It’s growing on me

If you’re prone to acne, experts say it’s better you stay away from shaving your face

Back in college, this writer had a friend who once sheepishly admitted to having shaved her face with a traditional razor as a cheaper, easier DIY hair removal option. She didn't quite dwell on the aftermath as it wasn't a pleasant experience to relive. Eventually, she reverted to the good ol' waxing strips.
That was then.

Cut to now: the Internet has been in frenzy with videos of women proudly wielding a scalpel to remove peach fuzz or "baby hair", a translucent, soft hair that appears during childhood. Although noticeable only at close range, it continues to irk many. The fact that it's often difficult to detect, makes it doubly tricky to remove.

Beauty blogger Salisha Talwar remembers being gobsmacked watching videos of Indian bloggers shaving their face. "Traditionally, we've been advised not to shave because the hair tends to grow thicker. But here were all these women endorsing face shaving, which made me want to try it too." Talwar went on to experiment with several razors, sometimes ending up with cuts and nicks because of too much pressure or using the wrong blade. Which is why before getting into it, learn how to do it correctly, she suggests. The process is usually done on clean, dry skin using a clean blade. "It is important to get the shaving technique right. The skin needs to be stretched and the blades placed on the skin flat, the shaving handle tilted at 45°. Use short strokes while pulling the skin taut, and then move the razor gently over the skin," she explains. As somebody who experiments extensively with beauty products, Talwar says shaving makes make-up stay longer on the skin. "It prepares your skin for product application, so efficacy is improved. Some variants of foundation don't sit well if you have facial fuzz. But if there's no hair, the finish is absolutely smooth." She thinks it's a myth that your hair grows back thicker and darker when you shave it. "It grows back to what it was. No more, no less."

(Left) Blogger Khadija Islam began using razors because it's painless but now has reduced its usage due to breakouts; (right) Beauty blogger Salisha Talwar, who put up a video of her shaving her face on Instagram, says technique is important when you're using the scalpel. "Shaving facial hair, however, doesn't thicken it or change its colour," she says

Interestingly, razors for women isn't a new concept. During World War I in 1915, the Gillette Safety Razor Company introduced the first safety razor for women: the Milady Decolletée. But the product failed miserably, as shaving was still firmly associated with masculinity. Women didn't want to risk being seen purchasing a razor.

We've come a long way since. LetsShave is a startup that sells razors and grooming products for men and women. The company says their face razors have been designed as a dermaplaning tool that use a single blade to safely remove the build-up of dead skin and unwanted facial hair that make your complexion appear dull and flaky. "The common belief that makes women stay away from shaving their face is the risk of cuts and infections that could cause redness and pigmentation, making the hair grow back darker and thicker. Fact is that the Japanese have been doing it for years," says a spokesperson from LetsShave. Kao sori, Japanese for face shaving, is a popular skincare custom in the Southeast Asian country, where women take tiny razors and shave the fuzz off their faces.

Beauty influencer Khadija Islam began using razors as she has a low tolerance for pain. "I would only stick to threading my upper lips. Although it started out well, I've begun to notice that each time I shave, I tend to break out." From bi-weekly, she now only does it once in two months. "Probably I'm going wrong with the method or the blade isn't right, but I've reduced my usage." No matter how well you shave, your facial hair will typically grows back at around the 20-day mark.

If you're prone to acne, Dr Chytra V Anand, a cosmetic dermatologist and founder of Kosmoderma chain of clinics, says it's better you stay away from shaving your face. "While the pros of shaving [the face] is that it's quick, painless and easy to do if not done properly, it causes shaving cuts, can irritate pigmentation in sensitive skin and raise burn. If your hair is thick, laser hair reduction is a better procedure as it gives you permanent results."

After the act

.  Moisturise the skin immediately with the ceramide-based moisturiser to restore the skin barrier
.  Do not apply a toner or an astringent right after shaving
.  Don't use bleaching agents or any chemical exfoliant like glycolic acid or salicylic acid or lactic acid for 24 hours after shaving
.  Avoid intense sun exposure after shaving like a beach holiday or a trek. This can lead to hyper pigmentation of the skin