时差N小时 怎样把胡子刮干净

In theory, shaving ought to be simple: the razor cuts the hair.

理论上说，刮胡子应该很简单：剃须刀切断胡须。

In practice, it's not just a matter of razors and hair, there's also shaving cream to consider—foamy stuff that you smear¹ around your hairs before shaving.

实际上，这并不只关系到剃刀和胡须，也要考虑能产生泡沫的剃须膏，在刮胡子之前把它涂抹在胡须周围。

How come? Is shaving cream really necessary and, if so, how does it work?

为甚么？剃须膏真的有必要吗？如果有，它是如何作用的？

While there's a wide variety of shaving foams² available, some with perfumes or other chemicals for your skin,

尽管市面上有琳琅满目的剃须膏可供选择，一些带有香水，一些带有护理肌肤的其它化学成分，

there's one thing that they all have in common: They're all wet, and this wetness is the key to their function.

但是这些剃须膏有一个相同点——湿润，这正是它们发挥功效的关键。

Wet hair is much easier for a razor to cut than dry hair is, because water makes the proteins in your hair soften³ and expand.

刮湿润的胡须通常要比刮干燥的胡须容易，因为湿度使胡须内的蛋白质软化扩张。

While it's possible to shave with a completely dry razor, you probably don't want to try it--it's both painful and inefficient⁴.

虽然也可以用干燥的剃须刀刮胡子，但你可能不会去试，因为这样既疼痛又效率不高。

The best way to use shaving cream is to apply it, then wait a couple minutes before shaving.

使用剃须膏最好的方式就是将其敷在胡须上，等两分钟再刮。

This is because, while wet hair is good for shaving, completely saturated⁵ hair is even better.

这是因为除掉湿润的胡须很容易，那么除掉湿透的胡须则更容易了。

It takes about two minutes for the hairs to soak all the way through.

只需两分钟，水分就可以完全浸透胡须。

This is a good reason to use shaving cream, instead of just wetting your face with water. The foaminess of the cream helps hold the water in place long enough to soak in.

剃须膏产生的泡沫会长时锁住水分，使其浸透胡须。这就是为甚么要用剃须膏，而不是直接用水打湿胡须的原因。

For an electric razor, of course, you shouldn't use shaving cream. Electric razors shear⁶ your hairs off, snipping⁷ them like tiny scissors.

当然用电动剃须刀剃须的话，就不应该再用剃须膏了。电动剃须刀像小剪刀似的将胡须剪掉切碎。

This works best on brittle⁸ hair that's pointing straight out, which is why electric shaving lotions⁹ contain alcohol to dry the hairs and make them stand straight.

它适用于脆性易断，直立向外生长的胡须，这就是为什么电动剃须香液里含有酒精——酒精使胡须干燥，并直立起来。

1 smear   

v.涂抹；诽谤，玷污；n.污点；诽谤，污蔑

参考例句：

• He has been spreading false stories in an attempt to smear us.他一直在散布谎言企图诽谤我们。
• There's a smear on your shirt.你衬衫上有个污点。

2 foams   

n.泡沫，泡沫材料( foam的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sea water foams under the bow. 海水在船首下面泛起浪花。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• The meter handles gases, liquids, foams, and slurries. 这流量计可以处理气体，液体，泡沫状物和稀浆等。 来自辞典例句

3 soften   

v.(使)变柔软；(使)变柔和

参考例句：

• Plastics will soften when exposed to heat.塑料适当加热就可以软化。
• This special cream will help to soften up our skin.这种特殊的护肤霜有助于使皮肤变得柔软。

4 inefficient   

adj.效率低的，无效的

参考例句：

• The inefficient operation cost the firm a lot of money.低效率的运作使该公司损失了许多钱。
• Their communication systems are inefficient in the extreme.他们的通讯系统效率非常差。

5 saturated   

a.饱和的，充满的

参考例句：

• The continuous rain had saturated the soil. 连绵不断的雨把土地淋了个透。
• a saturated solution of sodium chloride 氯化钠饱和溶液

6 shear   

n.修剪，剪下的东西，羊的一岁；vt.剪掉，割，剥夺；vi.修剪，切割，剥夺，穿越

参考例句：

• Every spring they shear off the sheep's wool and sell it.每年春天他们都要剪下羊毛去卖。
• In the Hebrides they shear their sheep later than anywhere else.在赫伯里兹，剪羊毛的时间比其他任何地方都要晚。

7 snipping   

n.碎片v.剪( snip的现在分词 )

参考例句：

• The crew had been snipping it for souvenirs. 舰上人员把它剪下来当作纪念品。 来自辞典例句
• The gardener is snipping off the dead leaves in the garden. 花匠在花园时剪枯叶。 来自互联网

8 brittle   

adj.易碎的；脆弱的；冷淡的；(声音)尖利的

参考例句：

• The pond was covered in a brittle layer of ice.池塘覆盖了一层易碎的冰。
• She gave a brittle laugh.她冷淡地笑了笑。

9 lotions   

n.洗液，洗剂，护肤液( lotion的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Do not use lotions or oils to lubricate the skin. 不要用润肤剂或油类来润滑皮肤。 来自辞典例句
• They were experts at preserving the bodies of the dead by embalming them with special lotions. 他们具有采用特种药物洗剂防止尸体腐烂的专门知识。 来自辞典例句