CARE AND MAINTENANCE OF HUMAN SKIN
In many cases, skin care for black men is identical to skincare products for women. There are, however, a few other factors for black men to consider. The main problem faced by black men is the treatment and care of the beard , because men shave their beards regularly, but black and mixed skin is the most difficult to shave because, once cut, the hair curves and tends to grow back under the skin. This leads to ingrown hairs, which cause irritation and shaving pimples. It is therefore necessary for these gentlemen to define an effective and comfortable skin care ritual. You can also read our Beauty Tip about it.
Image: Shaving buttons on the beard of a mixed-race man
Hair structure
The spiral and " lying " growth of beard hair makes shaving difficult for all black men (as well as women in the areas they shave). Small injuries to the blade create local inflammation, the " shaving button", through which the hair has trouble coming out. By staying under the skin and wrapping inside the pimple, it forms the ingrown hair. The shaving button, if it becomes infected, can be filled with pus.
The stages of formation of an ingrown hair
The different methods of shaving
- The mower
The mower does not allow to obtain a shave closely. But it is suitable if you want to keep a hair of a few millimeters like " beard of 3 days ". The end of the hair protruding from the epidermis, the ingrown hairs are no longer to be feared. The disadvantage is that this method leaves the skin stinging and beard exposed, which can be troublesome in the professional environment.
- The electric shaver
The electric shaver makes it possible to obtain a clean shave. But the repeated friction of the passage of the blades on the skin, especially when it is dry or if the shave is dry, can irritate it and therefore promote the appearance of shaving pimples the use of a foam or a shaving gel. However, the use of a good quality multi-blade razor limits the risk of irritation.
- The manual razor
For this it is necessary to allow time. Choose the time after bath or shower. The skin is thus moistened and the hair more supple. The use of a moisturizing shaving cream also helps to soften the skin and prevents the appearance of ingrown hairs. It is best for a daily shave to use a single-blade razor and throw it away regularly : every two to three days. This helps to prevent the appearance of marks due to the passage of the razor. In addition, a razor used for too long is more likely to irritate the skin. As for double or triple blade razors, they tend to accentuate folliculitis. Indeed, these razors cut the hair in bevel and this accentuates the problem of these hairs that grow oblique and curly.
- Depilatory products
These are creams or powders specially formulated for shaving men of Afro-Caribbean descent. It is the best solution for shaving without a razor, so without a blade coming into contact with the skin. The appearance of shaving pimples is significantly limited. In addition, hair regrowth is slower, but the laying time indicated must be scrupulously respected to avoid burns. The shave obtained is correct without being as sharp as with a razor.
- Permanent hair removal
Electric or laser hair removal. It is possible on black skin but it must be practiced by a doctor who knows black skin very well and who has the appropriate equipment (laser at the right wavelength). However this technique is very expensive and painful.
Preferred care
- Scrubs
The scrub avoids as much as possible to have a granular skin by eliminating the excess of dead cells. It is these dead cells that, by accumulating, clog the hair ducts and prevent the hair from piercing the skin.
It is recommended to perform a gentle scrub before each beard shave, at least two to three times a week when the body is concerned. A gentle scrub comes in the form of a paste with grains that will exfoliate your skin but gently, such as the CLEAN'OYA® EXTRA Exfoliating Cleansing Gel. Grains that are too large, too abrasive for the face in particular, can irritate our skin, which is very sensitive and will systematically darken because of irritation. Similarly, horsehair gloves for the body or abrasive sponges for the face are to be avoided because their use may lead to the appearance of hyperpigmentation and spots.
- Hydration
Good hydration, with a product adapted to your skin type (dry skin or combination to oily skin) for the face and for the body a moisturizing and soothing product, is recommended after shaving that has weakened the skin. To help the skin heal and limit inflammation, it may be important to make sure that the moisturizer used is also an antiseptic, or to use an antiseptic before moisturizing the shaved area.
As with the beauty of women, there is no single solution for men to have beautiful skin. Everyone must find the routine that suits them.
Despite all the precautions taken, some hair sometimes remains under the skin and requires a small gesture to help them get out. The best is to extract them gently with a needle slipped underneath, and straighten them without tearing them off. Otherwise, a new hair will be made in depth and will be "blocked" again . For the same reason, it is not recommended to remove them with tweezers, let alone wax them: besides pain, the risk is overall inflammation during regrowth.
