Razor burn doesn't have to be a part of shaving. (© iStockphoto/EricHood)

Hot date tonight? Male or female, you’re probably going to make shaving a part of your get-ready regimen. It’s so frustrating, though, to take time to make your face or your legs silky smooth only to battle razor burn when it’s all said and done. Razor burn occurs when a hair gets pushed back into the follicle, making it a stop on the road to an ingrown hair. This delightful condition is characterized by red bumps or a rash, just the kind of thing you don’t want before your first date with Mr. or Ms. Wonderful.

Luckily, there are a few easy ways to avoid the burn. First off, remember that moisture is your friend when it comes to shaving. Razor burn is commonly caused by a dry shave, meaning that there’s a complete absence of shaving creams, shaving gels and even water. Shave in the shower or right afterward, so that hair follicles are soft and ready to surrender that hair without a fight. Guys — there are fog-proof mirrors available, so you have no excuse not to lather up in the shower either, unless, of course, you use an electric razor. Please don’t electrocute yourself.

Don’t bother getting all lathered up, however, if you don’t have a clean, sharp razor at your disposal. Using an old, dull blade will increase your chances of razor burn. Make sure to rinse your blade after a few strokes so that a nice new blade doesn’t get aged prematurely by all that shaving gunk (a term I just coined to mean the combination of hair and shaving cream; call me, Merriam-Webster!).

Once you’ve got the right equipment, make sure you have plenty of time for the task at hand. Rushing through shaving will increase the risk of razor burn, not to mention nicks and cuts! Go slow, using short strokes and moving in the direction of the hair growth. Your skin is not a fan of the shaving against the grain method, nor is it a fan of extremely frequent shaves. If you can give your legs or your face a day off, do so; it will reduce the risk of razor burn later on.

Until you perfect these tips, you can relieve the pain and redness of razor burn with cortisone cream with aloe. And if razor burn has put the kibosh on that date tonight, entertain yourself with some other articles from the health and beauty section at HowStuffWorks.com:
How Shaving Works
Why do humans have body hair?
How to Make Your Own Beauty Products