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If you are hitting puberty years, you might realize that your facial hair is beginning to set in. You will also begin seeing some hair growing in other places that you never saw hair before, like around your groin, under your armpits, on your chest, and your belly. The new growth of hair is a result of hormones known as androgens, which come on-stream at puberty.
When you realize all these changes, it’s probably time to think of shaving. Keeping a few strands of hair on your face is rarely a good look. Shaving using a razor is the most popular way of getting rid of facial hair in our society. If you are getting ready to shave for the first time, read through these shaving tips and steps to make the most out of your first evolutionary leap.
How to Shave for the First Time
The best time to shave is important, especially for a safe shaving routine. You might shave at any time of the day, but one of the most important things is that shaving immediately after getting out of shower adds some additional benefits. To begin with, after a shower, your facial skin remains incredibly soft, and you won’t feel any hard touches of your razor. The other crucial thing about the ideal time to shave is that the perfect time is at night because after that, you do not go out of your house, and as a result, germ and shoot cannot attack your soft and unprotected skin. Here are some additional tips to help you when you are shaving for the first time.
Select your razors
Before you shave for the first time, you should know which type of razors you will adopt or the types that will fit you. Generally, there are four different types of razors, and each one of them has its advantages and drawbacks. We will discuss every type of razor to help you choose the type that will suit you best.
Types of razors
- Straight razor
- Disposable razor
- Classical safety razor
- Electric razor
Straight razors
Although a straight razor is the oldest way of shaving hair, it has still retained its appeal.
Benefits
- It’s the sharpest razor
- It weighs more than the other types
- It’s elegant
- It offers the smoothest shave when used well
Drawbacks
- It’s old fashioned
- It’s expensive
- You can easily cut yourself when using this razor
- It’s not beginner-friendly
Classical safety razors
Two-edged razors, also known as the classical safety razors, have been among the first options for the shaving community for quite a long time. The classical safety razor had a monopoly business before the arrival of all the disposable razors. However, this type of razor is not very safe if you are just a beginner in shaving.
Benefits
- It gives a better shave
- It’s safer than straight razors
- It gives you more control
- It is cost-effective
Drawbacks
- It’s not beginner-friendly
- It’s a bit heavy
- It’s not easy to maintain, once you destroy one part, you will have to buy another one
Disposable razors
Disposable razors are the latest types of shaving razors, and it is incredibly popular among the beginner shavers. Most teenagers and youth prefer using this type of shaving razor. This disposable razor currently comes with multi-blades, and it ensures the closest shaving ever.
Benefits
- It is affordable
- It is disposable hence environment-friendly
- It’s harass free
- It’s more durable,
- It’s light and handy
- It’s the safest method to shave
- It’s ideal for the beginner shavers
These razors are the most current inventions in the industry of razor blades. Although it was not common at first, it is currently getting the respect of the most popular and effective razor.
Benefits
- It provides convenient shaving
- You need less preparation before shaving
- It allows for dry shaving
Drawbacks
- It’s expensive
- It does not clean your skin properly
- In cases of low-grade razors, you might experience electric shock
- It can cause skin irritation.
Prepare your skin for shaving
There are some specific preparations you should make before shaving your face to ensure ultimate safety. These preparations will not only save your facial skin from any injuries when shaving, but they will also prevent any bacterial attacks on your skin after the shaving routine. Here are the step by step preparations you will have to undergo before you can start shaving.
Wash the entire area you intend to shave
Before shaving, you need time to wash your face or the entire area you want to shave with some warm water. Cleaning your skin will soften your follicles to give you a smoother shaving. It also assists in removing bacteria, which might cause infections on your skin. Also note that shaving after a shower will give your skin time to absorb water, which allows for a closer and smooth shave.
Choose a suitable shaving cream
Choosing a shaving gel is another crucial factor for a safe shaving routine, particularly for beginners. You should look for a specific type of shaving gel or cream, which will comfortably suit your skin type. If you don’t shave on the shaving gel, you might experience different issues in your skin. Such problems might include allergy and irritation. The less the resistance the edges have while shaving, the longer your razors will last.
Apply shaving cream
Shaving your skin directly with a blade is not healthy for your skin; the razor should never come into contact with your skin. You should apply shaving cream on the entire face, and if the cream is not available, you can use conditioner or soap. To do this, apply some shaving cream or conditioner on your skin and then make some foam using a shaving brush.
Spread the foam in every part of the skin you want to shave. Use the shaving brush in a round motion to get the best results. If you do not have shaving cream or gel, you can spread the foam on your facial skin using your fingers. Application of shaving cream has many benefits, including:
- It moisturizes the skin,
- It softens the skin pretty easily
- It softens the beard,
- It offers a refreshing scent to keep you fresh for some time
Start shaving
Keep the shaving foam for two to four minutes to give your skin and foam to be adjusted. Otherwise, you’ll get injured if your beard and skin are not in great condition. Once you get the results of staying two and four minutes soon, you can then start shaving. Here are some of the rules you should observe when moving the shaving razors on your face.
You should hold the razor in a perfect direction
How you hold your razor is one of the crucial tasks in this phase. If you fail to hold the razor perfectly, you might get some serious injuries in your facial skin. To avoid such situations, you should hold the razor very softly.
Move the razors in a perfect direction
Moving the razor at a suitable angle is another commonly practiced thing when it comes to safe shaving. Hold the razor and then drag it on the skin in the appropriate direction. Avoid pressurizing the razor in your skin.
If you have got any wrinkles, you should avoid dragging the razors in these areas of your face. You can try to drag the shaving razor from the four sides of the face. That will result in a clean and clear shave because hair might grow from any of the four directions. However, in such a case, you should shave in the direction from where the hair grows.
Avoid pressurizing your razor
Sometimes you might think that you should pressurize the shaving razor to remove hair from specific places of your skin. Regardless of the condition, you should not do that because it will only bring you cuts or serious facial injuries.
Dip the shaving razor periodically in some water
After dragging the razor on your skin, the hair is cleared, and it enters into the gaps of the shaving blade, and this might interfere with your shaving. To avoid such situations, dip your razor in some water from time to time.
You should pull the skin where possible
Some parts of the skin might be taut, and that can happen mainly in the curvy parts of your body. You don’t have to pull the facial skin. However, if your skin is somehow loose, it will help in forming a flat firm surface for the razor to cut across. If you are shaving your underarms, put your hands up so that the skin under your arms is tight. Using a multi-blade razor will help pull the skin tight for you right before you shave, making it easy to drag the razor smoothly on the place.
Post shaving activities
You are not yet through with your shaving routine until you come to this stage. You have a few more activities to do after clearing the hair. Besides, you need to keep the skin moisturized and soft. These activities include:
- Clean your face using warm water after shaving. If possible, apply facial scrub on the face when washing.
- Rinse your skin using cold water. That will assist you in reducing the pain of any cuts and also stop bleeding pretty fast.
- Avoid drying your skin using a towel after rinsing your skin because it will only increase the irritation in your skin.
- Utilize an antiseptic cream or some aftershave gel. By doing this, you will feel the places that have been cut, and you will be careful the next time you shave. Avoid using any lotion, irritant, deodorants, or anything else that can escalate irritation of the shaved skin.
Clean your razor
Dip your razor in warm water to remove any stuck hairs in the blade. If you want your shaving blades clean and free from any hair, dip and swirl them underwater. You can also run your blades on denim jeans for about ten to twenty times. That will help them in drying and also polishing the edges, allowing them to last longer.
Shaving is one of the most convenient and standard methods of hair removal in both men and women. As illustrated above, there are a few steps and tips to follow to have a smooth and clean shave. While shaving is a decision you have to make on your own, it all depends on your experiences and your practices.
Some people believe that trimming your hair makes it grow faster, which is just a misconception. If you don’t cut your hair more often, make sure that you clean it more often and keep it neat. You should also know which process works best for you, whether it’s clearing the hair entirely or trimming your hair.
There is no right age for you to shave, but it all depends on what you learn from others and the experience that you have as well. Some people start cutting their hair as soon as the hair starts growing, but some parents are not sure of young children using razors, especially girls. However, you can begin shaving your hair as soon as you have it. Whatever time you decide to shave your hair for the first, the tips outlined above will help get a safe and smooth shave without any cuts or unwarranted accidents.
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