Skin discomfort when shaving can easily occur, especially if the skin on your face is sensitive. But help is available. We’ve put together a number of different tips that can help you reduce your skin problems on your face and neck when wet shaving.
Don't cheat with the underwork!
When most people think of shaving, they probably think of shaving beard hairs from their face with a razor, razor, razor or shaver. But we would argue that shaving is much more than that. Shaving is part of a facial care routine to do daily or as needed. Facial care, you say, it sounds hard and difficult. Not at all, we say.
Use a face cream, preferably twice a day, morning and evening instead of hand soap or shower gel. Then you have come a very long way in reducing the risk of skin problems. Unlike soap, a face cream does not dry out the face in the same way. A dehydrated face can lead to skin problems such as cracks and the like. In the morning, you can do it while showering. It only takes a minute or so extra if even that. In the evening, you can do it before going to bed. Going to bed with a clean face is also nice and can make you sleep better. Want to go one step further? Use a scrub once or twice a week. It works properly deeply, cleanses pores and moisturizes the skin.
Do you have a beard? Do you want to reduce the risk of skin problems? Then you should use a beard shampoo. A beard shampoo is specially formulated for the beard hairs and the skin underneath them. It moisturizes and strengthens the beard. You can use it daily or as needed while showering. Together with the face cream, it is maybe an extra minute or two. Not much time at all. The result is a more prosperous, more beautiful and lovely beard.
In summary, face cream for the face once or twice a day, preferably a scrub once a week, beard shampoo if needed up to every day. It is no more difficult with the underwork for good facial care when shaving. All to reduce the risk of skin problems.
When you are done with the underwork, it is time for the next step to avoid skin problems when wet shaving and beard care. The preparatory work to get a good start.
Get off to a good start and reduce skin problems
Whether it’s wet shaving or beard care, a good start is just as important a part as anything else in getting a good result. A good result that leads to less skin problems. How to do it?
The first step is to start with a good underwork and have a clean face and beard when you start. Of course, this applies regardless of whether you are going to devote yourself to wet shaving or beard care. The easiest is to shave or devote yourself to beard care in connection with a hot shower. It opens up the pores on the face and makes it easier to wash your face properly.
You can also use a warm towel, like at the barber’s. The purpose is the same, soften the face and open up the pores.
When it comes to wet shaving, we recommend using a pre-shave of some kind. Pre-shave is available both with and without fragrance. A pre-shave has two functions. Partly to moisturize the face before wet shaving and partly to protect the skin from the sharp razor blade or knife. Water rinses away important fats and oils in the skin. Therefore, it can be a good idea to re-add these to reduce the risk of skin problems. Which pre-shave you choose is up to you.
A good start to good beard care means a clean and dry beard. This makes it easier for the products you can apply to work. Feel free to start with a brush brushing through the beard. You can do this regardless of whether you only have stubble to a long full beard. If you have a longer beard, you can use a comb as well. The purpose is to remove dust, dirt and other things that are still stuck in the beard and can damage it.
Treat yourself to a luxurious wet shave like at the barber at home
In conclusion, make sure to have a clean and dry beard. When wet shaving, it is good to use a pre-shave of some kind to moisturize and protect the skin. By combing and/or brushing your beard, you can remove dirt and dust.
Choose the right tools for your work
A safety razor with a closed comb together with a double razor blade that suits you and your needs is, we would say, the tool that will suit most people when it comes to wet shaving. Best beard care tool? Beard oil and a beard brush. With these tools, you are properly equipped to reduce the risk of skin problems.
So why choose a safety razor with a closed comb? Unlike a multi-blade razor, the safety razor cuts off the beard stalk once. Something that reduces the risk of ingrown beard hairs and skin problems. If you also use a closed comb, the risk of skin problems is also reduced. The closed comb helps to lift up the beard hairs. Something that makes it easier for the razor blade to shave them off without getting too close to the skin.
Read more about why you should choose a safety razor
A shaving brush is as natural a part as a safety razor or razor when it comes to classic wet shaving. Additionally, the shaving brush can help reduce the risk of skin problems. The bristles of the shaving brush lift up the beard hairs, making it easier for the razor’s blade or the razor’s edge to access them. In addition, the brush cleans up pores and other things where dirt and dust particles easily accumulate.
Read more about why you should use a shaving brush
Choosing the right double razor blade can be very difficult. However, if you need to shave more than three times to shave clean, you’re probably using a blade that’s too soft. Something that can lead to skin problems and irritation when shaving. If you use a razor blade that gives you cuts almost just by looking at it, you are using a razor blade that is too sharp. Also remember to change razor blades at regular intervals. About once a week is a good rule of thumb. If you use a razor blade for too long, the edge can become dull, which means that the shave is impaired. Something that can lead to further discomfort and irritation.
Feel free to read more in our razor guide
Another important part when it comes to wet shaving is to never shave without shaving soap, shaving cream or shaving gel. The purpose of soap, cream, or gel is to create a protective layer that increases friction between the skin and the razor blade or razor. In addition, it has a certain moisturizing effect both during and after wet shaving. Which product to choose is up to you.
Shaving cream or shaving soap, what should you choose?
Beard oil is for many the most basic and really only product you need to reduce skin discomfort when caring for beards. The beard oil moisturizes both the beard and the skin. It also makes the beard stronger, gives it more luster and life. With a beard brush, it is easy to atomize the oil into the beard.
As a complement to the beard oil, you can also use a beard balm. It is especially recommended if you have a slightly longer thick beard. You can also use a beard comb, which will further help to detangle the beard and finely chop the produce.
Choose a good shaving tool that suits you and your needs. Preferably a safety razor with a closed comb and a shaving brush. Use a moderately sharp razor blade. Supplement the beard oil with a beard balm if necessary.
After the actual wet shaving, it’s time for the important after-work. Perhaps the most important step in reducing the risk of skin problems.
Exit the right way
Even after the wet shave itself, it is important to avoid skin problems in various ways. In addition, after the wet shave itself is one of the most important and perhaps easiest ways to do it as well. Therefore, it is important to finish in the right way to avoid the skin problems that can occur when wet shaving.
A common problem that can occur after wet shaving is small cuts in the skin. This is easy to do and can be counteracted and arranged quickly and easily. The most common and easiest way is to use an alum stick or alum stone. Alum is a natural material that tightens pores. This means that the wound closes in an instant. Which, of course, reduces the risk of viruses and bacteria getting into the skin and causing problems.
Another classic way to prevent the spread of bacteria and viruses in small cuts is to use an aftershave splash, or aftershave after shaving. Aftershave splash in many cases contains alcohol, which effectively kills bacteria and viruses due to the fact that it has an antiseptic or antibacterial effect. Therefore, they prevent their spread. The downside, however, is that alcohol can also have a drying effect on the skin and risk damaging it.
Witch hazel is a natural alternative to alcohol that also has a good antiseptic or antibacterial effect. But it is not as drying for the skin as alcohol can be and is therefore recommended if, for example, you have sensitive skin.
An aftershave balm has a good moisturizing effect even if the antiseptic or antibacterial effect is not as good as an aftershave splash. The advantage is that a balm is significantly gentler on the skin and has a better moisturizing effect. Recommended no matter what type of shaving tool you use. Aftershave balm is available both with and without fragrance. In many cases, you can also buy an aftershave balm in a matching scent together with a shaving soap or shaving cream at a discounted price from us.
Please read on
In our shaving guide, we go deeper into how to get a great wet shave every time, something that can help reduce the discomfort of classic wet shaving.
We also have a longer guide to skin problems
Read our guide to avoiding skin problems associated with wet shaving