No water or shaving foam? Learn how to dry shave!
Steps
Step 1. Shave simply using your razor
Step 2. Swipe the blade in the right direction
Shaving against the grain (i.e. in the opposite direction to the folding of the hair) allows a better shave, but also causes greater irritation. If you are prone to breakouts or rashes, or you often have ingrown hairs, shave trying to follow the direction of hair growth.
Step 3. Keep the skin taut
Not that you have to stretch it too much, but if you have a slightly soft or wrinkled skin it is worth trying to create a sufficiently flat and firm surface, so that the blade can make the cut without problems.
Step 4. Don't press too hard with the razor
If you feel it is necessary to do this, the blade is probably not sharp enough. A well-sharpened razor can precisely cut the hair avoiding direct contact with the skin. By applying a little pressure, the blade will cut the hair at a slightly lower point, thus bringing itself into contact with the sensitive skin that surrounds the follicle on the opposite side. Accept that a dry shave will likely not be identical to a traditional one.
Step 5. Let your skin rest
Do not rub the skin with a towel or you will irritate the freshly shaved skin. Normally, then, you would hydrate; if you have some sort of moisturizer, you should also use it before shaving, instead of dry shaving.
Advice
- Dry shaving increases the chances of irritation (and it hurts!).
- Try different razors to find the one you are comfortable with. The humectant strips found on many razors only work in the presence of water, so they are useless in case of dry shaving.
- A single blade razor does not clog as fast as a double or triple blade one.
- If you want to dry shave your bikini line or legs, apply a splash of antiperspirant deodorant when done! This way you will avoid ingrown hair or skin irritation and rash, and you will also smell good.
- If you can avoid dry shaving it's better. You can use different types of products: water, soap, shampoo, olive oil, lotion or conditioner will do just fine if you don't have anything special for shaving.
- Always put on some cream after shaving (as mentioned, you can also use it before you shave, if you have it).
- Dry shaving means that you cannot rinse the razor after each pass on the skin. By doing this, the blade tends to dull much more quickly. Depending on the type of hair, you may need to use two razors for a single dry shave.
- Hold the razor at the bottom with your fingertips to apply as little pressure as possible to the skin. The more you pry, the more likely you will cut the skin instead of the hair.
- Normally, it is possible to extend the life of the blade by rinsing it immediately after you have finished shaving, tapping it a few times on the edge of the sink to remove any possible residue. However, in the case of dry shaving you cannot afford to do it, so expect to have to throw away the razor after only one shave.
- You could simply get yourself an electric razor for a dry shave with no contraindications.
- If you need to shave several areas of your body, take care of the ones with the softest hair first. These can in fact be removed from the razor with just a couple of taps.
- To ensure a complete shave, take at least two strokes (this is the only way to ensure a satisfactory result).
- Make sure you have enough time to shave. Dry shaving takes longer than a traditional shave.
Warnings
- If you find a hard spot that the blade can't reach, examine it carefully before trying again. It could be a bite from an insect or another animal, or maybe it's a boil… and you'd end up letting out some blood.
- Don't be in a hurry. Take your time and do things right.
- Don't forget to change the blades when they tend to get too blunt. A blunt blade will leave the skin sore, and cause nasty razor burns.
- When shaving, always be careful not to cut yourself. You can avoid any risk by moving the razor up and down gently without making sudden movements. Also avoid sliding the razor blade by moving it sideways.
