Preventing Ingrown Hairs

It's summertime, and that means wearing shorts, bathing suits, & shaving more often! If you shave, chances are you've dealt with ingrown hairs and razor bumps at some point. The key to dealing with these annoying bumps is to prevent them from developing in the first place. You can't prevent them all the time, but taking some steps before, during, and after shaving can really make a difference in the number of ingrowns you get, and making the existing ones go away faster.

First, let's start by understanding what ingrown hairs are, and how you get them.

Ingrown hairs happen when a hair grows out and tries to break through the surface of the skin, but is prevented from doing so because the hair is growing in a different direction and grows back into the skin instead.

Prevention starts BEFORE you shave.

1. Shave at the END of your shower or bath. This allows the warm water to soften the hair and makes it easier to get a close shave.

2. Exfoliate. Right before you shave, use a body scrub to get rid of dead skin and to lift up hairs that may not be completely visible on the surface of the skin. This makes it easier for the razor to catch every hair, and prevents hairs from getting shaved at strange angles, which is one of the direct causes of ingrown hairs. Exfoliating also loosens any existing ingrowns as well!

The way you shave can prevent ingrown hairs.

1. Use a fresh, sharp razor. A sharp razor will be able to pick up every hair. Using a dull razor can contribute to more nicks and cuts, and can increase the amount of ingrowns you get if the dull blade isn't actually shaving the hair cleanly. If the hair is shaved at a jagged angle, it will make it more difficult to grow straight out through the hair follicle. Never use your razor head for more than 3-4 uses.

2. Use a good shaving cream and GO SLOW. This will help the razor get a clean, frictionless shave and prevents cuts. If you're in a hurry, save the shaving for another time - if you don't want ingrowns, that is! Don't press hard, either. If the razor blades are sharp, then you won't have to press at all for it to do its job.

Post-shave tips

1. Don't dry your skin, and immediately moisturize. Apply lotion to damp skin to seal in moisture. This prevents hydration from evaporating through the skin. This is called trans-epidermal water loss. It will also help to protect the skin's barrier as it's been freshly shaved and exfoliated.

2. Wear loose-fitting clothing for the first couple of days after you shave. Wearing leggings, tight pants & undergarments causes friction and irritation, leading to itchy razor bumps and ingrown hairs. You want to let the skin breathe enough so that the hairs can settle down and begin to grow back without irritation.

3. Exfoliate again! Again, for the first 2-3 days after your shave, exfoliate the skin to lift up the hairs that are starting to grow back. You'll see a huge decrease in the amount of ingrowns, itching and irritation you get during that grow back period.

I hope using these tips will help you see and feel a great difference in your skin!

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