How to Get Rid of Razor Bumps (Prevention & Cure)
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Many men have had some unpleasant shaving experiences. You buy your first razor during high school and your payback is red spots, pimples, or razor bumps. Some people get so frustrated that they switch to shaving with an electric razor and never get the experience of really smooth skin that the best razors can give you again.
It’s a fate we do not want for anyone!
Today we are going to go through what the common shaving problems are to see what you can do as prevention and if you too can achieve a smooth shave without a rash.
What Are Razor Bumps?
Razor bumps (also known as razor pimples, burn, rash, etc.) are ingrown hairs. If the hair is very curly and/or shaved too tightly, it can grow the wrong way.
Often the hair does not come out of the skin at all, other times it can form a black dot or loop. The body reacts to the hair like a foreign body and forms a local inflammation that appears as red bumps on the skin.
In some cases, the body also produces enough pus for the pimples to turn into yellow pimples.
How can I avoid Razor Bumps?
There is a difference between a close shave, which is good, and a deep shave, which is bad. With a close shave, the hairs are cut edge to edge parallel and close to the skin surface or even a tiny bit into the skin. If the razor blade cuts the hair too deep into the hair follicle, the hair may grow crooked and the hair follicle becomes inflamed.
Multi-blade razors provoke razor bumps to a greater extent than traditional double-edged razors: The first blade pulls the hair up from the hair follicle before the next blade cuts it, ergo the hair retracts deep back into the hair follicle when the razor has passed.
Thousands upon thousands of men (and women) have switched to traditional safety razors and overcome the problem.
I Use a Double-Edge Razor and Still Get Razor Bumps. Any Suggestions?
Although traditional safety razors are easy to use, the right technique is crucial for achieving the best results. The most important step to avoid shaving bumps is to shave with the grain.
If you shave against the grain, the double-edged razor blade easily cuts too deep. Some people can get the smoothest result by first shaving with the grain, then lathering up with new shaving foam and a new pass against or perpendicular to the grain.
The hairs of most people grow down to Adam’s apple. Under Adam’s apple, the direction is completely individual – for many, the beard grows upwards or sideways. Feel with your hand!
Good preparation is crucial for a good result. If you are struggling with rash, bumps, and irritation, we would recommend you to try pre-shave creams or oils or one of the best razors for sensitive skin.
The pre-shave creams or oils are applied before the shaving foam and give the skin protection and the razor a smooth glide.
I Do Not Get Bumps, but Red-Flamed Areas. What Causes It?
Red spots on the skin are signs of irritation. If the skin is not smooth enough before shaving, or the razorblade is dull, the blade can scratch live skin cells and in other words scratch the skin. Even a good shave also removes dead skin cells, which refreshes the skin, but at the same time removes some of its natural protection. Bacteria and foreign bodies can thus provoke small inflammations that can cause redness, itching, and soreness.
So I Have to Avoid Irritating the Skin?
That is right. You can prevent irritation in the following ways:
- Change razor blades often: You should never have to feel that the blade is tugging. Most people who use a multi-blade razor use the razor blade too many times since the price is so high. We rather recommend a safety razor with reasonably priced blades that can be replaced without it burning its way through your wallet. If you find that the blades do not last as long as you would like, it may be that your beard growth is so coarse that you should switch to a sharper type. Remember to wash the razor when changing blades to remove old soap residue and hair.
- Do the right preparation: Consider using shaving oil or pre-shave cream before the shaving soap, gel, or cream to make the skin smoother. Also, be sure to use a shaving cream or shaving soap (or shaving gel) that contains plenty of glycerin, which adds moisture to the skin and hair and thus reduces friction against the razor blade.
- Use light pressure: Let the weight in the razor do the work, do not press it against the skin. Too much pressure can cause the razor to dig too deep, which can cause both rashes, bumps, and pimples.
- Disinfect afterward: Rinse off the last soap residue with cold water, wipe with a clean towel and apply a good aftershave. Aftershave gives the pores a deep cleanse and kills bacteria that can otherwise cause inflammation and rashes. Alternatively, you can use an alum that has natural antiseptic properties.
- Add moisture: Dry skin reacts poorly to shaving. If the skin is dry, the outermost layer of skin can loosen in flakes and give a reddish rash. Therefore, we recommend maintaining the moisture balance with either a mild moisturizer or aftershave cream (often called Aftershave Balm or Aftershave Lotion).
Is There Any Cure If the Razor Bumps Is Already a Fact?
The most important cure for you who want to get rid of shaving rash is to let your skin rest. Let the stubble grow while the skin heals, and then resume shaving with the techniques we have described above.
You can speed up the skin’s recovery with certain soothing remedies. Some recommended products are formulated specifically to combat shaving rashes such as:
- Shaveworks
- Anthony
- Kalo
- Tend Skin
- Jack Black
We can also recommend general skin cures from:
- Murad
- Lucky Tiger
My name is Don and welcome to Luxury Shaving Razors! The idea behind the site was born in 2016 after trying to find a decent safety razor for my own personal use. I decided to document my journey.