Many people, especially women, experience the problem of red bumps, itching and irritation after shaving and hair removal. Have you just touched up your bikini line, and are you suffering from red spots and itchy bumps? You’re not looking forward to that. If we didn’t shave, we wouldn’t have the problem of ingrown hairs, but we would be left with excess hair. So it is nice if you have some tips on how to shave and remove hair properly so that irritations can be prevented and treated in the most natural way possible.
Contents
- The problem of skin irritation after shaving
- Which shaver or razor for hair removal
- How can you prevent skin irritation
- Soothes skin irritation
The problem of skin irritation after shaving
When you shave the hairs from the skin, you also scrape cells from the skin’s surface. If this top, protective layer is removed, the skin underneath can become dry and chapped. If you shave too quickly or shave the wrong way, you increase the risk of skin irritation. Some people are extra sensitive to skin irritation after shaving. Women quickly experience problems when shaving their armpits or bikini line. Irritated skin with bumps occurs. Ingrown hairs cause sore, red bumps. These bumps occur when shaving, when the hair follicles are damaged or when the end of a hair grows back into the hair follicle. The skin can become very itchy, the bumps can also become inflamed and you sometimes have bumps with pus in them.
What is the best way to remove an ingrown hair?
If a hair has curled and grown back into the skin, it is often desirable to remove it. Place a washcloth in warm water and hold the warm washcloth on the area for five minutes so that the skin becomes soft and soft. Expose the ingrown hair with tweezers and pull it away from the skin. You can cut curly hair with nail clippers
Which shaver or razor for hair removal
If you often suffer from ingrown hairs, it might be wise to change blades or use a different shaver. If you use razor blades and this happens often, try an electric device or other hair removal product and vice versa. Nowadays there are many razors with multiple cutting blades, so you can shave close to the skin, but if your skin quickly becomes irritated by shaving and you want to prevent ingrown hairs, an old-fashioned razor with a blade is best. With razors with two or more blades, the stubble is pulled slightly out of the skin before being cut off. This causes the hairs to spring back a little, allowing them to get beneath the skin’s surface.
Source: Brubo
Use a clean and sharp razor blade
The most common mistake when shaving is using a dull, dirty or overused razor blade. It is very important, especially for women, that a sharp and clean razor is used when shaving the bikini line. So don’t use the blade you’ve been shaving your legs and armpits with for a month. What is also important is that the shaver has several blades in a row. And there should be a strip of rubber between the blades. This layer provides protection between the blades and your skin. Disposable blades do not have these rubbers. They are ideal for a quick trim of your legs, but if you quickly suffer from skin irritation and ingrown hairs, it is not wise to use these blades, but opt for a better shaving system.
How can you prevent skin irritation
Before you shave, it is nice to take a warm shower or bath. This makes the pores open more and the hairs become softer. This makes shaving a lot more pleasant and provides a smooth result. Cold water is not recommended because it closes the pores and makes the skin a bit stiffer, which can cause skin irritation. It is also advisable to rub the skin with a dry loofah sponge, a peeling glove, sponge or washcloth. This removes dead skin cells and prevents the hair follicles from becoming clogged. In this way, the hairs are also lifted slightly above the hair follicles, making shaving easier. If you want to trim your pubic hair, first trim it with normal scissors before using a razor. This way you can better see the direction of growth of the hairs.
The right shaving technique
Always shave in the direction of hair growth. So pay close attention. Men who want to shave their beards should shave downwards rather than upwards. Women should also follow the direction of hair growth when shaving. This means that if they want to shave their legs or bikini line, they have to shave downwards instead of upwards. This way you will notice that small stubble remains behind, they are often not visible, but it prevents the hairs from growing in.
Also never stretch the skin while shaving. During the tightening of the skin, the hairs will come out further from the skin, so that after shaving – when the skin is released – they end up completely under the skin surface. So never pull the skin tight!
Shaving foam
A shaving gel or shaving foam ensures that the blades can easily shave the hair. If you are sensitive to skin irritation, choose an unscented PH neutral gel. If you shave correctly with a neutral gel or foam, you reduce the risk of skin irritation.
Rinse the blades regularly while shaving to remove loose hairs and to ensure that the blades remain clean. After shaving, rinse the skin and remove all remnants of shaving gel and loose hairs. You can choose to shave again after the first shave, but this is personal for everyone. Not every skin is suitable for this.
Alternative shaving cream
There are a number of alternative products that you can use as a shaving agent, namely:
- Cheese spread.
- Thick hair conditioner.
- Pipe whipped cream.
- Toothpaste.
- Smooth peanut butter (without chunks).
- Butter.
- Moisturizing cream.
- Mayonnaise.
- Cooking spray.
These products contain oil, which moisturizes, protects and nourishes the skin. So if you ever run out of shaving foam, you probably have one of these products in your cupboard that you can use as a replacement shaving foam without any problems.
Source: Brubo
Soothes skin irritation
Aloe vera
One of the best natural substances for irritated skin is Aloe vera. If you have an Aloe vera plant at home, cut off a piece of the leaf and squeeze out the clear gel and apply it directly to the skin. You can also buy products based on Aloe vera, but the real gel, fresh from the plant, is the best.
Avocado
Avocado contains many vitamins and oils that soothe skin irritation. Cut open the avocado and apply the pulp directly to the skin.
Cucumbers
These have been used for a very long time to cool and soothe irritated skin. Place a slice of cucumber on the skin or peel a cucumber, puree it and place the cucumber puree on the skin. For an even better result, it is recommended to mix avocado pulp with cucumber.
Marigold
This plant has been used for a very long time to soften the skin in case of skin damage. If a rash has developed after applying it, apply marigold cream to the skin.
Last
If you suffer from skin irritation after shaving, clean your razor blades regularly with a disinfectant. The risk of rashes can also be limited by regularly replacing the blades. Replace the blades after three or four shaves. Always shave wet and try to alternate between wet and electric, this can also help prevent skin irritation. Also avoid aftershave. Most types contain a lot of alcohol, which makes the skin drier and worsens skin irritation. A good alternative to an aftershave is witch hazel, which contains a very small amount of alcohol and makes the skin softer. Any cuts can also be cleaned thoroughly with witch hazel.
