The Shaving Solution: Use Nothing?
As someone who’s had sensitive skin my whole life, I’m used to dealing with blemishes. Acne used to be the main problem. That is, until I discovered vitamin B5 acne treatment and my skin took a dramatic turn for the better. However, while acne is no longer a concern, the consequences of shaving linger on. To this day I have to be careful about how I shave, as otherwise I’ll be dealing with unsightly rashes and shaving bumps along my jaw and neck.
I met someone recently who gave me an unexpected tip that worked for him: use nothing. It sounds simple, and it is. Basically, you shave with the typical multi-blade razor of your choice, but don’t use shaving cream or gel beforehand. Also, peel off the strip at the front of the razor. That leaves just your skin, warm water and cold hard steel.
I’ve been trying this for a week or so, and surprisingly, it appears to work fairly well. You should still spend some time splashing/soaking your face with warm water to soften up those bristles, and it is important to use a fresh, sharp razor so as to avoid snagging. Note that you may not get as close a shave this way, but honestly, that’s part of the strategy. With modern shaving technology, you can sometimes get a shave that’s simply *too* close for people with sensitive skin. Hairs can get clipped beneath the skin level and the top layer of skin can get stripped away, leading to those hairs getting stuck when the skin regrows and blocks the budding hairs from poking through (hence razor bumps).
I expected to get a bunch of rashes from this, as shaving cream weakens the fibers of your hair and helps prevent pulling when you shave those hairs off, but so far so good. Ingrown hairs can often be feeding grounds for bacteria and actually turn into acne blemishes as oil builds up and pressurizes in those clogged pores, so avoiding them is always important. If you have a hard time shaving and have tried everything else, it may be worth it to try nothing at all.
