[Note from Mantic59: Nicholas from Ever Unfolding discusses shaving the back.]  Anyone who has ever cut themselves trying to shave their back knows how awkward this task can be. Even with the best back shaver, most people dislike this part of their grooming routine. Here are some tips and tricks on how to shave your back. Fortunately, shaving your back doesn’t need to be difficult. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to shave your back more easily.

Tips for Shaving Your Back

Exfoliate before you start. Exfoliating removes any dead skin cells from your body, giving you a clean slate to start with. Rather than applying an exfoliating body wash, use a natural loofah. It will scrub away the skin cells without leaving any soap residue on your skin. Some come with an extra-long handle* so you’ll be able to reach all parts of your back and thoroughly exfoliate.

Start the shaving process by trimming the hair. Trimming the hair makes it short enough to be manageable without causing any irritation. Hair that is too long is more likely to get stuck in the razor. Clogged razors don’t cut properly, and some hairs will get pulled out. If you have a beard trimmer, it will work perfectly. Every trimmer comes with guards of different lengths. Choose a guard that is fairly short, and trim your entire back. If you aren’t sure how short to make it, start with a slightly longer guard. You can always trim again with a shorter length. Aim for a length of about a quarter inch. Pick up a razor designed to be used on the body. Razors that are intended to be used on the face are not strong enough to handle body hair. Also, the best back shavers tend to have lubricated strips to make them glide across the skin more easily. This will come in handy when you’re trying to reach awkward angles.

Avoid using disposable razors. While a bulk package of disposable razors is much less expensive than a high-quality body razor, they won’t work nearly as well. You’ll likely use the entire package in one sitting since the blades are not designed for heavy use. Using a disposable razor will also result in more irritation and ingrown hairs. The blades are not as sharp as the ones on higher quality products so they can’t provide as clean a cut. Swap out your shaving cream for a gel.

Shaving creams are great for using on your face, but they can cause some difficulties when shaving your back. Since gels are transparent, you’ll be able to see if you have missed any spots. Also, gels are stickier than creams, so they won’t slide off before you can get to every area.  Some highly-rated gels include:

• King Of Shaves*
• EZ Blade*
• Gillette Body Gel*
• Zirh Aloe Vera Shave Gel*

Don’t forget to trim the adjoining areas. While you’re trimming the hair on your back, give your armpits and chest a quick once-over. Having a completely bare back looks odd next to an untrimmed chest. If you find the hair on your forearms gets too long, trim it at the same time. This will give your upper body a uniform look.

How to Shave Your Back

By far the easiest way to shave your back is to ask someone else to do it for you. However, this isn’t always an option. If you need to be able to shave your own back, follow this step by step guide to make it as simple as possible.

Step 1 – Prep

This is half the battle. Follow the tips above for exfoliating and trimming. Trimming before you shave will also give you a good idea of which areas of your back are harder for you to reach.

Step 2 – Apply Shaving Gel

Try to apply the gel as evenly as possible. Your razor won’t be able to reach the skin in areas where the gel may be too thick. Use a handheld mirror to see where you have put the gel. This trick will be helpful for the next step as well. To see your back using a handheld mirror, turn your back to your bathroom mirror. Hold the handheld mirror in front of you, and angle it until you can see the reflection of your back in the bathroom mirror.

Step 3 – Shave

Start with the areas that you can easily reach. Go slowly, and make sure you always have a firm grip on the razor. After every few strokes, rinse the head of the razor under warm water. This will get rid of the build-up of shaving gel and hair, and let your razor work the way it’s supposed to. Shaving in the opposite direction of hair growth will give you a much closer shave than if you shave in the same direction as the hair. To achieve this, you will likely need to reach backwards over your shoulder and move the razor upwards. If this is too awkward, try reaching around your side and moving the razor down. For example, hold the razor in your right hand and reach behind your right side. You should be able to reach most of your back this way.

Step 4 – Moisturize

Don’t skip on the aftercare. Your skin is likely to be red and a bit itchy after you shave. It’s important to soothe your skin so that it stays healthy. Many men like to shower after they shave their backs to make sure they have rinsed off all of the clippings. Instead of a hot shower, opt for a cool rinse. The cool water will help ease any irritation as well as close your pores. This helps prevent razor bumps. Once you’ve dried off, be sure to apply a moisturizer. Anything unscented will do (The Art Of Shaving’s Unscented Shave Balm* might be good here). Products with perfumes in them tend to have a drying effect, which is the opposite of what you are trying to achieve. If you have sensitive skin, consider applying coconut oil*. It is known for its conditioning properties, and it won’t leave your skin feeling greasy.
Now that you know how to correctly shave your back, you can kiss razor bumps and itchy skin goodbye. Your skin will thank you for shaving it properly. As you get more comfortable with shaving your own back you’ll likely find new arm positions that are less stiff.

*affiliate link

About the author:
Nicholas Woods  is a Writer. Freelance web fanatic. Music specialist. Proud problem solver. Future teen idol. Hanging out with friends. Love to travel and meet new people.
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