Enjoying the smoothness of a barber-grade wet shave is about more than just your accuracy and patience with a traditional straight razor. In fact, the most important stage of your shave takes place once your razor is sitting back, safely in its stand. Good after-shave care is absolutely essential, especially if you want to prevent or reduce razor burn and painful ingrown hairs and bumps. Follow this post-shave routine to elevate your daily shave from a dragging disappointment to a gliding success.
Start with an antiseptic:
Once you’ve finished slicing through your stubble, it’s important to wash your face with clean warm water to remove any excess cream and hair. Next, apply an antiseptic to wipe away any bad bacteria that is still clinging to your skin. This will help to reduce the chances of infection, irritation, spotty outbreaks and even ingrown hairs.
The most common antiseptics used today are alcohol-based after-shave balms and tonics. While alcohol is a great antiseptic it also dries out the skin, which is something you want to avoid after shaving. alcohol-based after-shave products can also cause some irritation to those with sensitive skin. If you’d prefer to use an antiseptic that doesn’t dry out your skin, try using an old school alum block.
Made from alum; a naturally occurring double sulphate salt, an alum block is second-to-none when it comes to cleansing your pores and maintaining vital hydration. They’re also fantastic for sealing off the tiny nicks and cuts that naturally occur during shaving – no more bloody blotches of tissue for you! To use an alum block, simply run it under cold water before gliding it over your face.
Also read: Buyer’s Guide: Grooming Must-Haves for Winter
Follow with post-shave balm and moisturiser
Once you’ve finished going over your work with your alum block, give your face and neck a good splash with cold water and pat it dry (don’t rub the skin) with a soft towel. You should always finish a shave by applying a good post-shave balm, like Bluebeards Revenge Post-Shave Balm to help soothe any razor rash. Look for products that contain ingredients like witch hazel, aloe vera, chamomile and similar sorts that help to cleanse and soothe the skin.
With your favourite balm in hand, apply it evenly in small circular motions to help penetrate your pores. Be sure not to wipe the skin dry with a towel afterwards as well. Instead, let the balm soak into your skin naturally.
The most important thing to remember when caring for your skin post-shave is that it’s an on-going process. Loads of men forget to continue caring for their skin in between shaves. While you may think you can just apply a post-shave balm and assume you’re good to go for another few days, the reality is that all men should be topping up their skin with the nutrients and moisture it needs on a daily basis. To this end, a daily moisturiser for men, like Bluebeards Revenge Cooling Moisturiser, is essential and should be applied as often as required.
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