6 points and tips to avoid razor burn

What is razor burn?

Razor burn occurs when, when shaving body hair with a razor, more skin than necessary is shaved off along with the hair, causing inflammation of the skin such as a stinging sensation, bleeding, and itching.

At Razor Club, we focus on beards, which are the most noticeable part of body hair, and introduce the causes of razor burn and how to deal with it.

What causes razor burn?

There are many causes of razor burn, but here are the four most common:

1. Shaving tips and procedures
2. Skin conditions caused by fatigue and dehydration
3. Razor holder problem
4. Original skin type

It will be considered.
For "1" and "2", you can avoid razor burn by coming up with your own countermeasures and using proper wet shaving (shaving), but for "4", it could also be a skin problem other than the usual causes of razor burn, so you will need to seek proper medical advice.

On this page, we will first explain how to wet shave properly to avoid razor burn as a countermeasure for points 1 and 2. If you have been avoiding wet shaving for fear of razor burn, please give it a try.

And lastly, I would be happy if you could realize that shaving is not a bothersome task, but a morning ritual that only men can have!

"Dry shaving and wet shaving"

Wet shaving is shaving with a razor that requires water , whereas dry shaving is shaving without water . With wet shaving, the blade is placed directly on the skin and the sharp blade can shave off the dead skin as well as the beard, but if the skin is not properly moistened, it can cause razor burn. On the other hand, dry shaving involves placing the beard in a mesh blade with spots of holes and cutting it with a blade that rotates with a high-speed motor. To be precise, it is not shaving, but rather mowing like a lawn mower.

This article is for those who have trouble with razor burn, and for those who want to enjoy wet shaving more comfortably, and I hope that at the end of reading it you will realize that shaving is not a bothersome task, but a morning ritual that only men can do!

▼ Check out the process in the video

*There is no sound. This is a silent video at double speed.

1. Wet your face before shaving

When dry, beard hair is as hard as a copper wire. If you shave with a razor while the hair is still hard, the blade will resist and lift the skin along with the hair, shaving the epidermis and causing bleeding . This is also the cause of razor burn .

The first thing to do to prevent razor burn is to moisten your beard . When beard hair absorbs moisture, it expands by about 40% and becomes softer. This makes it easier to cut with a razor.

First, soften your beard by washing your face before shaving. To make sure your beard is sufficiently moisturized, wash your face thoroughly with hot or lukewarm water. You don't need to use soap at this stage; just warm water is fine.

Warm water is more absorbent. The steam from the comfortable steam towel you get at the barber's opens up your pores, hydrating your beard deep inside while also softening the dead skin cells, making it easier to shave.

→ We also introduce how to make steamed towels at home, so please give it a try.

2. Don't put the razor directly on your skin

If you use a razor without applying anything to your skin, it can cause injury to your skin. Be sure to apply soap, shaving cream, foam, etc. to create a layer between the razor and your skin.

Here, we will introduce how to lather soap with a shaving brush. This process does not just create a lather, but also uses the brush to scrape out dirt deep in the pores while allowing moisture to penetrate deep into the beard , which naturally results in a closer shave .
In addition, the bristles of the brush will massage the surface of your skin, stimulating your metabolism and improving blood circulation, resulting in fresh, healthy skin.

For this reason, we recommend a badger hair shaving brush. Badger hair beard brushes have fine hairs and produce a much finer lather than other types of beard brushes.

→ Learn more about shaving brushes

Dissolve the soap in a shaving mug or in the palm of your hand with warm water and work a lather onto your face using a badger hair shaving brush. Moisten the brush until it is lightly damp and work it into a lather by moving it in a circular motion in the soap.

→ Learn more about shaving mugs

Imagine rubbing the soap into the tip of the brush, and while lathering it, move the brush up and down as shown in the photo to incorporate air into the bristles and create finer bubbles.

Rub the brush well with soap and work it into a lather by moving it around in a circular motion on your cheeks.

3. Don't use too much force or apply the blade repeatedly.

When using a razor, it's important to first slide the razor from your cheek to under your chin without using any extra pressure , shaving in the direction of the beard .

If you suddenly put the razor blade against the grain, the blade will create more resistance than necessary and pull on the skin. The pulled skin may be scraped off along with the hair. It is said that removing sebum and dead skin cells in moderation increases metabolism and keeps skin healthy, but scraping off more skin than necessary can damage the skin and make it sensitive.
The stinging, redness, and swelling that comes with razor burn are caused by this skin damage .

Also, the more times you shave, the more likely your skin is to be damaged. Instead of shaving in short strokes, try to keep each stroke large . In barber jargon, a one-shave is when you shave only in the direction of the hair growth, from the cheek to the chin, from top to bottom, without shaving against the grain. If you can finish cleanly with a one-shave, it will be less stressful on your skin.

When shaving your cheeks, chin, under your sideburns, under your nose, and hard hairs on your jawline, be sure to shave in the direction of the hair when first shaving .

If you have facial hair, leave the remaining hair and shave off the small areas. If you are shaving it all off, shave the area under your nose and on your chin in the same way.

When shaving with a lightweight disposable razor, you may end up with unintended stubble and then shave excessively against the skin to cover it up. Repeated shaving against the skin, which tends to result in a close shave, can damage the skin and cause razor burn .

Using a razor with a moderate weight will keep your hand steady, shave neatly with the blade in the right direction, and minimize shaving against the blade. This is a major point in avoiding razor burn and damaging your skin . Try to feel the weight of the razor and shave with consistent pressure.

4. When shaving against the grain, apply soap again.

After shaving the entire area from top to bottom, shave against the direction of hair growth in any areas you are concerned about by shaving from bottom to top.

Shaving against the wall tends to put a lot of strain on the skin. If you don't shave against the wall, most people will be able to avoid razor burn. However, it won't be as smooth, so you'll still feel like you've missed some spots. If you do shave against the wall, apply soap as a lubricant to your skin again , and shave in a pinpoint manner to avoid unnecessary damage to your skin.

A good tip is to shave at an angle of about 45 degrees from the direction of your beard. This will reduce resistance to the skin and put less strain on it.

With the hand opposite the razor, pull the skin inwards to expose the hairs for a clean shave.
However, this type of shaving method puts a strain on your skin, so try to minimize the area of ​​contact between the blade and your skin.

5. Rinse thoroughly and don't forget aftercare

After shaving, it is important to rinse your face thoroughly . Be sure to rinse your face thoroughly with warm water. Leaving soapy ingredients on your face can cause skin irritation .

Your skin may feel a little hot, so rinsing with cold water at the end is effective. This tightens the hot skin and closes open pores, giving your face a sharper look.

In the summer, it is refreshing to tighten the skin with an alcohol-based antiseptic after-lotion. However, after wet shaving, the skin lacks oils due to the soap, and the razor leaves small scratches on the skin. Even though there are no scratches on your face when you look in the mirror, applying lotion may make you feel "stingy!"

It may be too irritating for those with sensitive skin, so in that case we recommend using an alcohol-free type or using a lotion to properly care for your skin.

In the drier winter months, choose a moisturizing lotion type, and rub the lotion thoroughly around your mouth in particular. I (Takeuchi), who has sensitive skin, apply a thin layer of Mentholatum or Menturm before and after shaving.

6. Give your skin a break

The evolution of razor technology is truly amazing. Thanks to the efforts of many technicians, we now have razors that are gentle on the skin. However, no matter how much razors improve, the condition of your skin changes every day. If you feel that your skin is rough, we recommend taking advantage of a long weekend to not shave and to condition your skin. Of course, even if you don't shave, daily skin care is also necessary for men.

Also, when shaving, if your skin is not in good condition, it is recommended to shave in the normal direction to avoid putting strain on your skin.

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Now that we've covered the correct steps for wet shaving, here are a few more points to keep in mind.

A razor that is too light is dangerous. Use a sturdy holder.

This is also related to cause of razor burn "3. Razor holder problems," but light razors require unstable hand pressure to press the blade against the skin, which can irritate the skin and cause razor burn.

We often hear from guests that they got razor burn after using the razors provided at the hotel.

This has nothing to do with the razor blade being bad, but rather the weight of the razor holder.

If you use a holder that is appropriately heavy, the weight of the entire razor will shave off your beard, so no more pressure than necessary will be placed on your skin.

On the other hand, with a light holder, it is not the weight of the holder that causes the force transmitted to the holder by the hand, but rather the force exerted by the hand, which places more pressure on the skin than necessary. Because the hand is not stable, you may unknowingly remove more skin than necessary along with the facial hair.

When using a light holder, try to apply as little pressure as possible to avoid razor burn and achieve a comfortable finish. Also, we do not recommend shaving against the skin for those with sensitive skin.

For those with dry skin, a razor with more blades is recommended.

It is often thought that the more blades a razor has, the closer the shave will be, but the more blades there are, the more the pressure each blade exerts on the skin is distributed, reducing the stinging sensation and providing a more comfortable shave. If you have sensitive skin, it is a good idea to choose a razor with more blades.

If you want to experience the true pleasure of an old-fashioned razor, go for a double-edged, two-blade razor.
For a razor that is gentle on the skin, we recommend one with three or more blades.

Ideally, blades should be replaced every week to 10 days.

The ideal time to replace the blade is about 7 to 10 days (after one use per day). Razors have very thin blades (0.0001 mm tip) and cut a total of 20,000 to 25,000 hairs every day. The blade itself is damaged every time it is used, which can cause fine scratches on the skin.

Also, when shaving in the opposite direction, the resistance to the razor can be greater, causing the skin to be lifted and shaved off along with the beard hair. The same thing can happen if you shave with a dull blade.

To keep your skin healthy, it's important to know the recommended period of use.

Trim cutters can also be used

If your razor has a trim cutter attached to the back of the blade, we recommend making good use of it. Four- and five-blade razors have thick blades, so they are not good for small areas. Even if you shave all your beard, it is a good idea to use this trim cutter on the area under your nose.

Shaving in the morning is recommended

Beards grow the most between 6am and 10am, so we recommend shaving in the morning. Mornings are also recommended for a more refreshing feeling.
As an aside, a special feature on the British BBC channel presented data which suggested that people who wet shave in the morning are less likely to suffer from cerebral infarction because the tension of having a blade against the skin sends signals to the brain.

Above, we have told you some tips to avoid razor burn, but skin conditions and body hair characteristics vary from person to person, and the differences are not small.
Based on the above information, we hope that you will pursue the care method that is best suited to you, and be able to experience comfortable shaving in your daily life.

Original razors on sale

On its official website, Razor Club sells a variety of items to brighten up your shaving life, including original razors ordered from an Italian workshop and outlet items with defects.