Gillette Venus #SubscribeToSmooth Challenge - Busting Women's Shaving Myths

It's time for the final update of the Gillette Venus #SubscribeToSmooth challenge and finally it's going to be about all the shaving myths that need to be busted out of our heads. The last time I shared tips and tricks for the perfect shave and trust me if you follow those, shaving can be a real smooth experience for you. Well while this challenge was for a month, I extended it for myself for one more month because I really wanted to see for myself if the myths were actually myths or does prolonged usage of the method of shaving actually prove some myths right. I just didn't realize that it has been two months of just shaving, and so it's all just a mindset change that you need to have. Today I can confidently tell you that I completely support anyone who wants to only shave for the rest of their lives, and that has only happened because I have been able to bust all the myths that I had in my head. So here I am now, to bust them for you too :)

Myth #1: Shaving leaves skin dry and flaky

It is very important to prepare your skin for the process, follow a certain method while shaving as well as take good care of it after you finish. Moisturization is very important before and after. Your pressure too needs to be firm yet gentle enough to cut the hair. If you need to put pressure to shave then it maybe that your razor has a dull blade which will only make you shave the same area multiple times and thus result in irritated and itchy skin thus making skin dry and flaky. If you take care about this then there will be no dry or flaky skin. Remember when you shave, it actually helps your skin become smooth by removing your top layer of dead skin along with the hair :)

Myth #2: Shaving causes hair to grow faster than other methods of hair removal

Shaving in comparison to waxing or epilation causes hair growth faster because it only cuts the hair from the surface level rather than remove from root level, so comparing it to other methods is stupid as far as growth is concerned. Hair growth speed also depends on area of the body, age and even time of the year. Underarm and pubic hair grows about 50% faster than hair on other parts of the body and so that has nothing to do with shaving. Even when I waxed, I had to wax my underarms every two weeks while for hands and legs I headed to the salon only after a month. At a younger age hair growth is faster than when you are older, so you will notice reduction in speed as you grow older. Finally seasons also make a difference. During summers you will notice the fastest growth.

Myth #3: Shaving causes hair to grow darker, thicker and coarser

Whew! Now this one together is a huge myth which most people try to blame collectively on shaving but trust me shaving does not alter hair color, texture or thickness in anyway. Our hair is thicker at the base and tapers towards the top, so when we shave, the thinner part gets sliced away and the remaining hair and initial growth looks thicker and darker than what it was earlier and feels coarser because the tips are sharp. Let the hair grow a little longer if you are worried and you will see that it is in its natural colour and much softer. Hair growth is highly determined by your genetics and hormones and so any hormonal imbalance may cause alterations.

Myth #4: Shaving causes darkening of skin especially underarms

Shaving only cuts the hair and removes the dead layer of skin thus exposing fresh skin which is delicate. A lot of women land up applying creams with harsh chemicals or deodorants immediately post shaving. If these contain chemicals and alcohol, the skin gets irritated and inflammed and causes hyperpigmentation. The underarms are most affected as they are also cut off from fresh air. If care is taken, then darkening will not happen. The ideal thing to do is apply very gentle creams or natural body butters to moisturize.

Myth #5: Shaving causes nicks and burns

If you apply too much pressure with a new razor, the sharpness can cause nicks, cuts and shaving burns. Like I have said earlier, the pressure needs to firm yet gentle. Also if your blade is dull, you will put excess pressure and have the same area multiple times thus causing cuts and burns. Also keep cleaning your razor after every stroke so that its not dirty and thus not giving you a proper shave. Use a good razor like the Gillette Venus one that has three fine blades for a close shave. There is an indicator strip that fades when the blade is losing its sharpness which also contains Aloe and Vitamin E to ease out any kind of skin irritation. Also prepare your skin well before you start shaving to avoid nicks and burns.

Myth #6: Shaving makes a tan fade faster

Tanning doesn't happen at the surface. It happens at the level where your pigment cells are present and is all about generation of melanin to protect you. It is basically a protective layer to prevent any damage deeper within. So when you shave, only the top layer of your dead skin gets removed which actually amplifies the glow of your tan which otherwise could be making you look dull.

So with these myths debunked, I hope you guys too are going to be more enthusiastic about including shaving as one of your main hair removal methods. Get going and get a hold of the Gillette Venus products - the razor(for you to know what the product is all about, head to my post here), cartridges and Satin Care shave gel. These 3 also come in a combo pack and its best used together. Do let me know if you want me to bust any other myths you may have heard of!

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Gillette Venus #SubscribeToSmooth Challenge - Tips & Tricks for the perfect shave!

About a month ago I shared with you my acceptance of the Gillette Venus #SubscribeToSmooth challenge and today it's time I gave you an update :) Well I have rarely shaved back to back and never bothered to keep a tab so documenting an experience has been a totally different ballgame.

For starters just for you girls to know my hair growth is really slow. So when it comes to waxing I have to wait for minimum a month to head to the salon and in the case of shaving I have to wait for atleast 2 weeks and sometimes even longer for the smallest hair to show up. Since the time I have taken up the challenge, I have already shaved twice and here are a mix of tips that I already use and also some that were passed down to me at the event:

1. Mositurize your skin before entering the shower
If you have dry skin like mine, moisturize your skin with a body lotion or light oil 20-30 minutes before your shower. This helps the skin soften up a bit and not be scaly in case it's dry.

2. Lightly exfoliate your skin
Exfoliate with a liquid exfoliator/scrub and not a thick one. This will help your skin to get rid of most of the dead cells that form the upper layer and prevent a close shave when you are shaving. Do this before stepping into the shower as exfoliating before opening the pores results in lower chances of itching or irritation of the skin on shaving.

3. Hydrate your skin and soften your hair with a hot shower
Shave in the shower and for a few minutes before you start shaving let the warm water and steam do its job of softening the hair, hydrating the skin and opening up your pores.

4. Apply a rich and creamy shave gel or hair conditioner
Use a rich gel like the Satin Care shaving gel. This is for smooth gliding of the razor over the skin to prevent nicks and cuts. It also moisturises the skin simultaneously as shaving strips off moisture from the skin. The hair conditioner application instead of a shaving gel was a hack that Namrata Soni gave and I tried it when I shaved for the second time and it worked just as well as a shaving gel. Avoid using highly perfumed body washes as the synthetic quotient of the perfumes might dry your skin on shaving.

5. Use light pressure
Your pressure needs to be firm yet light enough to cut the hair. If you press too hard you will not only land up irritating your skin but also be prone to razor burn, nicks and cuts. Also if you feel that you need to apply pressure which is a bit too hard, then it maybe because your razor has worn out and it's time to change the blade. Don’t shave the same area multiple times or you’ll end up with irritated and itchy skin.

6. The right direction of shaving is important
When shaving hands and legs, start upwards. Around the elbows and knees keep the pressure really light while moving upwards. Keep the direction the same throughout your shave. Underarms have to be shaved from all angles - up, down and sideways.

7. Keep cleaning your razor 
Every few strokes keep cleaning the blade thoroughly of hair before moving to the next area so as to avoid clogging which can prevent you from getting a good shave. Once you are done clean the razor and let it air-dry.

8. End the shower with cold water
Cold water helps to close the pores and so it's best to end the shaving process and shower with a cold water rinse.

9. Moisturise after shaving or use baby oil
Moisturizing is necessary to hydrate the shaved skin as it sensitive and could have gotten irritated and dry. You can even use baby oil as it is mild and is chemical free. I have easy access to it thanks to my baby and that's what I use post my shave.

10. Never share your razors
It is downright unhygienic to share your razors with anyone and so buy your own personal one. The blade anyway lasts for 3 to 4 shaves and that is completely economical thus giving you no reason to share your razor with anyone.

You can see that shaving is really simple and keeping a few tips and tricks in mind you can stay free from body hair so easily. The best part is that you don't need to wait and in case of the slightest growth the razor is there to your rescue. My travel kit also always has a razor in it as you never know when and where the requirement might come up.

My suggestion is that you too should get a hold of their products - the razor(for you to know what the product is all about, head to my post here), cartridges and Satin Care shave gel. These 3 also come in a combo pack and it's the perfect pack for you to get the perfect shave! Please feel free to drop in your queries or if you think I have missed on any tips do let me know yours too. I hope you girls found these tips useful and I can't wait to share my next post with you on shaving myths that I am going to bust.

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The Gillette Venus #SubscribeToSmooth challenge

Shaving or Waxing has always been a debatable question! For a person like me who has waxed for most part of her life, switching to shaving was a difficult decision. The reason that finally made me try shaving was my hectic work schedules and travels which left me with very little time to plan salon appointments, and I eventually accepted the stress wasn't worth it and that's how the change came about with me picking up my first trusted razor in Singapore on one of my trips. However, I never trusted the razors available in India and so when back home I used to migrate back to waxing until and unless I landed up buying some stock on my Singapore trips or asked someone to get it for me from the USA. Pregnancy and finally motherhood again left me with no time for salon appointments and there I had to switch back to shaving when urgent. This time I had to venture locally to pick up a razor and was pleasantly surprised to find the Gillette Venus razor finally available in India. Life has been so much smoother since then.

Gillette Venus as a brand has realized that women in India are quite apprehensive about shaving with numerous myths in the air about the disadvantages of shaving. So along with their brand ambassador Kriti Sanon, renowned dermatologist Dr. Rashmi Shetty and beauty expert Namrata Soni, they held an insightful panel discussion for bloggers to enlighten women on the tips and techniques of shaving and to dispel myths.

Personal experiences and scientific understandings were shared and it was really nice to hear each one's take on shaving.

Kriti Sanon's views on shaving were, “I have always followed a strict regime when it comes to taking care of my skin. Just the way I choose my films only after being confident about the script, I also adopt methods in my beauty regime only after being absolutely convinced about its results. Gillette Venus products have always been skin friendly owing to the unique design and distinctive features that perfectly suit a woman’s needs. The best part of shaving is that its hassle free and takes minimal time and enables one to be ready for any occasion at all times”.

Dr. Rashmi Shetty with her medical knowledge was all about busting myths, “I am pleased to be a part of this session, where I was given an opportunity to break the age old myths around shaving for women. Majority of women have apprehensions with regards to shaving. Many of whom I have interacted with believe that shaving will make their skin become darker or that their hair would grow faster and thicker which is why they refrain from it. However, in reality hair growth is determined by one’s genetic and hormonal makeup. I am confident that from platforms like these we will be able to bust such myths and impart knowledge about how shaving is one of the safest methods.”

Namrata Soni was more specific on  using the right methods, “From time to time, rumors and myths have been discussed around shaving. I was very happy to share my experience, as my profession has given me the opportunity to work with various Indian and international models and I have seen that shaving has become a part of their beauty regime. The basic essential to achieve a healthy skin is to use the right kind of products in the right manner. While hair removal is a key part of everybody’s beauty regime, we need to also ensure that we use the method that best suits our skin type. Personally, I believe that shaving is one of the safest and most convenient methods and is suitable for all types of skins”.

The panel discussion reinforced some of my beliefs in shaving and also gave me some new tips which are going to be really useful for me. I have also taken up the #SubscribeToSmooth challenge that Gillette Venus has challenged me with, where for 30 days the only hair removal method for me is going to be shaving. I am going to be using their razor(for you to know what the products is all about, head to my post here), cartridges and Satin Care shave gel which comes in a combo pack.  Let's see what's in store for me as I share my experience with you over the next one month. Here's to some smooth sailing :)

A photo posted by Ritcha@RitchStyles (@ritcha) on Apr 30, 2015 at 9:14pm PDT

You can also check out the Gillette Venus App to know more about the product range. In my experience posts, I am also going to be busting a whole lot of shaving myths and so if you have any shaving related questions, do shoot them to me over an email and I will answer them and get them answered by the experts.

If you like what you see on Ri(t)ch Styles and want to stay updated regularly, follow Ri(t)ch Styles on 

    

You can also email me on ritchstyles@gmail.com :)