HOW TO AVOID BUMPS AFTER SHAVE

Shaving makes an inseparable part of personal grooming in the regular routine of both men and women. While both, men and women, can suffer from bumps after shaving, the reasons often are a bit different. Taking a look at the common ways to prevent bumps after shaving is certainly the best way to save you from the discomfort, as the right knowledge will make it possible to prevent the bumps from appearing.

There are 4 areas bumps appear after shaving and they are:

• Face: People with oily skin are more likely to develop bumps on  the face after shaving.
• Armpits/Underarms
• Legs
• Groin area/private parts

WAYS TO PREVENT BUMPS AFTER SHAVE:
1. Wash the required area with warm water: This will soften the hair and remove any grime or bacteria that clogs pores and leads to bumps. Avoid shaving on a dry skin. You may want to add little soap. Wait till the end of your shower for a better shave when your skin is most hydrated, the hair is softest then so it will respond best to the razor.

2. Using a double blade razor: Always use a clean, sharp razor with double blades (prefarably). As single blade on your razor means more passes to remove hair causing you to repeatedly scrap across your skin and increasing the odds of irritation; multiple blades can pass over your skin several times. The first blade that passes pulls the hair up, the second and third blades cut through the hair which can end up cutting the hair beneath the skin (this may give you a clean-shaven look) causing ingrown hair which leads to bumps.
Dry your blades after use to prevent rust and increase its longetivity.

Note: You should try to replace your razor as often as possible. Rinse with warm water after every shave to avoid hair and prIf razor burn is a problem for you, even after you’ve taken prevention steps and tried home remedies, contact your doctoroduct build up.

3. Use of a Shaving Gel/Cream: When you use a sharp blade in combination with shaving gel, you can catch all the hair with just one pass, lessening the likelihood of both razor bumps and ingrown hairs. I would suggest the use of aloe vera which can heal a whole host of issues including razor burn.

For the men, use a shaving cream that has a high concentration of lubricants and moisturizers. Leave the shaving cream on your face for at least a minute before you begin cutting, so that the beard is as soft and wet as possible. Apply the shaving cream using a shaving brush in a circular motion ending in an upward stroke to help lift the beard up and away from the face. Rinse off the shaving cream with cold water to close back the pores. You  can also press a cold, wet cloth against your face for five minutes and also keep your shaving brush clean (wash and leave to drain) as it also helps to spread bacteria if dirty. I recommend Forever Living Product - Aloe Shave.

4. Shaving the right way: In order to prevent razor burn, you're going to have to suppress your instincts and shave with the grain (the direction your hair grows). Even though shaving against the grain (opposite the direction of your hair grows) will help you achieve the closest shave, it causes irritation.

A. Face: Most men don't know how to shave. Learning to shave in the right direction depending on your beard growth will prevent bumps after shave.

B. Armpits/Underarms: To avoid a shaving rash from flaring up, it's important to move your razor in the right direction. Underarm hair doesn't grow in a single direction so you need to move the razor in multiple directions to get the smoothest shave. Start by working the razor in a downward motion over the underarm. Next, move the razor from one side of the underarm to the other.

C. Legs: On your first pass, only shave in the direction your hair grows ( down the leg), and if you have very sensitive skin, don't shave upward at all. While going against the grain ( up the leg) may get you a closer shave, it also increases the possibility of irritation, nicks and cuts.

D. Groin Area/Private Parts: Shaving can help to keep the pubic area smooth, but never shave in the opposite direction of the hair growth especially when it comes to your private part which is delicate or you will end up having coarser hair and more ingrown hair (when the hairs regrow by curling back into the skin) which leads to bumps and irritation. Ingrown hair is more common to people that have curly or coarse hair.
Stretch the area taut and shave away.

Note: To figure out your grain: The easiest time to find the grain is when you have a couple of days of growth. Using a finger, start with stroking your strands in that area in one direction and then, the opposite direction. The side that feels rougher is 'against the grain' and the other one, 'with the grain'.

Take the time to map your hair growth directions because each individual has their own unique pattern of hair growth although there are a few similarities that apply to most people.

5. Avoid Shaving Too Efficiently: The temptation to shave and shave over an area is sometimes overwhelming as with shaving against the grain seems more efficient. If the hairs are much, trim first with a scissor. Try to keep the strokes to a minimum, which should be easy to accomplish if your razor is sharp. Also avoid pressing the razor too hard into your skin.

6. Apply an Aftershave Product: They're literally made to minimize razor burn. I recommend Aloe Ever-Shield (made without the harmful antiperspirant aluminum salts found in many other deodorants) and Gentleman's pride (This gives a cooling sensation, thanks to the power of Stabilized Aloe Vera gel) for the beard region.

PERSONAL CARE PRODUCTS FOR AFTER SHAVE.

1. Aloe Shave: A luxurious foaming gel turns the ordinary, daily chore of shaving into a pampering experience. Multiple moistirizers leave your skin feeling smooth, moisturized and refreshed. Disodium cocoamphodiacetate, derived from the fatty acids of coconut oil help this product foam and condition your skin while our invigorating Aloe leaves your skin feeling cool and revitalized.

2. Aloe Ever-Shield: Made without the harmful antiperspirant aluminum salts found in many other deodorants, this underarm protection glides on smoothly. Thanks to the high Aloe content, this gentle deodorant can be applied directly after shaving or waxing without irritation. All day protection gives you the peace of mind you need to tackle your day head on. Aloe Ever-Shield offers a clean, pleasant scent that's not overpowering.

3. Gentleman's Pride: You'll think this is just a smooth, silky lotion until you put it on and realize it has the soothing and replenishing effects of an after shave as well. This double-whammy gives a cooling sensation, thanks to the power of Stabilized Aloe Vera gel. With additional botanicals like Rosemary and Chamomile, Gentleman's Pride helps the skin feel like it's never been shaved. Perfect for a man's skin and alluring to a woman's nose with its masculine fragrance, this is a crowd pleaser.

For the personal care products, contact me.

HOW TO TREAT RAZOR BURN/BUMPS AFTER SHAVE

• Leave it to heal by itself. Give the area proper time to recover and heal before you're dragging a blade right back over it.
• Apply cold compress.
• Don't irritate the area by applying harsh products on your freshly shaved skin. To avoid the need for such products after shaving, you can shave at night. Wearing tight clothing or underwear will also irritate your skin.
• Apply aloe vera to the area.
• If your razor bumps persist for several weeks even after you've taken preventive measures and you haven't shaved again, consider booking an appointment with a doctor or dermatologist.