Off late, a lot of women have started resorting to face shaving as a trusted method of facial hair removal. While there is obviously the coronavirus lockdown to blame for this, trust us, shaving facial hair isn’t as bad as some people have made them out to be.
Since this is a relatively new (and sort of frowned upon) method of hair removal for most women, we understand if you’re still on the fence about whether to shave your face or not. But to make things easier for you, we’ve listed down five things you should know before taking the plunge.
- Shaving exfoliates your skin
- Your makeup will go on a lot more smoothly
- Your skin could feel slightly more sensitive
- Your hair will not grow back thicker
- Avoid shaving if you have active acne
Shaving exfoliates your skin
Yes, that’s right. The physical scrubs you use can cause minor abrasions on your skin Shaving, on the other hand, gently gets rid of all the dead skin build-up on the skin while slicing pesky facial hair. Win-win.
Your makeup will go on a lot more smoothly
Apart from getting rid of facial hair, shaving makes your skin a lot smoother. This creates a smooth canvas for your cream makeup products to glide and settle to a beautiful, even finish. But here’s a word of caution: It’s best to wait a couple of hours before you apply makeup because an immediate application could lead to clogged pores. It’s best to shave your face at night so your skin is absolutely ready for makeup the next morning.
Your skin could feel slightly more sensitive
Just like any other hair removal method, shaving your face will make it more sensitive the first few times. Your skin could feel slightly more sensitive few hours post-shaving, therefore, it’s best to avoid products with really potent or active skincare ingredients. This will help prevent the risk of skin irritation and ensure that you get the best results.
Your hair will not grow back thicker
This is an old wives’ tale you should have stopped believing yesterday. Shaving your hair doesn’t make it grow back thicker. In fact, no hair removal method can change the thickness or darkness of your hair. Shaving gives the hair a blunt tip which might feel coarse as it grows out. During this period, the hair might appear darker or thicker — but it's not.
Avoid shaving if you have active acne
If you have acne on your face, it’s best to give this hair removal method a miss because there is a chance the razor could snip the acne, spreading the bacteria, and delaying the healing process. In some cases, it could lead to scarring.
Written by Urvi Dalal on May 07, 2020
Writer, avid reader and hardcore beauty enthusiast is the best way to describe Urvi Dalal. With over 5 years of writing experience in the beauty industry, you can trust her to have the latest skin, hair and makeup tidbits on her fingertips. In her time working as a beauty writer, she has had the opportunity to interact and work closely with a string of dermatologists, makeup artists and hairstylists. All that knowledge exchange, coupled with her flair and love for writing make it possible for her to bring you some authentic yet fun beauty content. When Urvi isn’t working, you’d usually catch her curled up with a big, fat book, drinking a cup of tea or practising her makeup skills; there is no in-between!