Smooth skin is still all the rage—the days of body hair are long gone, and for about 90 percent of all women, shaving all kinds of body parts is practically a daily routine, so shaving itself is no longer just a man’s thing. Most women regularly remove those pesky hairs under their arms, on their legs, and in their intimate areas, and even the so-called “back hair”—which has been considered a turn-off for years—is increasingly being eliminated with the help of a razor, shaving cream, and water. But what’s the right way for a woman to shave without having to deal with annoying pimples or redness afterward? We’ve taken on this hairy issue…
Wet shaving—the most common method of hair removal
Most women opt for wet shaving when it comes to hair removal. While this may sound simple and mundane, it’s often not that easy—especially if you have sensitive skin and are prone to redness or irritation after shaving. Therefore, it’s best to follow these steps:
Preparation – Cleansing the Skin
Since the razor blade always causes some irritation to the skin, it’s very important to prepare your skin for shaving. To do this, clean your skin thoroughly—preferably with a cleansing lotion or shower gel—if you plan to shave your legs, bikini area, and underarms. Since water softens the hair and removes dead skin cells, it generally makes a lot of sense to shave after or during a shower. And above all, pay attention to how smoothly the blade glides. Because if the blade catches on the skin, the risk of injury is significantly greater. When it comes to razors and razor blades, there are now a wide variety of affordable options available on the shelves of drugstores or online.
The Right Tools—the Razor, the Razor Blade
The blade’s glide is another very important factor for a proper shave. After all, if the blade catches on the skin, the risk of injury is significantly greater. When it comes to razors and razor blades, there are now many affordable options —such as so-called disposable razors—on the shelves of drugstores and online. But refillable razors are also becoming increasingly popular, especially among women. For one thing, you’ll only need to replace the blade in the future (and there are plenty of affordable options for that as well); for another, they’re of higher quality. In addition to refillable and disposable razors, straight razors and safety razors—though the latter can be rather difficult to handle—are also still in use.
Shaving Foam and the Like
Shaving foam, shaving gel, or even shaving soap allow the blade to glide smoothly over the skin. If necessary, you can also use shower gel, though the results are definitely cleaner and more precise with foam and similar products. Plus, these shaving aids are easy to use: just shake the can, press the button, and apply! If you know you have allergies, it’s a good idea to check the ingredients—not every woman can tolerate every type of shaving foam.
Shaving
Once the foam, gel, or soap is evenly distributed, you’re ready to go: the lubricating film now on your skin makes it easier for the blade to glide smoothly over your skin. Be sure to keep the blade clean by rinsing off any hairs that may be stuck to it under running water. Also, handle a fresh blade with care, as careless handling can easily lead to injuries.
Aftercare for the Skin
After a successful shave, it’s very important to properly care for your skin so that it can soothe itself. You should avoid alcohol-based products altogether, as they would only put additional strain on your skin. Nourishing creams and lotions are the best choice, especially when shaving your legs and the bikini area. It doesn’t hurt to experiment a little to see which of the many products your skin tolerates best.
If you find the constant need to shave too tedious, there are now plenty of other options for achieving smooth skin. There are also electric razors, though the results are nowhere near as precise as those from wet shaving.
