How To Shave & Get Rid Of Shaving Rash

You would be surprised how many people shave poorly, a lot of them not realising, and others switching to electric because they are convinced that “their skin is too sensitive”. So, how do you avoid shaving rash?

First thing to do is to make sure you aren’t skipping any steps:

1. Warm up and clean your skin. Either take a shower or wash your face with warm water and maybe a little soap. The warm water softens the hairs and rinses away oil and dirt.
2. While your skin is still slightly damp, apply cream/soap. Make sure you go against the grain, this will help lift the hairs so you can get a closer shave.
3. Shave, with the grain! Going against the grain with a razor can cause irritation and irritation leads to shaving rash.
4. Make sure you are using a good shaving tool, but don’t fall for gimmicks such as a vibrating head.
5. Rinse your face with warm water until all the cream is gone.
6. Finish with a splash of cold water if you like it, it feels refreshing and calms the skin. You may now apply some aftershave if you wish.

Even if you follow all the above steps you could still get shaving rash, so take a look at these extra measures for avoiding shaving rash.

• A good shaving cream is important, but if your razor ploughs it all out of the way before it gets to the blades, it won’t make a bit of difference! That’s why our razor has a roller on the leading edge, so it rolls over the cream rather than ploughing through it, letting the cream get to the blades.
• Your blades might be too close together. Not only can this cause them to clog (and irritate your skin) it can also mean that several blades are tugging at once on the same hair rather than each taking their turn. This excess tugging irritates your skin and can result in shaving rash. Rinse the blades often so hair and cream don’t build up between them.
• Consider using a shaving brush to apply the soap. It’s a great treat, but it also helps lift the hairs before you shave.
• Don’t skip the prep. Shaving dry, cold stubble is a big cause of shaving rash (after dull blades).
• Don’t rest your razor blades facing down. It’ll trap water around them, causing them to rust and dull; a dull blade will pull more than cut, causing irritation (again, irritation causes shaving rash).
• Don’t wipe your face with a towel, dab it. Even if you did everything just right, your skin is going to be a little sensitive right after a shave, so go easy on it.

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A final note on shaving rash

Dull blades are your worst enemy in the fight against shaving rash. You need to change your blades regularly, as soon as a cartridge starts to tug rather than glide (here’s how often you should change your razor). With the inflated prices the big brands charge, regularly changing your blades can get expensive (and a bit of a hassle to keep stocked up). That’s why we started the Bearded Colonel. Five-blade razors at a fair price, delivered straight through your letterbox on whatever interval suits you. Take a look at our razor subscription.

If you follow all this advice I think you’ll find that your skin will feel more resilient and you will get a better shave! If you decide to pick a style for your facial hair, take a look at these hairstyles to find something that will match.