In my last post, I shared what was hot on the streets in the swim department. While I’m glad you enjoyed the read, I can’t help but notice… that I didn’t help my girls with the skin prep! Personally, I have never been very attentive when it came to taking care of my skin until I realized the dangers of neglecting it!
I think around the age of twelve or so, was when I started to open my eyes to things I hadn’t necessarily paid attention to before. This, of course, comes with the territory of puberty and, of course, is when curiosity fills my brain. Why did my hair grow here? Where did this body odor come from? Why is my chest a little tender? I am so confused.
One day, I remember I had gone to an end-of-the-year pool party that was hosted by my middle school for all of the students. To sum up the experience, I had come home crying, pleading with my mom to allow me to shave my legs. The answer was still no. Thirty swift minutes later, and I was attempting to shave every single piece of hair off of my shins and calves with my father’s razor to save myself the embarrassment at school tomorrow.
The next morning, before school, red marks from scratches swelled up my legs. Hives raised and increased on my pre-teen skin that very next day as my mother realized I had been scratching my bare skin all night. All I wanted was smooth hairless skin, yet I ended up with even worse legs as I accidentally broke the skin from the irritation. I share this incredibly embarrassing story because, to tell you the truth, there are probably a lot of us out there that don’t know how to properly shave, exfoliate, and moisturize. Being the queen of trial and error that I am, I feel it’s important for me to share my experience and help other black women.
Shaving
Shaving can be a pain in the ass if not done correctly. If you’re a black woman reading this like me, you’re more than likely aware of how easily prone our skin can be to razor bumps. The difference between whether you’re left with bumps or smooth-ass skin comes down to one very important tool: your razor. Did you know women’s razors typically have 3 blades as opposed to men’s having 5? Men’s razors can also be easier to use, as they’re meant to navigate the contours of the face. It’ll glide perfectly around the bikini area.
When it comes to shaving, the blade is not only important, but the motion and direction in which you’re shaving is helpful when reducing irritation. Your pubic hair is thicker than the hair on the rest of your body, and the skin in that area is ultra-delicate, so you want to shave in the same direction as your natural hair growth to avoid any bumps and irritation.
Exfoliation
When you hear the word exfoliate, you immediately think of smooth and soft skin. So naturally, exfoliating is essential when it comes to shaving. It’s always recommended to do so before shaving to avoid any hair follicles curling back up into your pores.
Exfoliating buffs away the product buildup, oil, and dead skin cells that are sitting on the surface of your skin—if you don’t get rid of that layer, those dead skin cells can clog your hair follicles and trap your hair under the skin, which results in ingrown hairs. Removing dead skin first through a process of exfoliation will not only ensure the hair follicle is in the best condition for hair removal, but will also help allow for normal growth post-shave.
Moisturizer
Now that we have an understanding of the importance of properly shaving and maintenance such as exfoliating, it’s time to show off that summer glow. Sharing my story about my irritated skin was to highlight how sensitive our skin is post-shaving. The skin can be raw coming out of the shower due to not only the shaving but also the heat from the steam of the shower. Not only do I slab my body with a thick-based lubricant post shower, but I also use an in-shower body lotion to coat my skin while it’s still wet. This added pomade seals and locks in any additional moisture to keep your skin calm.
What are your ways to implement healthy skin this summer? Leave us a comment down below or feel free to message us!