Routine 101

3 Steps To A Smooth, Bump-Free Shave

By Hanna Yowell

Filed Under

No matter how often or which part of your body you’re shaving, incorporating this ritual into your skincare routine will make for a much better, smoother (literally and figuratively!) experience all around.

Shaving And Skincare

If you’ve found yourself wondering how to shave without getting bumps or ingrown hairs … you’ve come to the right place. The short answer: Give your skin some extra love throughout the whole process.

“Shaving is a form of manual exfoliation,” explains Heyday Skincare Education Director Shea Amiruddin. Not only does a shave buff off hairs, but also dead skin cells.

Just like other types of exfoliation have stipulations (i.e. timing your exfoliation in the evening, applying sunscreen regularly to account for heightened sun sensitivity), there are a few pre- and post- shave considerations to have in mind when performing this form of exfoliation.

The Heyday Shaving Guide: Steps To A Smooth Shave

1. Prep Skin

If you have time or are shaving a larger patch of skin like your legs, hop in the shower first. (Bonus points if you dry brush beforehand!) Not only will this help soften skin, but shaving clean skin is also advised, so this is the perfect time to take care of that, too.

Double cleanse: Pai Skincare Light Work + Moon Juice Milk Cleanse
Body wash: Indie Lee De-Stress Body Wash

Then, exfoliate clean skin in gentle, circular motions with a physical exfoliant, like a gentle scrub. In terms of pressure, pretend you’re pressing on a balloon that you don’t want to pop! If a shower isn’t in the cards, make sure to exfoliate to remove excess skin and lift hairs so your razor can better catch them in the next step.

Facial exfoliant: Grown Alchemist Polishing Facial Exfoliant
Body exfoliant: Grown Alchemist Intensive Body Exfoliant

2. Shave Smarter

“Next you’ll need something to provide some slip and glide,” recommends Shea. Think: shaving cream/foam/gel or hair conditioner. Make sure your razor is both clean and sharp. In terms of motion, you’ll typically want to go with the grain (in the direction the hair is growing) first. If you need a really close shave, then go against the hair growth. Rinse with cool water and pat skin dry.

Shaving cream: Ursa Major Stellar Shave Cream

3. After Shave Care

If you’re prone to ingrown hairs, apply a toner with a small percentage of salicylic acid to the skin. Either spray directly on skin, or dampen a cotton round if you need to be more precise with the application.

Post-shave toner: Herbivore Botanicals Jasmine Green Tea Oil Control Toner

For even more anti-inflammatory action, consider massaging an ice roller over the area. Then, apply a moisturizer to soothe the skin.

After-shave facial moisturizer: Alchimie Forever Kantic Calming Cream
After-shave body moisturizer: Osea Malibu Anti-Aging Body Balm

You’ll want to treat skin like you would any other day post-exfoliation, so make sure to apply SPF to any areas that will be seeing the light of day. Also, avoid other exfoliating products (i.e. retinol, AHAs/BHAs) that day since you just recently exfoliated.