Shaved Curly Hair: 10 Best Shaving Tips
Someone once said that having curly hair can be burdensome, moreover shaving curly hair. While that can be true sometimes, curly hair can be a blessing rather than a curse too.
Some scientists think curly hair was a beneficial evolutionary adaptation to increased ultraviolet rays. Hominids living at the equator benefited from having this hair type because its natural thickness protected their skin from UV light exposure. But sometimes, it can also cause discomfort through beard rash. Hence, some men tend to prefer having shaved curly hair.
The problem is that those with shaved curly hair are more prone to post-shave skin irritations, like ingrown and razor bumps, and also 5 o'clock shadows. So what’s a curly-haired male got to do to get a good shave, minus the razor bumps?
Here are our tips on how to shave your curly beard:
- Best Shaving Tips for Men with Curly Hair
- Tip 1: Shave Every Other Day
- Tip 2: Prep your Beard Well
- Tip 3: Cleanse and Exfoliate Your Skin
- Tip 4: Don’t Be Afraid to Oil Up
- Tip 5: Be Generous with the Lather
- Tip 6: Shave in the Direction of the Grain
- Tip 7: Always Use a Straight Razor
- Tip 8: Finish with an Aftershave
- Tip 9: Use Sunscreen
- Tip 10: Avoid Harmful Chemicals
Best Shaving Tips for Men with Curly Hair
These days, more emphasis goes on the styling possibilities of curly hair rather than its protective qualities. Grooming-wise, one can do so much with curly hair. African-American men, for instance, can try out a wide range of hairstyles thanks to their hair texture and volume.
African-American men are more prone to having post-shave skin irritations, like Pseudofolliculitis barbae or razor bumps.
But when it comes to shaving, curly hair can be burdensome when you do not know how to handle it. That's because it is 50 times more likely than straight hair to become ingrown. That is why many curly-haired males suffer from the condition called Pseudofolliculitis barbae, or what’s commonly known as razor bumps.
Around 60% of African-American men suffer from razor bumps. For instance, razor bumps are a leading concern among African American US Army recruits who are required to maintain a clean-shaven face daily.
Check out these ten shaving tips perfect for every curly-haired lad:
Tip 1: Shave Every Other Day
If you want to lessen the occurrence of post-shave irritations, you should consider how often you shave. Unless you’re in the military, you don’t need to shave every day—and that’s all right.
Human hair grows 0.35 millimeters a day or a half-inch per month. Shaving every other day with a clean or new blade will give the skin time to heal while allowing the hair to grow straight out of the skin’s surface. When one shaves daily, the razor forces the very short hairs to curl inwards back to the skin. This traps the hair inside the follicles, resulting in razor bumps.
If you’re dark-skinned, your one-day-old stubble or minimal shaved curly hair won’t be noticeable. Even if it were, ladies find a five o’clock shadow sexy. So, on that front, you’ll be okay.
Tip 2: Prep Your Beard Well
The warmth of the water and humidity inside the bathroom opens up your pores and softens your beard.
Preparing your beard well before shaving is half of what you need to do to get an excellent and comfortable shave.
This means taking a hot shower to moisten the hair and skin. The steam coming from hot water opens up the skin’s pores, releasing clogged sebum and making the skin relaxed. Additionally, when a single strand of hair is saturated with water, its tensile strength becomes approximately one-third to one-half less than the strength of dry hair, hence making it easier to shave.
Tip 3: Cleanse and Exfoliate Your Skin
Before shaving, it is essential to exfoliate the dead skin off your face. Removing the top layer of the skin gives you a fresh layer of smooth skin to shave hair from.
The gentle scrubbing motion removes toxins from your skin while improving blood circulation in your face. It also reduces the dead skin cells that can clog your razor when you begin shaving.
There are two ways of exfoliating the skin. One can apply beauty exfoliating products, which use chemicals or enzymes to dissolve the dead skin layer. But a simpler way would be to use a facial scrub or a washcloth and rub it gently on the skin in a circular motion. Once you’re done, rinse with running water to get rid of the dead skin cells.
Tip 4: Don’t Be Afraid to Oil Up
Pre-shave oil helps prevent skin from drying out while shaving.
Apply some pre-shave oil to your beard before beginning to shave. It helps hydrate the skin by replacing the moisture stripped away during your hot shower.
Pre-shave oils help form a buffer against razor blade friction since the oil protects the skin from irritation. More importantly, it helps make the shaving easier by lifting the hair up and away from the skin, allowing the razor blade a closer pass. It also carries natural essential oils nourishing the skin and healing the micro-abrasions from shaving.
If you’re buying commercial pre-shave oils, choose ones that are organically produced. You can, however, make a homemade pre-shave oil just as quickly.
Tip 5: Be Generous with the Lather
Lather is crucial to have a barrier between your skin and your razor's blade.
Use lots of lather on your face before you start shaving. The lather helps with razor glide, reducing skin irritation while making your shaving easy and comfortable. It also keeps your skin hydrated, so it remains soft and smooth.
On that note, only use lather from shaving soap or cream. Bath soaps are strictly not recommended for shaving because they often contain harsh synthetic ingredients that aggravate skin irritation.
A shaving soap, on the other hand, contains higher levels of glycerin than bath soaps. This makes the lather thicker and smoother, helping protect the skin from blade friction while allowing the razor to cut hair more smoothly. Organically produced shaving soaps also have additional essential oils that provide nourishment to the skin.
Tip 6: Shave in the Direction of the Grain
When dealing with coarse and curly hair, it’s best to shave along the direction of the hair growth.
Shaving against the grain of curly hair will result in tugging at the skin and irritating it. As a result, you’ll suffer a condition called razor burn.
Additionally, when going against the grain, the blade changes the angle of the hair, causing it to curl back to the skin and create ingrown hairs. But if you feel like you must do this to get a close shave, try shaving across the grain instead.
Tip 7: Always Use a Straight Razor
Straight razors have a single blade you can easily angle to shave at skin level.
Now, if there’s a razor that fits for shaving coarse and curly hair effectively and efficiently, it would be none other than a straight razor.
Straight razors provide the best close shave because they have the sharpest blades. They cut beards closer to the skin than any other type of razor. Its blade cuts hair quickly and smoothly without tugging the skin and without causing it to curl downwards to the skin layer.
And because it only has a single blade, there is less blade friction compared to multi-blade razors. It means your skin won’t get a nasty red burn afterward, only smooth shaved curly hair.
Tip 8: Finish with an Aftershave
Naked Armor's Thor Aftershave Splash has natural extracts that soothes and disinfects skin after shaving.
Finally, always finish your shave with a splash of aftershave.
Aftershaves keep the skin moisturized while keeping it irritation-free. However, when using aftershaves, don’t use those with alcohol. These aftershaves dry out the skin, making dark skin look ashy. You don’t want to look like your skin is having a bad day.
Instead, use a natural astringent, like argan, aloe, or witch hazel, as they have the same disinfecting properties but also keep moisture in the skin. They will help keep your face free from acne-causing bacteria.
You can also make one for yourself. It’s simple and easy to do. Check out this post.
Tip 9: Use Sunscreen
Sunscreen aids post-shave skin healing for a healthier and even-toned skin
When you have shaved curly hair, you also have microscopic abrasions on the skin from shaving. That is why allowing your skin to heal after wielding a sharp razor is vital in preventing razor bumps.
Tip 10: Avoid Harmful Chemicals
Your aftershave routine should not end after you apply your aftershave. Pun aside, post-shave skin care is crucial to keeping your skin smooth. The best products to use are the ones that are highly moisturizing and nourishing.
For this, it would be best to go all-natural, making use of wet shaving grooming products that have organic ingredients. Stay away from those that have artificial scents and chemicals.
Research scientist and green cosmetic chemist Yashi Shrestha recommends the readers of Byrdie to stay away from these chemicals:
- Formaldehyde
- Formaldehyde releasers
- Synthetic fragrances
- Phthalates
- Polyethylene glycol (PEGs)
- Siloxanes
- Triclosan
- Ethanolamines
- Oxybenzone
- Octinoxate
- Homosalate
- Toluene
- Talc
- PFAs and PFCs
- Teflon
- Resorcinol
- Carbon black
- Parabens
These ingredients can be carcinogenic, cause irritations, and worsen your skin condition. Hence, always check the label and read the fine print of the products you use.
Luxe Shaving
Here at Naked Armor, our select line of quality straight razors and shaving products is an excellent addition to have a luxurious dimension to your shaving experience.
Our razors are made from the toughest steels, like Japanese stainless and Damascus steel, with the handles from prime wood, such as sandalwood and ebony. Meanwhile, our shaving products are produced organically, using sustainable methods.
Get your shaved curly hair essentials below:
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