor can end up leaving yoru skin with nicks.

3. Do not worry about direction - Modern razors are effective & you can shave in any direction that feels comfortable to you. You choose if you want to go with the hair growth or against it. However, hair in the underarm area grows in random directions so for a truly clean shaven feeling you need to work in a variety of directions also.

4. Do not rub your razor to try to clean it with brushes or towel. Simple rinsing should do the job - You could blunt the blade & damage the coatings.


Tips : 

1. Use a proper shaving gel. Trust me it makes a HUGE diffrence. Alternatively, you can use a good quality shower gel which is not harsh or too fragranced. I like the L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil!
2. Moisturize well after shaving. Extra care never hurts! My personal choice is Aloe Vera Gel.
3. Change your razor after as soon as it gets blunt and you feel that you have to make an effort to shave the hair. A sharp razor gives a smoother shave.
4. A razor with a flexible head, makes reaching those difficult areas (knees, ankles) so much easier without cutting yourself.
5. Scrubbing before and even in between the shaving sessions helps in removing and keeping those ingrown hairs at bay. But don't get too harsh with the scrubbing. Do it gently.

I have suffered from those harsh hair removal creams, ending up with skin darkening over a period of time. Waxing, well don't even get me started about it. It is messy again, plus you need a full growth before going in for the next round. Epilation is great (I am a fan personally), but I won't lie... it does take time and takes a bit to get used to the feeling.
Shaving on the other hand, does the job s quickly, you can do it whenever you want to which means you can always be fuzz free and has no harsh chemicals involved.

If you are finally convinced to try shaving or if you still have some doubts, do ask me in the comments below and I would love to help you out! :)