Your facial skin is extremely delicate and can get bruised quite easily. This is what happens when you shave using incorrect techniques or methods. Prolonged irritation or razor burns can cause your skin to darken. It is therefore important that you learn to shave correctly. There are a few basic rules that you should follow in order to ensure minimal irritation while shaving.
Never shave against the grain: when you shave, make sure that you slide the razor in the same direction as the hair growth and not in the opposite direction.
Do not shave as soon as you wake up: your face is generally puffy when you wake up and if you shave immediately, you will find that your clean shaved look lasts for a shorter amount of time.
Shower first: It is better to shave directly after your morning shower. A shower helps to moisturize and soften your facial hair and makes shaving an easier task.
Use a scrub: Use a facial scrub to get rid of any dirt and grime as well as dead skin cells on the surface of your skin. Dead skin cells and dirt can make shaving tougher and can increase the chances of minor skin problems like boils or rashes that can ultimately cause discoloration.
Use a moisturizer: It is very important to use a moisturizer before you shave. Apply the moisturizer at least 5 minutes before you shave. A moisturizer helps to soften your skin allowing the blade to glide easily over your skin and minimizing the risk of razor burns. You can make a simple but effective moisturizer by mixing 3 drops each of olive oil and flaxseed oil along with 1 tablespoon of warm water. Pour this mixture into a small bottle and shake it well. Apply this liquid generously to your face before and after your shave.
Shave in one pass: Lather your face and then pass the razor over the area you wish to shave. Make sure that you use a single long stroke and not several short ones as this will irritate your skin. Do not use two passes (in both directions) as this will increase soreness and can cause damage to your skin.
Do not use excess pressure: Do not use excess pressure when shaving as this is one of the main causes of skin discoloration. When you use excess pressure, you scrape away the upper layer of healthy skin cells and this causes irritation or soreness. If you do this on a regular basis, it will cause the skin in these areas to darken.
To get rid of this discoloration, you can also use a facial scrub made out of lightly crushed walnuts, raw potato juice and honey. This will help to get rid of the upper layer of dry skin while moisturizing the lower layer of skin.
answered by a