Let’s think for a second what our skincare routine looks like. Does one of them include shaving? Shaving is easy peasy, right? Well, it can be until you have to deal with ingrown hairs. Imagine this: you’re shaving, hoping for smooth, soft skin when all of a sudden, boom, there are these little red bumps that appear where you had just shaved! For a relatively simple routine, these little red bumps can definitely turn into a major inconvenience. Let’s go over what these little bumps are, why they appear and ways to minimize the appearance of these bumps.
When removing hair on the body, shaving can be done in a way that causes bumps to appear called ingrown hairs. Let’s get a little formal here and remind ourselves what an ingrown hair comes from and why. An ingrown hair is caused by a hair follicle growing into the skin instead of up and out. This usually occurs when it’s time to shave, which can cause you irritation on the skin. Still not sure how an ingrown hair works? When you’re shaving, you could be using the blade at an uneven angle, leaving it with a sharper edge so that it pokes through the skin and makes the hair grow back in but backwards, causing irritation underneath the skin resulting in that red, pesky bump.
There are several reasons and practices that can cause ingrown hairs and/or spark issues. For instance, you could be using skincare products that can clog your pores and make you more likely to get these ingrown hairs. These can range from different types of deodorants to the kind of shaving blade you’re using. Another way you can get ingrown hairs is by simply not showering right away after a workout—particularly if you’ve recently shaved. Other reasons include waxing instead of shaving. That’s right. Waxing can cause irritation and creates inflammation when the hair returns. And lastly, while this might seem harmless, tweezing your ingrown hairs can cause the skin to get even more irritated—leaving you feel itchy and uncomfortable.
While ingrown hairs can appear anywhere, this pesky issue usually appears around the area we dread the most--the bikini area. You may also worry that ingrown hairs can lead to further skin issues. But don’t fret. Skin irritation is usually temporary and isn’t cause for even more skin problems. However, let us remind you that we mentioned tweezing as a big “no no ” when trying to get rid of ingrown hairs. This might not sound too pleasant but tweezing ingrown hairs can lead to small acne-like infections where you are tweezing. These ingrown hairs can then pop, cause pain, and look unpleasant. So when we say that tweezing is definitely not something you should be doing to get rid of the ingrown hairs, we really do mean it.
But alas, ingrown hairs don’t have to appear every time you shave. There are several ways to reduce the amount of redness and bumps one can have when shaving.
Using a moisturizing Shave Cream is an effective way to reduce ingrown hairs before they start. Our Shave Cream has these great natural ingredients such as organic shea butter for moisturization, organic green tea and organic coconut oil for soothing results, and organic jojoba seed oil to nourish the skin after shaving. All you have to do is apply a bit of this cream in a circular motion, either if you’re showering or bathing, and you’re good to go.
If you also shave your armpits, we recommend using our Deodorant Swipes with Hair Inhibitor . These deodorant swipes have all-natural formulation that will leave you feeling refreshed, but most importantly will help slow the growth of your hair. Created with something called a chaparral extract, which is what helps your hair not grow out so quickly, our Deodorant Swipes are a must after shaving armpit hair.
Having a good razor can also make a big difference. We recommend using a sharp blade but replacing it when it starts to show its first sign of wear and tear. As blades get old and dull, a razor can start tugging at the hairs and increase skin irritation. So if you feel like you’ve been using the same blade for a while now, it’s time to retire said blade and start fresh with a new one.
Did you know that skin scrub can help unplug pores, which can remove debris and free ingrown hairs by literally scrubbing the dead skin cells that may be causing ingrown hairs? However, for those with sensitive skin or those prone to a skin reaction, we caution this tip because this treatment can only irritate your skin even further, resulting in more redness and uncomfortable itching. So take note how your skin reacts if you do decide to use a skin scrub!
If you want to take a natural, quick route, then we recommend using a warm washcloth and applying it where you just shaved. You can compare this to spending time in a hot shower or sauna, which can help unclog the pores in your skin. So if you’re looking to mimic a spa day at home, why not try a hot shower and let your skin breathe for a while? It’s definitely worth a try!
No matter what method you may use when trying to avoid those pesky ingrown hairs, we always recommend applying our Flawless Post Wax & Shave Ingrown Hair Serum after any hair removal procedure. Flawless will gently exfoliate and cleanse the pore while calming and soothing irritation, helping to reduce the chance of ingrown hairs forming before they even begin.
This might seem like a given, but it’s surprising how many of us skip moisturizing after a shower. Moisturizing is a foolproof way to keep skin feeling smooth and refreshed. Routine moisturizing can help soften the skin and draw out the ingrown hair. It can also allow your pores to breathe, which is where your hair growth is key. Never underestimate the power of a good moisturizer, so give our Rice Milk + Rose Body Serum with Hair Inhibitor a try. Our serum uses the same chaparral extract our deodorant swipes use. We also combine aloe and shave butter to soften and soothe inflamed skin and therefore reduce the chances of ingrown hairs. Plus, it’s a great way to start your day!
Ingrown hairs are common and are a total pain, but that doesn’t have to be the case all of the time. We hope these tips help you allow you to shave without any bumpy results.