Shaving Tips: Why You Should Start With a Clean Face

A clean shave begins with a clean face.  If your face is not clean prior to shaving, you are leaving the door wide open for a variety of problems such as rashes, irritation, cuts, and nicks.  For a shaving razor to work effectively, it must be able to glide over the skin with a minimal amount of resistance.  Things such as dirt, dead skin cells, and residue from soap and other cleansers inhibit a razor's ability to glide over the skin.

When cleansing the face, avoid using products such as bar soap, hand soap, or body wash.  These products leave a thin layer of film on the skin which not only makes it harder to shave, but may also clog skin pores as well.  A smarter choice would be to use a product especially made for cleaning the face.  Facial cleansers are more mild, and they will not clog pores or leave residue behind.

If you have oily skin, it is a good idea to use a toner after using your facial cleanser.  A toner is an astringent liquid, usually containing alcohol or witch hazel, which dries excess oil and kills bacteria.  Apply a small amount of toner to a clean dry towel and gently wipe the face after you have used your facial cleanser.  A good toner will not only remove oil and unclog pores, but it will also keep your skin sanitized and germ-free.  Always use toner before shaving, however, since the alcohol content will cause stinging on irritated or broken skin.

Many men will also benefit from using an exfoliant once or twice per week.  An exfoliant is kind of like Ajax or Comet cleanser for your face; it scours away dead skin cells that are on the surface of the skin.  These dead cells make your skin appear dull, old, tired, and dry.  Removing these dead skin cells on a regular basis will instantly make you look healthier and younger (this is why your wife or girlfriend probably uses an exfoliant).  One important thing to remember is to never shave immediately after exfoliating because exfoliation will heighten your skin's sensitivity, which may result in increased redness or irritation from shaving.  Instead, exfoliate the night before if you like to shave in the morning.

These tips will not only result in a better shave with less irritation, but will also keep your skin looking its best.  

How to Treat and Prevent Ingrown Hair

Ingrown hairs are an inevitable part of life for those who shave regularly.  An ingrown hair is the result of hair that has been cut or shaved so short that the remaining hair recedes below the surface of the skin.  As this hair continues to grow, it becomes lodged under the surface of the skin.  The resulting condition may produce a swollen red bump of the surface of the skin that is usually painful to the touch.

There are numerous treatments for ingrown hairs, such as extraction with tweezers or the application of a topical solution, usually containing glycolic acid.  Most ingrown hairs can be easily extracted with tweezers, although this treatment may result in possible infection.  If extracting an ingrown hair with tweezers, it is a good idea to wash your hands first and sanitize the tweezers with rubbing alcohol in order to prevent the risk of infection.

Prevention of ingrown hairs can usually be achieved by making changes in one's shaving routine.  Those with curly hair are especially prone to ingrown hairs, as well as those with thick or coarse hair.  If you have curly hair or coarse hair, the best way to avoid this condition is by shaving the hair in the direction in which the hair grows, rather than in the opposite direction.  This, of course, will result in a shave that is not as close, but it will certainly prevent ingrown hairs since the cut hairs won't recede below the surface of the skin.

There are also a variety of home remedies which can be used to treat ingrown hairs.  One popular remedy is applying unscented stick deodorant to the shaved area.  Unscented stick deodorant contains aluminum oxide, which absorbs excess moisture from the skin and helps to reduce redness and irritation caused by shaving.  There are many store-bought products that are designed to treat ingrown hairs as well, such as Tend Skin.  This liquid is applied to the skin after shaving and is quite effective at treating ingrown hairs and razor bumps.
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Although ingrown hairs are a minor condition which rarely develops into a more dangerous condition, one should be careful not to damage the skin by squeezing or picking at the inflamed area.  In most cases, an ingrown hair will go away on its own without any treatment within a few days.

Dry Skin Tips for Men

An article with some easy steps you can take in order to prevent dry skin, written especially for men.

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/650125_dry-skin-tips-for-men