Facial hair can be a touchy subject for a lot of people but at the end of the day it all boils down to personal choice. I, personally, like to part ways with any kind of body hair, especially facial hair. While there’s nothing wrong with looking the other way and pretending like facial hair doesn’t exist, a lot of people are very self-conscious about it. Hormonal imbalances, genes and certain medication often cause excessive hair growth. While there’s nothing we can do to stop that from happening, you do have a lot of options when it comes to getting rid of facial hair. Waxing, threading, laser hair removal, shaving and even bleaching are some popular methods of facial hair removal.
Whatever you choose to do your facial hair, is your personal choice and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. I personally choose to part ways with the peach fuzz on my face.
Yes, I shave my face.
I sit myself down in my balcony, hold up my mirror and start shaving. Watching the peach fuzz scrape right off your face is strangely very empowering.
I invest in quality skincare products and I want them to be absorbed effectively into my skin. Facial hair stands in the way of that and of makeup application. If you have a lot of peach fuzz on the sides of your cheeks or on your upper lip, the makeup too sits funny on your face.
Dermatologists call the treatment dermaplaning, but you could very well do it at home too.
But don’t be intimidated, this isn’t something to be afraid of. Cleopatra and Marilyn Monroe were on board the face shaving, and you should be too! Celebrities, beauty bloggers and thousands of girls just like you and me swear by it. If you’re afraid to do it yourself, you can head over to a dermatologists clinic to leave it up to the professionals.
I’m going to tell you everything you need to know about shaving your face at home or ‘dermaplaning’
I’m not a fan of the chemicals found in facial bleach, and my facial hair is far too fine to be effectively removed through laser hair removal. So that left me with two choices – waxing/threading or shaving. Waxing and threading sounded like medieval torture on the face, it’s bad enough that we subject our nether regions to that kind of pain. So I picked up a razor and shaved my face and I’ve never looked back since.
What are the benefits of shaving your face?
Shaving exfoliates your skin by getting rid of dead skin cells. It takes off all your facial hair or peach fuzz as we call it, leaving your skin looking brighter and feeling softer. It reduces the appearance of scars and gives your skin a gorgeous glow and since you no longer have facial hair, it helps your skincare products penetrate better. Your makeup too goes on a lot smoother.
Does it hurt?
Nope, it does not. Just do it correctly to make sure you shave properly and don’t cut yourself.
Does the hair grow back thicker?
NO! NO ladies it does not. If you have fine hair, the regrowth will be fine hair. If you have thick, black hair on your face… the regrowth will be thick and black.
How often do you need to shave?
When your hair grows back. That could mean once every week or a month, depending on you. You pull the strings here, you don’t have to wait for those salon appointments.
How do you shave?
Wash your face with a mild cleanser and pat it dry. Shave on a clean and dry face. Dermatologists use a scalpel to shave your face, but these are hard to find. You can get an eyebrow or face razor from a chemist easily though.
Hold your skin taut and the razor at a 45-degree angle against your skin and shave downwards. Don’t shave in the opposite direction, it may cause irritation. Shave in small short strokes with gentle pressure. You’ll see the peach fuzz fall right off.
What’s the aftercare post-shaving?
Rinse your face with water and moisturise. If you have sensitive skin, mild redness is normal. Just apply a soothing lotion like Lacto Calamine Oil Control Lotion With Kalin & Aloe Vera (Rs 169) twice a day and avoid applying makeup for at least 24 hours.
Will it cause any irritation?
To be honest, this varies from person to person. I have extremely sensitive skin and sometimes, I get small bumps along my jawline. I apply aloe vera gel or calamine lotion to my entire face generously at night and they usually subside in 2-3 days.
Can I shave if I have acne?
No, you should avoid shaving your face if you have active acne. It may worsen your breakouts or cause skin damage. If you have just one or two pimples, you can shave around the active acne.
Can I apply makeup after shaving?
You can, but you should avoid it. Because your skin is a little vulnerable after you shave, allow your skin to breathe for at least a day before you apply any makeup. A trick that personally works for me (to minimize irritation and soothe) is to apply calamine lotion for 2-3 consecutive nights and sunscreen during the day. You could even apply a soothing sheet mask to pamper your skin.
Will it damage my skin?
No, it will not. But it will make your skin more vulnerable to sun damage. So make sure you wear sunscreen religiously. Which is something you should be doing anyway!
What kind of razors can you use to shave your face?
This is more of a personal choice, there are special razors that are made for the purpose of shaving your face and eyebrow hair. These razors are blunt and therefore, there are lesser chances of cuts and burns. I prefer to use these disposable razors that you can pick up at any chemist near you. Just remember that it’s best to discard these razors after 1-3 uses.
POPxo Recommends:
Disposable Razor Set Of 6 (Rs 189)
Face and Eyebrow Razor (Rs 74)
We hope this answers all your questions about shaving your face. Feel free to leave a comment if you have any more questions!
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