The popularity of safety razors or wet shavings grew since it provides a closer shave than other shaving alternatives. Besides, as its name suggests, it’s safer than most shaving tools.
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However, this old-school shaving technique can be challenging when hoping to get the perfect shave. Luckily, it can be achieved with patience, practice, and help, as bespokeunit explains. If you’re a first-timer, it’s normal to make mistakes using a safety razor to shave. But you can avoid it with sufficient information.
To help your switch to safety razors become a success, discussed below are all the common mistakes to avoid while using them and why you should prevent them:
Failing to prep your skin and hair follicles
To get a clean and quality shave, you must prep both your skin and hair follicles. Failure to prep your skin and follicles might increase the chances of getting ingrown hairs and experiencing skin irritation.
Prepping your skin will help soften the hair follicles and hydrate and clean the face. You may need to figure out the exact pre-shave routine that compliments your skin and softens the hair making it easier to shave.
You don’t need a detailed routine if it’s your first time shaving using a safety razor. Listed below is an easy practice you can follow whenever you want to shave and boost your grooming routine:
- First, wash your face using warm water without any soap for a minimum of thirty seconds.
- Next, use warm water and a gentle soap that won’t dry or irritate your skin. The point of prepping your skin is not stripping away your natural oils.
- Avoid scrubbing your face vigorously as it might irritate your skin.
- Afterward, use a thin layer of pre-shave oil that offers an extra layer of protection on your skin.
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Failure to use high-quality shaving oil or soap
The most important thing to consider when using a safety razor is reducing the risk of skin irritation, razor bumps, and ingrown hairs. So, one way to achieve a smooth shave is by using a quality shaving oil or soap that prevents your safety razor from removing a thin layer of the skin when shaving.
Be cautious when buying oils or soap by staying away from those with damaging and drying ingredients. For instance, avoid aerosol shaving creams as they may be cheap but leaves you with a terrible outcome.
Keep in mind that not all quality soaps and oils are made equally. As a result, try out different products and settle for one that works best for your skin. Always check the ingredients and try the product on a small area of your skin before committing to it.
Having an incompatible razor and blade combinations
One common mistake with people transitioning to safety razors is failure to combine the razor and blades well. It is an honest mistake for most beginners as they don’t have that much experience or products needed to start.
Safety razors range from those with blades that are mild to those that are extremely sharp. And with everyone having different hair textures, you’ll need to find the right combination with a certain balance.
Consider combining mild razors with shaper blades or mild blades with aggressive razors. After experimenting, you can change into the combination that works for you. Take time and read reviews on which blades work for which hair type.
Shaving with wrong angle over the same spot
The ideal shaving angle is about thirty degrees for most safety razors. This angle allows the razor to glide over the face without any resistance. If used below that angle, you might end up scraping your face and experience irritation. And if you use a higher angle, you might not cut the hair efficiently.
In addition to maintaining the right angle, you must avoid shaving the same spot more than twice. Although shaving once is sufficient, you can still review the areas you missed afterward.
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels
Applying a lot of pressure when using a dull razor blade
Safety razors are very sharp and don’t require a lot of pressure when using them. This mistake is rampant as most people transitioning are used to shaving in a particular way. However, there is no need to press down as even the lightest pressure can give you a clean shave.
Bottom line
Safety razors have grown in popularity, and more people are choosing to transition to them. However, most beginners are prone to mistakes that can undermine their outcomes. So, ensure your blade isn’t too dull and try to shave slowly to end up with a smooth shave. And after shaving, avoid using excess products with high alcohol content as they’ll irritate your skin. Lastly, avoid the above mistakes to help you have a successful, clean shave.
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