eTopical Precious Finds
Grooming rituals are a necessary part of
life, but the compulsion to over-groom can put your health at risk. If you’re
shaving on a daily basis, here are 4 reasons you may want to slow your roll:
1. Razors are loaded with bacteria
Each time you shave, you’re risking
infection. Shaving creates micro-tears in your skin, which invites a host of
bacteria into your bloodstream. While some of that bacteria is already on your
skin, the majority comes from your razor.
A 2012 Microban
study found between 300 and 4.9 million colony forming units (CFUs) on
disposable razor handles; 220 to 160,000 CFUs on non-disposable razor handles;
and 100 to 4.9 million CFUs on razor cartridges. Paul McDonnell, Microban
Europe’s Managing Director, said “Because of heat
and moisture, bathrooms are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria. While the
results did cover a wide range, the fact that one of the swabs showed 4.9
million CFU on one of the razor blade handles underlines the potential problem.”
Microban
mentioned the possibility of incorporating antibacterial technology into wet
razor handles and cartridges, but it might be a while before we see those
features. In the meantime, if you insist on shaving, change your blades at
least once a week and store your razor in a cool, dry place. Bathrooms tend to
get humid and damp, so keep your razor in your bedroom.
Be
sure to clean and dry your
razor
before stashing it away. Pat the blade down with a dry towel after each use or
use a hairdryer for about ten seconds. You’ll extend the life of your razor and
prevent a nasty infection at the same time.
2. Cleaning a
disposable razor isn’t easy
You’ve probably tried to clean a disposable razor, but with the
blade wrapped in wire and set deeply into the razor head, it’s not an easy
task. You can fuss around with rubbing alcohol and other cleaning solutions,
but it’s more hygienic to switch to a razor you can clean – like a safety
razor.
Safety razors are the old school razors your great grandfather
used and they’re making a rapid comeback. Safety razors are popping up all over
the place including on sites like Shave.net and even Walmart to bring classic shaving tools
to the masses.
Although you’ll get a better shave with a safety razor, the most
important thing is that replacement blades are easy to clean and dry. Stainless
steel blades contain a minimum of 10.5% chromium by mass, which makes the blade
resistant to rust and corrosion. That’s great news because you don’t want to
risk dragging rust into your bloodstream.
While all metals will rust eventually – including stainless steel
– buying high-quality stainless steel blades will lessen that potential. Just
make sure you clean and dry your blade after every use. The chemical reaction
between the metal and dissolved salts from the water will eventually
create rust.
3. Hair exists to
protect your body
If you’re in the habit of shaving your
nether region, you may want to reconsider. According to Cosmopolitan, public
hair exists to provide a cushion against friction that can cause skin abrasion
and prevents bacteria from getting too close to your sensitive, private areas.
Shaving your pubic hair irritates your skin and creates the same micro-tears
that leave you prone to infection on other areas of your body.
These micro-abrasions down there are worse because that area
is more prone to becoming a moist environment where dangerous bacteria can
thrive.
Instead of shaving, try trimming your
pubic and armpit hair. Armpit hair also serves a similar purpose, and it
prevents chaffing when you sweat. When you shave it off, you lose that
protection.
4. Trying to meet beauty standards you don’t agree with is exhausting
There have always been women who refuse
to adhere to arbitrary beauty standards. Today’s women are posting photos on social media to make a
statement to the world that they’re perfectly happy with body hair. It’s
natural, after all.
Shaving off your body hair to meet
someone else’s beauty standards is exhausting. If you don’t want to shave, give
yourself a reprieve.
If you’re going to shave every day, keep your tools clean
There are plenty of good reasons to stop
shaving on the daily, but if that’s not an option, at least upgrade your tools
to a razor you can easily clean. With a clean, sharp razor, you’re less likely
to get those irritating bumps and rashes and infection is less likely to occur.
Grooming rituals are a necessary part of life, but the compulsion to over-groom can put your health at risk. If you’re shaving on a daily basis, here are 4 reasons you may want to slow your roll:
1. Razors are loaded with bacteria
Each time you shave, you’re risking
infection. Shaving creates micro-tears in your skin, which invites a host of
bacteria into your bloodstream. While some of that bacteria is already on your
skin, the majority comes from your razor.
A 2012 Microban
study found between 300 and 4.9 million colony forming units (CFUs) on
disposable razor handles; 220 to 160,000 CFUs on non-disposable razor handles;
and 100 to 4.9 million CFUs on razor cartridges. Paul McDonnell, Microban
Europe’s Managing Director, said “Because of heat
and moisture, bathrooms are ideal breeding grounds for bacteria. While the
results did cover a wide range, the fact that one of the swabs showed 4.9
million CFU on one of the razor blade handles underlines the potential problem.”
Microban
mentioned the possibility of incorporating antibacterial technology into wet
razor handles and cartridges, but it might be a while before we see those
features. In the meantime, if you insist on shaving, change your blades at
least once a week and store your razor in a cool, dry place. Bathrooms tend to
get humid and damp, so keep your razor in your bedroom.
Be
sure to clean and dry your
razor
before stashing it away. Pat the blade down with a dry towel after each use or
use a hairdryer for about ten seconds. You’ll extend the life of your razor and
prevent a nasty infection at the same time.
2. Cleaning a
disposable razor isn’t easy
You’ve probably tried to clean a disposable razor, but with the
blade wrapped in wire and set deeply into the razor head, it’s not an easy
task. You can fuss around with rubbing alcohol and other cleaning solutions,
but it’s more hygienic to switch to a razor you can clean – like a safety
razor.
Safety razors are the old school razors your great grandfather
used and they’re making a rapid comeback. Safety razors are popping up all over
the place including on sites like Shave.net and even Walmart to bring classic shaving tools
to the masses.
Although you’ll get a better shave with a safety razor, the most
important thing is that replacement blades are easy to clean and dry. Stainless
steel blades contain a minimum of 10.5% chromium by mass, which makes the blade
resistant to rust and corrosion. That’s great news because you don’t want to
risk dragging rust into your bloodstream.
While all metals will rust eventually – including stainless steel
– buying high-quality stainless steel blades will lessen that potential. Just
make sure you clean and dry your blade after every use. The chemical reaction
between the metal and dissolved salts from the water will eventually
create rust.
3. Hair exists to
protect your body
If you’re in the habit of shaving your
nether region, you may want to reconsider. According to Cosmopolitan, public
hair exists to provide a cushion against friction that can cause skin abrasion
and prevents bacteria from getting too close to your sensitive, private areas.
Shaving your pubic hair irritates your skin and creates the same micro-tears
that leave you prone to infection on other areas of your body.
These micro-abrasions down there are worse because that area
is more prone to becoming a moist environment where dangerous bacteria can
thrive.
Instead of shaving, try trimming your
pubic and armpit hair. Armpit hair also serves a similar purpose, and it
prevents chaffing when you sweat. When you shave it off, you lose that
protection.
4. Trying to meet beauty standards you don’t agree with is exhausting
There have always been women who refuse
to adhere to arbitrary beauty standards. Today’s women are posting photos on social media to make a
statement to the world that they’re perfectly happy with body hair. It’s
natural, after all.
Shaving off your body hair to meet
someone else’s beauty standards is exhausting. If you don’t want to shave, give
yourself a reprieve.
If you’re going to shave every day, keep your tools clean
There are plenty of good reasons to stop
shaving on the daily, but if that’s not an option, at least upgrade your tools
to a razor you can easily clean. With a clean, sharp razor, you’re less likely
to get those irritating bumps and rashes and infection is less likely to occur.
