2024 Shaving Round-up: How To Get Rid Of Prickly Hair After Shaving
When it comes to shaving, there is only one thing we all wish to know. That is how to get rid of prickly hair after shaving.
Everyone is all too familiar with that rough and itchy feeling you get in your face, legs, and armpits after gliding a razor no matter how often you shave. That annoying sensation is from the hair that was not trimmed at skin level. Hence, they find a way to poke out stubbornly into a microscopic spiky beard.
And as the year ends, here at Naked Armor, we will list down our best shaving tips to help you prepare for a smoother and closer shave—sans stubborn stubbles.
Here’s how:
The Root Causes of Prickly Hair
How to Avoid Prickly Hair After Shaving
The Root Causes of Prickly Hair
Unless you are plucking or waxing off the hair on your body, you will most likely get in-grown and hair stubbles, and also five o'clock shadow fast. Shaving only cuts the hair on the surface when plucking and waxing takes them out from the root.
Yet again, not everyone is a fan of waxing and plucking since they are not for the faint-hearted. So, for those who have low pain tolerance and for men who want to get rid of the body and facial hair with gusto (and fast), shaving has been a go-to grooming path—with a price.
Case in point, the real root cause of prickly hair is shaving, especially with a dull or used razor. Because the blades are no longer sharp enough, it does not cut the hair smoothly at skin level for a smooth hair growth. Instead, it leaves stubbles or ingrown hairs with sharp or jagged tips that feel sandy or prickly to the touch. Worst is, these prickly hairs are too short to shave or wax further.
But if your razor is brand new, shave-ready, and sharp with a fresh blade , and you still get stubbles after shaving, your skin may be the problem. Sometimes, there can be too much dead skin on the surface that prevents the blade from cutting your hair accurately.
How to Avoid Prickly Hair After Shaving
Whether it is your blade or skin that gives you post-shave skin problems, know that all hope is not lost for an excellent shave. Avoiding prickly hair after shaving is easy as long as you have all the essentials you need and you know what to do with them.
Here are Naked Armor’s best shaving tips of 2024:
1. Exfoliate before shaving
Women have long been exfoliating as part of their skincare routine, but exfoliating before shaving is a novel, life-changing hack for men who have not considered it before. It may be one of the secrets to getting the smoothest and closest shave ever. This can also gently remove beard rash if you have not shaved for a long time.
You can use a loofah or a homemade body scrub for a start. It would be best to avoid chemical exfoliators as they often do not match well with every skin type. Chemical exfoliants can cause more damage to your skin, and shaving on top of that will lead to major skin irritation especially on sensitive skin.
Cleveland Clinic vows with this tip, saying that “exfoliating first helps keep the razor from getting overloaded with dead skin cells, which reduces its efficiency.” Hence, when you exfoliate before shaving, your razor’s blade can easily give you a skin-level shave.
2. Use a pre-shave oil
After exfoliating, your skin can be extra sensitive for shaving. You may even be scared that shaving immediately after getting rid of the old dead layers of your skin can be harmful. Undoubtedly, it can get worse if you shave on top of fresh skin layers, only if you do not use a barrier!
That is why many shaving aficionados prefer using pre-shave oils when shaving on problematic skin or when you never get to have a smooth shave. However, be mindful of the amount of oil you put as too much can clog safety and cartridge razors.
Using pre-shave oil will not only nourish the skin but will also add an extra protective barrier. To avoid prickly hair, you need an extra sharp razor, which works well with pre-shave oils.
3. Lather up with a shaving soap or shaving gel
Here is one rule you must abide by whether you are having prickly hair problems or not: never shave dry!
Dry shaving puts too much stress and pressure on your skin. Nothing protects the skin from the blade, and no moisture will soften your hair for easier trimming. Imagine skating on a roller skating rink using figure skates, which have blade soles instead of wheels. Without a doubt, you will be damaging and scratching the wooden rink.
The same goes for your skin. Wielding an extra-sharp blade is necessary to avoid prickly hair like armpit stubble after shaving or ingrown hairs on your face and legs, but without a protective cushion like a thick lather, it will be easier to cut yourself up. Instead of a smooth and clean shave, you will be getting a bloodbath.
Instead, try alternative shaving methods, like wet shaving with a lather. When you create a lather, always use organic shaving soap. Typical body soaps do not have enough of the perfect balance of low alkalinity and high-fat content, making the frothiest and creamiest lather for your shaving needs. And the thicker the lather, the more comfortable—and fun—your shaving experience will be.
If you don't have access to a shaving soap, your trusted shaving gel or shaving crea, can also work. Just don't shave dry.
4. Apply an Aftershave
Stubbles and prickly hair are just a few of the several post-shave dilemmas you can have. The best way, and another tip we kept on stressing about, is never to forget your aftershave if you want to have an excellent end to your shaving routine.
Aftershave is the last yet most crucial part of your shaving routine. It is a step that should be a habit for every avid shaver. You can either use a natural astringent or get yourself an organic aftershave balm and cologne. You can check out our guide to aftershaves or natural alternatives to know which one is best for your skin type.
Many men skip using aftershave because they think it is only for capping off their shave with a refreshing manly scent. But it offers more than that. Dr. Sonia Batra, MD, dermatologist and one of the hosts of The Doctors, said in her interview with Men's Health that aftershave “[has] a useful role in the recovery of skin after shaving,” because of the astringents in its ingredients, which calms irritation while disinfecting the microabrasions that razor blades leave.
5. Moisturize
If you are already dealing with prickly hair after shaving as you read this, you would want to know how to soften prickly hair. The answer is using a moisturizer. We recommend using organic balms or hydrating your skin with a few drops of essential oils.
Natural balms and oils are great for putting back hydration on your skin and stubbles. It does not quickly seep into the skin, hence a longer-lasting solution for the problematic areas on your skin. Using a moisturizer makes prickly hair less irritable and softer, making it more tolerable until your next shave.
6. Use a straight razor
Whatever part of the body you may be shaving, the best way to get rid of prickly hair after shaving is to use an extra sharp single-blade razor like a straight razor or a shavette straight razor.
Despite being convenient to get, disposable cartridge razors do not give a close shave. The multiple blades sadly do not do a great job at cutting your hair at skin level. Instead, since three or more blades are gliding on your skin at a fixed angle there is more disturbance on the surface, and you cannot follow the proper bevel to shave the hair off.
Using a straight razor as an alternative gives you more control over your shave angle, hence giving you the closest shave possible without nicking yourself. And its sharpness allows you to get a quality shave in a single pass, which is essential if you want to avoid razor burn.
There you have it! Follow these tips, and we guarantee you that you do not need to worry about how to get rid of prickly hair after shaving again or other irritations like razor burn and ingrown hair. Make your 2022 shaving experience extra lux using Naked Armor essentials. Shop them below:
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More Naked Armor Reads:
Razor Blades Disposal and Recycling 101
Do’s and Don’ts of Having Thin Beards
Neck Hair: Trim, Shave, Or Leave It Alone?
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