You must shave in the downwards direction as it protects you from getting razor burns or ingrown hair. Although shaving against the grain can undoubtedly give you a closer shave, it is not something you must follow if you have sensitive skin.
The right shaving technique to avoid razor bumps involves one absolutely inviolate rule, and that is, never shave against the grain. It means never shave in the opposite direction of your hair growth. Instead, you must always shave with the grain; in the direction of your hair growth.
Shave in the direction that the hair grows.
Shave in both directions
Shaving against the grain – i.e. up the leg – supposedly gives a closer shave, but it also increases the risk of nicks, cuts and bumps. It's best to start by shaving down the leg, in the direction of the hair's growth.
That is to say, shave in the direction that you can run your hand over it smoothly, instead of feeling the friction of resistance. If you shave forward, you reduce your chances of ingrown hairs and red bumps due to trapped hairs furled under the surface of the skin.
An upwards shave may give you an ultimately clean and close shave, but it has the potential to damage and injure your skin which is an irritant and can cause immense discomfort and result in a shabby appearance.
Shave in the right direction
If all your hair is pointing up, then shave in an upward motion. Doing this reduces the chances of irritation, cuts, or razor burn. You can also go from side to side, helping your skin in that area get used to a razor.
A combination of polls shows that 80 to 90 percent of women prefer some amount of grooming for starters. Only 10 to 20 percent prefer guys with a completely unkempt bush; this means that going wild below the waist is not the default look. It may require less work, but you're not playing the odds.
Pubic hair removal is common — approximately 80 percent of women ages 18 to 65 report they remove some or all of their pubic hair.
Gently press down on the razor, pull the skin taut and shave in short, steady strokes in the direction of the hair growth. Rinse off the razor after each stroke to keep the blades clean. For a closer shave, reapply shave gel and carefully shave against the direction of the hair growth.
While shaving against the grain helps you get much closer to the skin, it also increases the risk of skin irritation, razor bumps, or even razor burn. What happens when you shave against the grain is that the razor blade tugs the hair before it cuts it.
“There is no right or certain age to start shaving,” said Rashell Orey, a licensed master social worker at Banner Health. “Some may be eager to start very early, while for others, this could be a scary thought. It's a conversation that you'll need to discuss with them.”
You're Less Likely To Get Rashes
If you don't shave, those things aren't really a possibility anymore, leaving you and your lady parts in peace. Indeed, Dweck listed infected hair follicles (folliculitis), rashes, and irritation (razor burn) as some of the most common issues she sees from patients who shave.
Pubic Hair Trends
According to the researchers, when asked if they removed their pubic hair, 80% of women and 39% of men removed their pubic hair near the time of the survey. Also, 3% of women and 21% of men had never removed their pubic hair.
Trim between 2mm and 6mm lengths for neat and tidy pubic hair.
Folliculitis is typically caused by bacteria. Folliculitis causes red and white pimples to grow around the hair follicle resulting in that prickly feeling after shaving. Rest assured, mild cases of folliculitis should clear on its own within a number of days.
There's no medical or hygienic reason for removing some or all of your pubic hair. But the removal process can be painful and cause many side effects, including: Genital itching, sometimes severe.
Some teens don't do anything with their pubic hair, leaving it to grow naturally. Some girls remove hair when they'll be wearing a bathing suit, and some remove hair regularly as part of their beauty routine. No health benefits are linked to removing pubic hair, so choose what feels right for you.
Dr. Kihczak says a close shave typically lasts one or two days and requires upkeep every two to three days. Once you start to shave, always work in the direction of the hair growth. Going against the grain can result in redness, irritation, and ingrown hairs.
Even now, however, you have to be careful where you focus your hair removal, because shaving certain parts of your body can cause lasting damage. And there's one body part in particular you should never shave—your eyebrows.
Easing Friction
Not shaving reduces skin-on-skin contact friction, which means when you do activities that involve arm movement, like running or walking, your skin is much less likely to get irritated by the friction. This might lead to fewer skin issues like rashes and ingrown hairs.