Men with sensitive skin have it rather bad. Most of us men can just apply whatever and shave away, just being careful enough to not nick ourselves. Men with sensitive skin have so much more to deal with than just making sure they avoid a nick or two.
Quite often after shaving, men with sensitive skin develop unsightly and painful razor burn. A lot of general use items strip away moisture from the skin which just makes the art of grooming that much more painful in the long run.
To reduce the possibility of incurring the wrath of irritated skin, there are some ways that you can mitigate the side effects of grooming.
“From a gentle cleaner to wash up
with, and an exfoliator to remove any
build up; taking care of your skin
shouldn’t be difficult.”
Start With a Gentle Cleanser
Your face is the foundation for every other grooming technique you will ever use. Everything depends on how clean your face is when it comes to shaving or trimming. Sensitive skin is prone to extreme measures of breakouts and rashes, which can make the simple chore of shaving a painful task. Using a gentle cleanser on your face will help to keep your skin well moisturized, which minimizes a breakout from dry skin.
Washing your face should never dry out sensitive skin. It should get your skin clean without harming it or adding anything to your skin that will later irritate it.
Apply an Exfoliator
Getting the dirt and grime out is easy with a cleanser, but to help get rid of all the dead skin cells the use of an exfoliator is recommended. There are sensitive skin approved variations that will gently remove those dead skin cells and any product build ups you may have. After your exfoliating wash, your skin should feel baby smooth and well nourished, not dry and itchy.
Don’t be fooled, an exfoliator only sounds like an abrasive; they can be quite gentle on your skin and leave it feeling refreshed.
Use a Pre-Shave Oil
When it’s time to trim or shave, using a pre-shave oil can help a lot by trapping a layer of water close to the skin before you shave. A man, even with sensitive skin, shouldn’t have to compromise between having a baby smooth face after shaving or having a severe case of razor burn. Pre-shave oil shouldn’t be confused with beard oil. A pre-shave oil is meant to keep a portion of water closer to the skin so that it is soft and more pliable, not making your hairs softer or easier to remove.
This is quite helpful when you use a razor to do your shaving. However, using a pre-shave oil can cause clogging and requires men to go a little slower and shave in smaller areas at a time. If you opt for an electric razor, making sure that it can be used as a wet shave becomes a prime concern.
Use a Proper Shaving Cream
The problem with most sensitive skin shaving creams is the amount of chemical bases in them. Finding a natural shaving cream that is specifically made for sensitive skin will help ease the discomfort of shaving. It will also reduce the amount of painful nicks and uncomfortable razor burn.
This will take a lot of experimentation, and sometimes the chemical based shaving creams aren’t so bad. It comes down to how you, your skin, and your hair reacts throughout your shaving routine.
Match Your Razor to Your Hair
The newer multi-blade razors have a higher chance of being an irritant to your skin, even with the above tips. It is suggested that you use a single blade razor for short curly facial hair, and no more than a triple bladed razor for straight hair to avoid unsightly nicks and painful razor burn. These aren’t hard fast rules, so feel free to experiment. Your skin will tell you exactly how it wants to be groomed, allowing you opportunities to try out the newest razors to see if they work for you.
Remember that using a razor against the grain is a big no-no, as that will irritate the skin. Using a razor that has an aloe vera strip with it might also be quite helpful in combating razor burn and dried out skin.
Use an Electric Razor
Alternatively, you can opt for an electric razor that can be a bit more accommodating for men with sensitive skin because the blades never actually touch the skin. When switching from a conventional razor to an electric; you have to give your skin a chance to become adjusted to the razor. There is a huge difference in how a face is shaved with a razor and when you shave with an electric razor.
When purchasing an electric razor, try to get one that supports a wet shave and that can be rinsed. Wet shaving is more comfortable than dry shaving for men with sensitive skin in most cases.
Finish it All Off With Witch Hazel
Witch Hazel offers a natural alternative to traditional aftershaves. Witch hazel has been used to help reduce all sorts of skin problems, like blemishes, soreness, and swelling. Where an alcohol based aftershave will dry up the skin and rob it of its precious moisture, witch hazel doesn’t.
It doesn’t matter if you use a razor blade or an electric razor to do your shaving, witch hazel will reduce any adverse effects of the shave.
To reduce the possibility of
incurring the wrath of irritated skin,
try these tips to mitigate the
side effects of grooming.”
Summing Up
Unfortunately, men with sensitive skin have it quite rough when it comes to grooming habits. They have to worry everything becoming an irritant. It may seem like everything is just a longer drawn out process, but your skin is worth being babied.
From a gentle cleaner to wash up with, and an exfoliator to remove any build up; taking care of your skin shouldn’t be difficult. While you can use a cleanser daily, using an exfoliator daily is more harmful than helpful; so be sparing in your exfoliating.
When it comes time to shaving, consider using a pre-shave oil before applying your shaving cream. With extra moisture trapped near the skin, it is more supple and remains hydrated longer. A sensitive shaving cream should help to protect against irritation from applying a metal blade to your skin, while making it easier to remove the hair.
When it comes to actually shaving, a wet shave is usually better to reduce irritation and you can use either a normal razor or an electric one. Care, however, must be given how you shave. Razors work best going with the grain in a downward motion while electric razors require either a circular motion or an up and down motion.
Then it’s time to finish it off with some witch hazel so that you can prevent as much skin irritation as possible.
Do you or a loved one struggle with sensitive skin?
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