Shaving, for some of us, is part of our beauty regimen. The smooth feeling after a good shave is something that we always look forward to after reaching awkward spots in our body. However, this is not without some unwanted effects. One of which is itching.

Itchiness after shaving is caused by the alteration of the growth of hair. This can be in the form ingrown hairs, micro-cuts and abrasions, and straightforward irritation of the involved skin.

Ways to Reduce Post-Shave Itchiness

Itchiness is a rather common effect of shaving. With this in mind, one would wonder how to stop itching after shaving. Here are some ways to do this:

1. Rinse and Pat Dry

Most of the itchiness brought about by shaving is caused by local irritation. As if stripping off a significant amount of cells from the skin is not enough, shaving actually creates small abrasions and cuts on the skin which may cause itchiness soon enough. For those who have wondered how to stop itching after shaving, one way to do it is to handle skin gently after shaving. Always remember to pat skin dry after washing and do away with harsh rubbing. This way, you avoid adding more insult to your already injured skin.

2. Moisturize

Your skin is very vulnerable after shaving. Running a blade over your skin repeatedly actually strips off a portion of the layer protecting your skin. Under controlled conditions, this is not much of an issue. However, if you are exposed to pollutants and irritants, further damage can ensue. This can be prevented by applying a soothing lotion on your skin and by keeping it moisturized regardless if you are in or out of your house. There are lotions and moisturizers especially made for this purpose.

3. Exfoliate

As already mentioned, itching can be caused by ingrown hairs. This can be alleviated by keeping dead skin cells from accumulating in and around the area allotted for hair growth. By doing so, the longitudinal growth of hair is undisturbed. You can use natural ingredients that can be found at home. For example, sugar combined with lemon juice to make a slightly abrasive paste can be very effective for this purpose. Just rub on the shaved area 5-7 days after shaving. Not only can you make your skin smooth and brighter, you can also keep it from itching after shaving.

4. Allow Skin to Heal

Although shaving can make your skin look good temporarily by ridding it with unwanted hairs, it can cause damage, as mentioned above. These can eventually result in scarring, pigmentation and, of course, itchiness. However, this does not have to mean that you should stop shaving altogether. You can still enjoy smooth and hairless skin with shaving as long as you allow it to heal in between sessions. A good indicator that your skin is nearing recovery is when there is sufficient length of hair present for shaving.

How to Shave Properly

More than just a beauty regimen, shaving is actually an art. One does not just place a razor on top of the skin and run over all hairs with it. Here are some ways to properly remove hair with a shave:

1. Prime Your Skin and Hair

As mentioned above, shaving is partly invasive for your skin. One way to avoid the nasty effects of shaving is to soften your skin and hair by taking a comfortably warm shower or bath. This way, the topmost layer of the skin, as well as the hairs above it, can be easily manipulated without causing too much damage in areas that are in contact with the razor.

2. Pull the Skin Taut while Shaving

For a more effective shave, it helps that individual hair strand is more or less perpendicular to the skin. This way, the razor can cut the hair near the root. Subsequently, you would not have to do repeated strokes, sparing your skin from unneeded abrasions and cuts. This can be achieved by keeping the skin taut while shaving.

3. Be Gentle

This is true regardless of which body part you are shaving. Especially if you are shaving at the more sensitive parts such as your pubic area, extra care is needed in order to achieve a safe and effective shave. You may have thought how to shave pubic area without itching at one point. Just remember to handle the skin around the hair growth with a lot of care so that you can avoid causing additional damage.

In Conclusion

Shaving is indeed a tricky thing to do, especially if you are still new to it. However, with just a few tries and always keeping the right ways to shave in mind, it is guaranteed that you will get better in time without having to worry about itchiness.