When we think about shaving our faces, we often think of a burly man who had just come back from a week-long fishing trip ready to shave off his cavemen's facial hair. But women actually shave their faces too.
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00:00You may have heard about the female face-shaving craze on the internet, or maybe even from
00:04that friend who's obsessed with getting rid of her peach fuzz.
00:07Sure, shaving gets rid of the hair on your face, but is it healthy and safe?
00:11Here's a look at what really happens when you shave your face.
00:14Is shaving dangerous?
00:16According to Dr. Sal Nadkarni, it depends on what you use and how you use it.
00:20He told us,
00:21You have to take precautions and use new blades, but I would not suggest using a regular razor.
00:25If you are using it for the purpose of getting rid of the hair and exfoliation, you are talking
00:29cuts galore — those blades are extremely sharp.
00:32If you're worried about accidentally cutting yourself, though, Dr. Sheila Nazarian suggests
00:36having a professional shave your face for you.
00:38It's best to have it done by someone who is experienced, and combine it with a light peel
00:41afterwards for even more exfoliation.
00:44Both Dr. Nazarian and Dr. Sal believe it is best to use a device designed specifically
00:49for the purpose of female face-shaving.
00:50Dara Levy, who created the Dermaflash for just that reason, explained,
00:54Men grow terminal hair, which is like a piece of copper wire.
00:57Women grow vellus hair, which is soft and delicate.
01:00Facial shaving for women with a razor designed for the tough skin and terminal hair on a
01:03man's skin is counterintuitive.
01:06Anthony Sosnick, founder of the Anthony line of skincare products, says cleansing and exfoliating
01:10the area before you shave will help prevent ingrown hairs and unwanted razor burn.
01:14He suggests shaving in the shower because,
01:16The heat from the steam softens the hairs and helps the hairs stand up as much as 30
01:20percent, so they will be easier to cut off.
01:23Use a non-foaming cream to give you a nice lather because more foam means more air, so
01:27the blade can't get as close to your skin as possible.
01:30In addition to removing the hair, shaving also exfoliates the skin.
01:33Dermatologist Dr. Christina Goldenberg defines exfoliation as,
01:37The process of physically removing dead skin cells from the superficial layers of the skin.
01:41The skin is left feeling smooth and soft and appears more even.
01:45And she says exfoliation also helps make skincare products work better.
01:48Penetration of nutritional skincare products containing important ingredients such as vitamin
01:53C, antioxidants, glycolic acid, and other ingredients that are often present in moisturizers,
01:58toners, and face masks is improved.
02:01Of course, not every woman considers facial hair unsightly or wants to shave.
02:05For women who do want to shave, though, a common fear is that the hair will grow back
02:08thicker or fuller.
02:09But dermatologist Dr. Debbie Palmer told Fox News that this just ain't so.
02:13There is a myth that if you shave your facial hair it will grow back coarser or darker,
02:18but that is not true.
02:20So your hair will grow back the same way that it was.
02:24One benefit of shaving is that it helps prepare your face for the application of makeup.
02:28Because shaving creates a smoother base for your products, they absorb more readily, and
02:32the condition of your skin will appear to be improved.
02:34Dr. Goldenberg recommends waiting an hour after shaving before applying makeup.
02:38Face shaving instantly smooths out the texture of the skin and allows makeup to go on a lot
02:42more evenly.
02:43Therefore, it is a great technique to use before an event to achieve glowing, radiant
02:46skin.
02:48As with any skincare treatment, you need to make sure you take care of your skin afterwards
02:51to get the most out of it and to avoid irritation or damage.
02:55According to Dr. Sal, you need to use moisturizer when you are done.
02:58Part of the reason why you have hair is that it is a body protector, so use sunscreen after
03:02you shave.
03:03Sosnick agrees that moisturizing is one of the most important steps post-shaving.
03:07He suggests choosing products with specific ingredients including aloe vera, chamomile,
03:12and allantonin.
03:13If your main skincare goal is to look younger, shaving may actually hurt more than help.
03:18According to Dr. Goldenberg, there isn't much evidence that it helps with anti-aging.
03:22Certainly if its anti-aging claims were true, those of us that shave every day would look
03:26much younger than our actual age.
03:28Some suggest that shaving down actually stretches out collagen and elastic fibers, producing
03:32more jowling.
03:33Exfoliation is an integral part of a proper skincare routine, but if you are afraid to
03:38shave your face, don't worry, because shaving is certainly not the only way to exfoliate.
03:42Dr. Sal revealed,
03:43"...those tiny hairs should come off with regular exfoliation anyway."
03:47If you are hesitant about shaving, just exfoliate.
03:50Shaving is just another way to exfoliate.
03:52There isn't a major advantage to it if you just have those small little hairs that you
03:55can barely see.
03:56For women with thicker facial hair, there are also options such as laser removal and
04:00electrolysis, or just owning it and rocking a beard.
04:03Whatever you choose, remember, there's really no wrong way to love your face.