Used primarily by men, an aftershave is applied on the skin after shaving. Shaving involves the removal of bodily hair using a sharp razor or a similar instrument and as the name suggests, an “aftershave” is used after the shave is over. An aftershave comes in many forms and can be a lotion or a liquid or a gel. There are many companies who are dedicated towards manufacturing, branding and marketing aftershaves which is a multi-million dollar business. Several large multinational companies have created an entire line of business supplying aftershaves to men across the planet. Mistakenly called Eau de cologne, an aftershave is strictly for men though some women prefer to use it like a perfume or an astringent at times.
Usually, an aftershave contains an antiseptic like alcohol. The primary function of the alcohol based antiseptic is to prevent minor cuts, slashes or scratches from turning infectious. Cuts and gashes are common during shaving since a sharp blade is used. The alcohol also helps numb the cells on the skin which reduces the pain caused by grazes and bruises.
An aftershave might contain a moisturiser which helps soften the skin after it has been shaved and it also can contain a perfume which gives off a pleasant odour. There are some aftershaves which are sold without alcohol and without fragrances. The main ingredient in such an aftershave is an astringent and the primary purpose of using it is to close the skin pores quickly which helps minimize the risk of infections. After shaving, it is common for the skin to get minor irritations which are known as “razor burns”. Using an astringent, which can also be in the form of alcohol, might help reduce or prevent these razor burns.
The first type of aftershave was used in Egypt but for a different purpose than the modern aftershave which is used everyday in order to protect freshly shaved skin. In the Egyptian times, a precursor of the aftershave was used on a dead body in order to clean it. The aftershave also functioned like a deodorizer in that it helped prevent the odour of decay for a slightly longer period of time. Back then, dead bodies were wrapped in strips of linen cloth before they were bathed and soaked in natron, a substance which is quite similar to an aftershave.
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