Once you know the feeling of having smooth, fresh, and silky skin after shaving, there’s usually no going back. If you have ever tried waxing or even epilating, you know shaving is the fastest and pain-free way to remove hair. The trouble some of us find ourselves in after having spent a few minutes shaving comes shortly after. The dreaded post-shave itch.
When we shave, several things can happen if we aren’t careful. Using a razor to trim the hair on our bodies often leaves our pores vulnerable to new bacteria. Combining this with the fact that our hair will be prompted to grow again can create an unbearable itchy situation.
I know this pain all too well and have scoured the internet for possible solutions. Here’s what didn’t work: Using a “clean” razor, using shaving cream, and using lotion straight after getting out of the shower. The post-shave itch returned as it always inevitably had. That is until I dug a little deeper into my skin, literally and figuratively speaking. I had finally found several natural remedies for itchy skin after shaving.
Here are those solutions in order from the one that semi-helped to the best solution of them all.
6. Shave in the Direction of Hair Growth
Most of us shave in an upwards direction, leaving us with a close and clean shave. This method recommends you shave in a downward direction, which is usually the same direction as the way your hair naturally grows.
Does this solution work as a natural remedy for itchy skin after shaving? 100% yes, hands down, without a doubt. Does it leave you with smooth silky skin? N-O.
This is something I had resorted to before I discovered the other solutions on this list. It definitely stopped the itching, but it always left me feeling prickly like I hadn’t really shaven at all. While the hair is usually shaven short enough not to notice from afar, I would only recommend this solution if none of the other natural remedies on this list are plausible for you.
5. Lower Water Temperatures
This is among the easiest and simplest natural remedies for itchy skin after shaving. Some of us can’t imagine taking anything but a scalding hot shower creating a lovely sauna experience at the end of a long hard day. Taking hot showers is however one culprit for dry and itchy skin.
Hot showers are okay every now and then for muscle relaxation and stuffy noses, but when done repeatedly they strip our skin of its natural oils. This drys out our skin and can even cause some of our cells to release histamine into the skin causing itching. Heat can also increase inflammation in the skin, leading to more itching.
Lower the temperature of your shower to something as low as you can stand. Cool showers are good not only for our skin but our hair as well. They help lock in moisture giving us healthy and glowing hair and skin.
4. Dry Brushing Before Showering
Dry brushing before the shower helps exfoliate the skin, without abrasive in shower scrubs. This has made the list of natural remedies for itchy skin as it is a good way to remove dead skin and keep itching at bay.
As added bonuses, dry brushing also helps our skin absorb more nutrients, improve blood circulation, and reduce the appearance of cellulite!
Don’t have a dry brush yet? You can find one here.
3. Using Rose Water Toner
Using Rosewater toner to stop post-shave itching is a great natural alternative to using an aftershave. Once I discovered the purpose of aftershave, I figured hey toner is a natural astringent why not try this instead? Boy, I am glad I did.
Rosewater toner helps prevent bacteria from forming in our freshly shaved pores. In addition to that Rosewater has anti-inflammatory properties and can help reduce the redness of irritated skin.
After getting out of the shower, I will mist rosewater toner on any freshly shaven areas, and allow it to absorb in the skin. Next, I follow up with a nice aloe vera moisturizer (which is next up on our list).
2. Moisturizing with Aloe Vera
Instead of turning to a perfumed scented lotion filled with artificial ingredients and harsh chemicals, I have learned that using plain aloe vera is the best moisturizing when considering natural remedies for itchy skin. Aloe Vera is known to absorb easily into our skin and it is perfect for sealing in moisture. Dry skin is one of the main causes of post-shave itching. It also helps cool the skin, providing inflammatory relief.
Personally, I’ve noticed Aloe Vera makes a HUGE difference. After applying rosewater toner, and then aloe vera after my shower, it keeps my skin feeling silky smooth until the next time it’s time for me to shave. Most aloe vera products come in gel forms, as this is closest to what the actual plant produces. It may be strange at first rubbing down your whole body in aloe vera, but I promise it will dry within 5 minutes tops.
Here is a good post-shave aloe vera gel.
1. Drinking More Water
This is by far the best solution to post-shave itching. Instead of trying to fix the problem from the outside, I realized it’s better to look at the bigger picture. Often our skin is dry because we are dehydrated (as more than half of all adults are), and shaving just irritates our dry skin to no avail making it incredibly itchy.
Drinking enough water hydrates the skin enough to stop post-shave itching in its track.
Drinking enough water hydrates the skin enough to stop post-shave itching in its track. A day or two before you know you need to shave, start chugging down the H2O. Or better yet, join our 5 day self care challenge and make drinking enough water part of your daily routine. Sure drinking enough water is among the remedies for itchy skin, but it helps with so much more than you can imagine. Your body will thank you. Sign up below and get started today!
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