Women have been shaving their bodies since the days of the ancient Egyptians. We shave our legs, arm pits,arms,nether regions and anywhere else we decide we’re better off without unsightly body hair. At one point or another, most women are faced with the awful, ugly truth of razor burn. Razor burn causes bumps, redness, and irritation in the affected area. It’s embarrassing and unattractive.
Luckily for us, it’s also usually preventable. With a little extra care, even women with the most sensitive skin can protect themselves against razor burn. If you want to know how to prevent razor burn, you’ve come to the right place. Read on, ladies. We’ll start with the basics.
How to Prevent Razor Burn – The Basics
Before worrying about cream, lotions, or even home remedies, we should talk about how you shave. There are simple things you can do to decrease your chance of getting razor burn when you shave. Every time you shave, make sure you’re following these simple guidelines:
Use a scrub or textured loofah to clean the area prior to shaving – Removing dead skin reduces the chance of both razor burn and ingrown hairs. It also ensures that you aren’t using a razor on skin that isn’t clean.
Use warm water – Warm water softens the skin and opens up your pores. Clogged pores lead to ingrown hair and razor burn. Making sure your pores are open and unclogged is one of the best ways to prevent razor burn.
Always use new sharp blades – There are a number of good quality affordable options when it comes to razors. There’s no reason to use cheap or dull blades. If your razor begins to dull, toss it or replace the blade. A dull blade does double damage to your skin. First, it is more likely to cause tiny cuts and abrasions in your skin. These show up as razor burn and inflammation even if they never actually bleed. Dull blades also require more strokes, increasing the amount of irritation caused by the blade. Keep your razors new, sharp, and clean and you will reduce your chance of razor burn.
Shave with shaving cream or gel – Quality shaving products are designed to decrease friction and allow you to get a clean, close, shave without razor burn. While shaving, be sure to shave with the grain of your hair rather than against it.
Rinse your razor often – While you’re shaving, hair, shaving gel, and dead skin (if you haven’t properly exfoliated) can build up on your razor. Rinsing your razor often ensures that your razor stays clean and your strokes stay close to your skin.
After Shaving
What you do after shaving can be as important as how you shave. There are a number of things you can do to protect your skin from razor burn. These include products, home remedies, and even technique:
Don’t touch the freshly shaved skin – There’s nothing wrong with gently patting the area with a towel, but any rubbing, scrubbing, unnecessary roughness increases the chance of irritation. You should also avoid clothing that causes friction against the skin. Your newly shaved skin is sensitive. Be gentle with it.
Keep it alcohol free – You may be tempted to smooth on some of your favorite lotion, but be careful. Many lotions contain alcohol which will dry out your sensitive skin and can actually cause razor burn you wouldn’t have otherwise.
Only use products specifically made for after shaving care – There are a number of great products that prevent razor burn. Use one of these.
If you want a more home remedy type prevention method, try witch hazel or aloe vera. Apple cider vinegar can work as well, that is if you don’t mind the vinegar smell. A few drops of tea tree and peppermint essential oil in a bottle of witch hazel make a great natural astringent that you can make yourself. The peppermint is cooling, the tea tree oil fights infection, and the witch hazel reduces inflammation. When used after shaving, this treatment can stop razor burn before it starts.
Specific Areas
Not every part of your body is the same. Certain areas require special treatment to protect them against razor burn.
Legs: The legs are the part of your body you probably shave the most. A little extra care between shaving sessions can protect your legs from razor burn. Use a high quality moisturizer, especially a good daily repair moisturizer. When you can, give your legs a day or two of rest. You don’t have to shave every day.
Arm pits: Your arm pits are a danger zone for ingrown hairs and infections, not to mention irritating razor burn. Make sure your skin is clean and free of deodorant residue before you shave. As soon as you finish shaving, splash a little cold water against your pits. It will close up the pores and reduce the risk of clogged pores or ingrown hairs. Afterward, give them a little TLC with an after shaving care product or a little witch hazel. Wait at least thirty minutes before applying deodorant.
Neck and Chest: The skin on your neck, chest, and throat are pretty sensitive. They’re also right up there with your face where everyone can see them. If you shave this area, remember that it is just as sensitive as your arm pits. Make sure the area is clean of lotions or cosmetics, shave with a fresh razor, and use a product specially made for the shaving aftercare of sensitive skin when you’ve finished. If you wear jewelry, make sure to take it off and avoid wearing it directly after shaving.
Pubic region: Everyone needs a little maintenance down there. Some women choose to shave part or all of their pubic region. If you plan on shaving near the bikini line, beware of razor burn. This is one of the worst places to have razor burn. It’s also one of the most likely places to get it. To reduce your risk, trim your pubes before you start. It may seem silly to trim something you’re going to shave anyway, but starting with shorter pubes means less hair to gunk up the razor. Shave at the end of your shower so that the hot water and steam has plenty of time to soften the hair. Then make sure to use an after shaving product specially made for the bikini area.
Razor burn is awful, ugly, and painful, but if you take proper care when shaving, you can keep your skin whole, healthy, and rash free. Always remember, the best time to think about how to prevent razor burn is before you get it.