Should you ditch your beard for summer?

Should you ditch your beard for summer?

In a word, yes. Well kind of anyway. Beards (big bushy ones) went through a period of widespread popularity back at the start of this decade after a load of models decided to grow some. With Instagram being a pretty new thing too it provided the perfect platform for these ‘pioneering’ hipsters to show off their perfectly kempt face bushes to the world. Then it all started.

 

Eventually though, the bubble bursts on every craze and this was no different. At the end of 2015 many experts in the world of grooming, fashion and styling began proclaiming that we had indeed hit peak beard.

 

So are beards totally dead? Well, if your sole reason for wearing a beard was to follow the trend then yes, it’s time for you to pull out your Dorco Classic razor sunshine and proudly show off your bare cheeks. This summer it’s very much about the classic stubble-free look.

 

If you’re not a dedicated follower of fashion and have a beard just because you like it, then why should you ditch it because some fashionista tells you too? The key to keeping any beard looking good though is maintenance so that should be your focus. A lot of people think they are the go-to for lazy men but that could not be further from the truth. Keeping it trimmed, shaping up the edges with a razor, conditioning it, oiling it, stroking it (ok maybe not the last one) all take up a crazy amount of a blokes time.

 

If you have decided to keep yours this summer, then remember to keep a good-looking beard. And if you’re too lazy for all of that then just shave it off. At least that way you’ll be on trend too.

 

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How to Choose the Right Shaving Cream for Your Face

First of all: Is it bad to shave without shaving cream? Before deciding on which shaving cream you want, it’s best to understand exactly why men use shaving cream. Many men shave with water or plain soap, but shaving cream allows you to get a closer shave if used correctly. Shaving lubes can also protect your face from irritation, so they’re great at banishing razor burns. There aren’t any negatives to skipping the shaving lube, but you miss the opportunity to moisturise and protect your face when you don’t use one.

Honestly, if you love your current shaving-cream-free routine, there’s no need to change what works. However, if you think you could upgrade your shaving routine, read on.

 

Shaving Soaps, Creams, Gels and Foams

Before contemporary shaving lubes were developed, men used lathering soaps to protect their skin while shaving. To use them, you had to work up a lather with a shaving brush in a cup. In the 1940s, brushless shaving creams that didn’t lather were developed. Now most men use a cream, gel or foam while shaving.

For sensitive skin and shaving aficionados, shaving creams are the preferred choice. Many brands contain a high level of moisturising fats and glycerin, which protect dry skin. When combined with hot water, shaving creams can deliver the best possible lather and also soften your facial hair. And while most shaving experts recommend using a shaving brush to apply it, it will still lather up in your hand.

Shaving gels add moisture and lubrication to your skin. They’re easier to use than shaving creams and lathering soaps: You can apply them with your hands if you prefer. Because shaving gels are clear, they allow you to see the direction of the hair growth and the underlying skin. This feature allows more precision when using a razor.

Shaving foams don’t have the same lather quality as other shaving products. Cold shaving foam also closes the pores on your face. Often, shaving foams contain ingredients that dry skin, and they don’t provide the moisturising benefits of the other options. However, many men find shaving foam easier to use.

 

Common Shaving Lube Ingredients

Once you’ve picked the right type of lube, you may want to consider the ingredient list. If you’re lucky enough to have normal skin, most shaving products should work for you. But men who have sensitive, oily or dry skin should take care when selecting a product. Here are some tips on common ingredients:

  • Parfume: Some men have skin that’s sensitive to fragrance, while others prefer a scented product. Let your nose and skin be your guide. If you have sensitive skin or experience skin irritation after using a fragranced product, use a perfume-free shaving lube to protect your skin.
  • Essential oils: Essential oils add fragrance to shaving lubes, but unlike perfume, they can also help skin problems. For example, lemon oil can help tame oily skin, and tea tree oil can help acne. Other popular shaving lube essential oils are bergamot, sandalwood and cedar.
  • Glycerin: This heavy moisturiser helps the razor glide over the skin.
  • Natural oils: A shaving lube may contain a combination of glycerin and natural oils to moisturise skin. Avocado, jojoba, coconut and almond oil are popular choices.
  • Alcohol: Alcohol can irritate and dry your skin. If you already have dry skin, avoid shaving foams, which have high alcohol contents and dry the skin. Shaving gels usually contain the least amount of alcohol, so they’re best if you have sensitive skin.
  • Stearic acid: This powerful cleanser helps other ingredients in your shaving lube lather. It can be derived from plant or animal origins.

 

Understanding the best products and ingredients for your skin should help you narrow your choices. Just be prepared to try a few different lubes before you find the perfect one for your needs.

How to Shave Your Bikini Area in 6 Easy Steps

How to Shave Your Bikini Area in 6 Easy Steps

We all know how annoying pubic hair can be: it’s itchy, uncomfortable and a definite no-no when you’re getting ready to don a bikini. If you’re nervous about the pain of a Brazilian wax, you can instead opt to shave your bikini area and get rid of that pesky hair with very little trouble.

1. Trim

If it’s been a while since you’ve bothered shaving your bikini line, start with some small scissors and carefully trim the area you intend to shave. This will make it easier for your razor to get a cleaner shave, and help you avoid nicking yourself in those sensitive spots. Get as close as you can without putting yourself in danger of cutting the skin.

2. Soak

Next, hop in the shower, turn up the heat, and relax for a few minutes. You’re not stalling — you’re allowing the hair time to soften in the hot water. The more pliable your hair is, the more effortlessly your razor will glide across your skin. The heat also opens up your pores, making your skin more receptive to those moisturisers you’ll be using after your shave. Give yourself 5–10 minutes in the heat; then, you can move on to the next step.

3. Treat

Light exfoliation helps remove dead skin build-up around the hair so that you can get a closer shave. Using either a gentle body scrub or just a washcloth, gently massage your bikini line to loosen and remove that layer of dead skin that has built up over time. If you have sensitive skin, go easy on with this step, as the combination of scrubbing and shaving can actually cause more irritation.

4. Lather

Next, you’ll need a quality shaving cream. Creams are much more effective than your average soaps; as creams lather better than soaps, they allow your razor to slide across the skin closely without causing burn. Most shaving creams also contain moisturisers to help hydrate the skin as you trim. When you’re shaving such a delicate area, this is one step you definitely don’t want to skip.

5. Shave

 

Now it’s time for the challenging part. First pick a razor that has at least three blades so that you can get nice and close, preferably one with a lubricating strip for added moisture and gentleness. Then, pulling the skin tight, slowly and carefully shave in the direction your hair grows. This helps prevent razor burn, but it also will not give you as close a shave. If you want to get it smoother, give it another pass, this time going against the grain. Be gentle and don’t press on the razor. You can always do multiple passes if necessary, but it’s better to take your time to ensure a clean shave with no accidental cuts.

6. Moisturise

Once your skin is satisfactorily smooth, pat your skin dry with a clean towel and select a moisturiser to finish up. A light, hypoallergenic body cream is a perfect choice for giving your skin a soft texture, while preventing any inflammation from the shave. Also, remember that it’s preferable to shave your skin at night – this prevents irritation and allows your moisturiser more time to soak into your skin and provide deep hydration.

Shaving your bikini line takes time and focus, but practice makes perfect and after a couple times you’ll be a pro. Now hop into that bikini and hit the beach!

 

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How to Prevent Irritation When Shaving Your Head

With celebrities like Jason Statham and Ross Kemp embracing a bald crown, the no-hair trend is here to stay. But before trying this style on your own cranium, you need a game plan. A shaved head may be the ultimate low-maintenance hair style, but it does require some basic prep and the right technique to achieve a close shave. Skip these steps, and you can expect razor bumps, skin irritation and ingrown hairs.

Start With the Basic Prep Work

Before shaving your head for the first time, start with a long shower to soften the hair. Then begin with a trim. Use a set of hair clippers to cut your hair so it’s approximately one centimetre long.

If you don’t have a shaving mirror with an adjustable arm, invest in one. That way, you’ll be able to see the back of your head easily. You’ll also be able to avoid shaving the same area twice, which is akey cause of general skin irritation.

Don’t own a set of clippers? Consider going to a barber for your first shave. That way, you’ll only need to shave regularly to maintain your new look.

Establish Your Regular Shaving Routine

Prior to every shave, take a hot shower and then cover your scalp with a shaving cream or shaving oil. Wait about five minutes to let the hair soften fully.

Shave with a sharp razor that has at least three blades. Start with the front of your head, and shave with the grain of the hair. Apply very little pressure when shaving, and let the blade do the work. Rinse the razor after every stroke.

Create an orderly pattern when shaving to avoid shaving over the same spot twice. Save shaving the back of your head for last because that area tends to have the coarsest and thickest hair. Don’t stretch the skin, which can cause ingrown hairs. However, look down when shaving the back of your neck to get an even shave.

Now examine your head carefully. If you want a closer shave, you can repeat this process, except this time you should shave against the grain of the hair. However, if you have curly hair, coarse hair or sensitive skin, you greatly increase the risk that you’ll cause ingrown hairs if you shave again.

Finish With Some Shaving Aftercare

Once you’re done shaving, splash some cold water on your scalp and gently towel the area dry. Use an alcohol-free aftershave balm or lotion to soothe the scalp. Also plan on moisturising your scalp regularly. Look for a moisturiser with SPF unless you want a freckled head.

On the days you’re not shaving your head, use an exfoliating face wash on your scalp to prevent ingrown hairs. Look for something with chemical exfoliants, such as glycolic or salicylic acid, to increase skin cell turnover. After your scalp is clean, apply your moisturiser to protect the newly exposed skin.

Address Persistent Skin Irritation

Some minor scalp irritation is common after your first shave. To prevent aggravating your skin, wait a few days before shaving again, but make sure to moisturise and wash the scalp daily. Most men wait one to three days between shaving sessions.

However, if you follow these tips but still end up with regular razor bumps, you may want to visit a dermatologist. Depending on the cause of your scalp woes, the dermatologist could prescribe a retinoid for better exfoliation or a hydrocortisone to minimise existing irritation. Sometimes a topical antibiotic is necessary to eliminate acne-causing bacteria from the scalp.

Shaving your head means you’ll never need to use conditioner again, but don’t mistake low maintenance for no maintenance. Give your scalp the same level of care as your face, and you’ll have a spot-free scalp that’s worthy of leading-man status.

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A Woman’s Guide to Shaving Your Face

While many women won’t admit it, shaving their face is a regular part of their hair removal routine. Most women have some peach fuzz on their face and, as we age, that hair can become longer and more plentiful. This guide will fill you in on everything you need to know to shave your face with ease.

1. Don’t Use Your Leg Razor

While it doesn’t seem like it would matter, don’t use the same razor you use to shave your legs or other body parts for your face. You don’t want to mix dead skin and bacteria from one area of your body to another. You also run the risk of getting unsightly nicks and cuts when using the same razor. And those nicks and cuts can lead to skin irritation, ingrown hairs and possible infection. Try Dorco Eve that has three blades, a vitamin-E moisturizing strip that will soften and protect the face. It will give you a close, smooth shave that will leave your face feeling buttery soft.

2. Ingrown Hairs May Be a Problem

Anytime you shave you run the risk of in-grown hairs. The friction caused from shaving may leave you with the unsightly hairs on your face. Properly prepping your skin before you shave can help prevent the hairs from forming. Shaving in the direction your hair grows is another way to cut down on ingrown hairs. Also, exfoliating regularly helps keep the unwanted hairs at bay as it removes the dead skin that is the foundation for them to form.

3. Lather Up and Shave

Outside of removing unwanted hairs, shaving is an excellent way to exfoliate the skin. Before you start shaving, thoroughly wet your face to soften up the hairs to make them easier to remove. If you really want to soften and prep your skin, place a hot towel on your face for a few minutes before you begin shaving.

Next, lather the gel shaving cream of your choice all over your face. You want to shave in the direction your hair is growing while limiting the number of passes you make. Shaving in the direction of the hair growth will help cut down on any ingrown hairs. After shaving in the right direction, complete one pass in the opposite direction to get the closest shave possible. Finally, rinse your face and moisturize to keep your skin feeling creamy and soft.

4. Try Dermaplaning

Dermaplaning is a professional procedure used to exfoliate the face. While not specifically meant to remove hair, hair removal is one of the side benefits of the procedure. Dermaplaning works by taking a straight edge razor or special scalpel, holding it at 45-degree angle to your face and using it to remove the top layer of dead skin cells.

It is not recommended you try dermaplaning at home. You likely won’t be able to get the exact angle needed to properly exfoliate your face, and you may end up hurting yourself since you won’t know how deep you need to go to remove the top layer of skin. Use dermaplaning as a nice addition to your regular shaving routine, but leave it to the professionals.

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