Who doesn’t love smooth and glowing skin? To achieve an ultra-smooth face, many of you resort to different skin hacks. But do you know shaving can also be an effective at-home hair removal option?

The best part is shaving not only removes the ingrown hairs but also exfoliates your skin, making it appear brighter and smoother.

Let’s take a closer look at the benefits of facial shaving and the right ways to do it.

Is Face Shaving Good For Women?

Shaving facial hair is a matter of choice. While many women are comfortable with shaving their facial hair, others fear the side effects. Some of them have notions that shaving can make their facial hair grow thicker and darker hair and in some cases may cause redness and irritation. But, the truth is shaving your facial hair can exfoliate the dry and dead skin and result in smooth skin. If your skin is smooth, your makeup application can be super easy.

However, sensitive skin might not react well to shaving, especially if you have redness or irritated skin patches. Also, shaving might not be a great idea if you have skin conditions like eczema, acne, or psoriasis. Shaving in such cases can further aggravate the condition and lead to infection.

Why Should Women Shave Their Face?

Shaving facial hair not only removes ingrown hairs, but also exfoliates the dead skin cells, which results in glowing and smooth skin. It’s an effective way of achieving soft skin at home. But, before delving deep into its benefits, let’s understand the two types of facial hair - terminal hair and vellus hair. Vellus hair [1] is the thin, fine hair covering most of your face. They are barely noticeable. On the other hand, terminal hair [2] is the dark and thick hair present in your neck, chin, lower and upper lips. You can remove both terminal and vellus hair with shaving.

Among all the other methods of facial hair removal, shaving is considered to be the most easy, fast, and effective method. The process is pain-free and lasts up to a few days, depending on your hair growth rate. You can use either an electric shaver or a disposable shaver to shave your face.

Unlike men, women need to follow a different shaving process to remove their facial hair. It’s completely different from how you shave your legs or underarms. The skin on your face is different from other parts of your body and hence requires extra care. Below is a step-by-step guide to help you get started.

1. Wash Your Face

Before you start shaving, make sure to wash your face thoroughly to remove any dirt or makeup. In case you get a shaving cut with your razor, this can help you prevent any irritation or inflammation on your skin.

2. Exfoliate To Remove Dead Skin

To experience a smooth shaving, use a gentle scrub to remove dead skin cells. Exfoliating also helps in preventing ingrown hairs.

3. Hydrate Your Skin

Hold a hot damp wash cloth close to your face for about 2-3 minutes before you shave. This will help to hydrate the skin and soften the hair follicles resulting in a smooth shaving experience. Alternately, you can also rinse your face with warm water before shaving.

4. Apply Shaving Gel

Use a shaving cream or a shaving gel in the areas where you want to shave. The shaving gel helps to retain the moisture and allows the razor to glide smoothly across your skin.

5. Choose The Right Tool

Pick a straight edge single blade sharp razor to shave facial hair. A sharp razor pulls out the hair with easy strokes and ensures smooth shaving, minimizing the risks of nicks and cuts. Also, keep a separate razor for your face and ensure you do not use it to shave other body parts of your body with it. This will ensure the razor stays sharp for a longer time. Remember, a blunt razor can give you more razor bumps, razor burns, and nicks.

6. Mind The Strokes

Be mindful with the razor strokes while shaving your face. Give it a light downward pressure keeping the razor at a 45-degree angle. Keep the strokes short and steady to avoid any skin irritations. Always remember to shave the hair in the direction they grow.

7. Don't Forget To Moisturize Your Skin

Make sure to rinse your face and moisturize it using an oil or cream immediately after you shave . Avoid applying makeup right after shaving.