Tips for Shaving Sensitive Skin

One minute it’s all snuggled up under a blanket of lovely smooth hair…The next minute it’s had that blanket ripped off and it’s left all cold and lonely. It’s little wonder that your skin can have a nasty reaction to shaving: you’d probably react badly if you were treated like that!

But don’t worry, we’re looking out for your poor skin, making sure it’s not quite as much of a shock when it meets your razor. Our range of men’s razors and women’s razors give you an ultra-smooth shave, protecting your skin as much as possible. And since we’ve been in the game for nearly 250 years, we’ve learnt a thing or two about how to shave. So we’ve put our heads together and come up with some dos and don’ts for dealing with sensitive skin.

If you suffer from sensitive skin, you know just how bad it can be. Redness, dry skin, soreness, itching, bleeding, even acne – a simple shave can cause all this. Of course, if you’re shaving a particularly sensitive area, the results can be especially painful.

But there are some easy changes you can make to your shaving routine. Have a little read of our tips here – your skin will be glad you did.

DO: Use sharp blades

Don’t make your razor work harder than it has to. Repeated use and exposure to water will cause any blade to become dull and uneven, giving it rugged teeth rather than a smooth, sharp edge. These teeth will nick and cut your skin.

Dodge this painful scenario by making sure you have new razor blades on hand, ready to replace ones that have started to look worse for wear.

DO: Shave with the grain

Shaving with the grain simply means shaving in the direction that your hair grows in. If you’re shaving your face, this means shaving downwards on your face and upwards on your neck.

It’s gentler on your skin and here’s a bonus…it also helps to prevent ingrown hairs because it doesn’t twist the hairs around so much.

DO: Prep your skin

No matter where you’re aiming that razor, your skin will appreciate a wash beforehand. Why? Well water – whether it’s a shower or just a hot towel – will soften up the hairs and open up your pores.

After taking your skin for a splash, treat it to a good shaving cream or soap. Then the blade will have a smoother journey across your skin and an easier time cutting those unwanted hairs down to size.

DON’T: Let your razor get clogged up

Your razor will be much more effective if you rinse it every few strokes. Get rid of any hair, shaving cream or oily residue stuck in the blades by giving your razor a good blast under the tap.

Then, rather than struggling and tugging on your skin, it can glide freely through it, gently lifting hair away.

DON’T: Forget the aftercare

Soothe your skin after you shave. Firstly, rinse it with warm water, dab the area dry with a towel and apply some creamy, alcohol-free moisturiser.

Another thing you can do to combat sensitive skin problems is very simple: drink plenty of water. It’s all part of making sure your skin stays hydrated.

DON’T: Shave so often

Now we’re not suggesting you go into full werewolf mode, but laying off the razor for a couple of days, even every once in a while, can do wonders for your skin.

You might not be used to sporting the designer stubble look, but surely it’s better than the blotchy, angry skin look? And once your skin has had a little break, the next time you pick up the razor, you can be confident of a smoother, more comfortable shave – with better results.