Which is better: wet or dry?
It depends on the condition of your skin and what you're used to (e.g. a dry shave is recommended for sufferers of chronic acne). The advantage of a wet shave is thoroughness, and the advantages of a dry shave are speed and convenience. In both cases you should help your skin to regenerate quickly after shaving by using the right aftershave care: e.g. aftershave enriched with moisturisers and vitamins.
For a wet and dry shave in one use the Philips Moisturising Shaving System - an electric shaver with NIVEA MEN skincare expertise.
And what if I cut myself?
Cold water is often enough to stop small cuts from bleeding. An anti-bacterial and styptic pencil will help to stop heavier bleeding (available at the chemist's).
My skin is nearly always irritable with red spots after shaving. Why is that?
This can be caused by many things:
Do you shave against the direction of hair growth?
Do you press down too hard on the blade?
Do you use strong-smelling shaving products containing alcohol?
Do you rub your skin dry with a towel after shaving instead of patting it?
Or do you use an electric shaver and rip the stubble out of your skin?
This often happens on a lower setting too... Consult a dermatologist should the problem continue.
I often have in-growing facial hair. How does this occur and how can I avoid it?
In-growing facial hairs are often caused by incorrect shaving.
Rule number 1 when having a wet shave: never shave against the direction of hair growth! If you shave in all directions, this quickly pulls the facial hair out, causing unnecessary stress for the skin and possibly inflammation. Very horny skin can make it even more difficult for facial hair to grow out – the hairs remain underneath the surface and grow inwards.
Tip: Regular exfoliation removes dead skin cells. Last but not least, if your skin is particularly bad, this can distort the hair follicles and sometimes the direction of hair growth, which can lead to hair growing along under the skin. In-growing facial hair can often be removed using tweezers (carefully!) – but only when a red circle has not yet formed around the hair. If this is the case, consult a dermatologist.
What is the difference between shaving gels, foams and creams?
Selecting a shaving product really is a matter of personal taste.
The advantage of a shaving foam is that it can be used quickly and directly after spraying from the can.
Shaving gel, on the other hand, is sprayed into your hand without having to shake the container. By moving it through your fingers in a circular motion, a large amount of shaving foam is created from a small amount of shaving gel.
Shaving with the help of a shaving cream is the classic approach. But it requires a shaving brush. Move the dampened brush in a circular motion until a creamy foam develops.