Q&A for How to Shave

Itchiness is usually caused by dry skin. Make sure you're moisturizing the skin underneath your facial hair and not using any drying alcohol-based products.

I definitely recommend exfoliating your face if you have razor burn. Then, apply an astringent—ideally witch hazel and not an alcohol-based astringent so you don't dry your skin out. Finally, splatter cold water on your skin to close the pores.

Make sure you're prepping your hair and skin before shaving. You want to wash your face and exfoliate to get rid of all of your dead skin. You also want to apply heat to soften your hairs and open up your pores. Either apply a hot, damp towel to your skin or shave after you take a hot shower. Shaving in the direction your hair grows can also prevent razor burn.

Shaving your hair doesn't actually make it thicker or darker. However, it might look that way as it's growing back in, since the cut middle of the hair shaft is thicker than the tapered tip of a newly-grown hair.

If they are tiny, miniscule bumps, you should be fine shaving over them as long as you are careful. If they are the large and painful kind, you might want to shave around them and go back over them carefully later on.

It depends how your face feels after you shave. I use warm water in winter, cool in the summer.

Go in with small gentle strokes. If you make it too quick, you might nick yourself. Also, do not use an old dull razor, change blades often.

Apply pressure or stick a piece of tissue to it, or apply a stiptic pencil to the cut.

It mostly depends on your puberty experience and your parents' rules. Some people like to start shaving as soon as they begin growing body hair, but there are parents who aren't comfortable with letting younger children (like 11-12) use razors, especially girls. However, in general, you can start shaving as soon as you have body hair to shave.

Whenever they feel their hair needs to be trimmed down. It's different for everyone.

Tell them why your reason is and get your mom to help you the first time so she knows you know how to do it. If your parents still don't let you, wait a little bit longer until you ask them again.

No. Shaving won't make your hair grow faster. It is a popular misconception. The new stubble just makes it feel that way.

Yes, but make sure to clean it every couple of swipes, otherwise it will get clogged and won't give you a close cut.

No, as your skin will be raw after you shave and it will need time to settle before you can use a face mask without irritating it.

Yes, you can shave whatever parts of your body that you are comfortable with shaving.

You won't ruin it, but that will just make it duller.

You are probably shaving too hard. You can try using a different shaving cream. Shaving too quickly can cause ingrown hair, and the best way to prevent this is to take a break from shaving for about a week. Let the hair grow back first. Then remove all the ingrown hair first before shaving again.

Yes, this is likely caused by an ingrown hair.

If you would like to shave without shaving cream, you should use an electric razor, instead. If not, you should always wash the area you are going to shave and make sure it's not dry. Other options for shaving cream include a few drops of baby oil, shea butter, or just soap. These might not work as well, but they will get the job done.

While only you can decide when you need to shave, I would not recommend it.

You can get it professionally waxed at a salon. That should remove tiny hairs.

It depends on how much hair you have. However, normally it would take around 10-20 minutes.

Disposable razors are not meant to have their blades changed. You throw out the whole thing when it's dull and use a new one.

First of al,l don't feel shy. Just tell your parents you need to start shaving.

No, as the chemicals in them can cause severe irritation to your face.

Yes, it sounds like you have a poor quality razor. I would recommend doing a little research and buying one with good reviews.

You should shave your armpits and legs, but only if you're actually growing hair there. There's no need to shave anywhere else at 11.

This is not true. Shaving will not cause your hair to grow back thicker or coarser. It is because the hair looks thicker when it is blunt at the first growth stage but this is both an optical illusion and disappears when the hairs grow out longer. Think of it––if they did grow back thicker, they'd do that every time someone shaved, so that by the time a bearded person was shaving at 50, he'd be shaving off hair the size of tree logs.

Not at all. There is a double standard in shaving, men usually don't have to shave, however a woman is deemed as "gross" if she doesn't shave. Shaving is optional unless it's for a medical reason (e.g. if you have an operation coming up). Shaving is a personal preference. If shaving makes you feel more confident or comfortable, then that's okay but you shouldn't have to shave if you don't want to.

Moisturiser will calm it but for less pain in general, try Nair (for pubic hair use extra sensitive) and remember that Nair women and Nair men work exactly the same, they just have different scents.