If you're like most men, you already know that shaving is one of the most effective -- albeit temporary -- means of hair removal. But simply swiping a razor over your skin can lead to more problems than it's worth. Shaving and other forms of hair removal can often result in razor burns, razor bumps and ingrown hairs when not done properly. To remove unwanted hair, you can put in place certain self-care techniques to reduce the chances of these common discomforts.
Use a Warm Compress
The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology recommends applying a warm, wet compress to the skin prior to hair removal. Five minutes is all that is needed to effectively soften the beard and moisten the skin.
Use Shaving Gel
To further soften the beard and prepare the skin, the Mayo Clinic urges applying a shaving gel. Shaving gels help to lubricate the skin and hair. This not only softens the hair itself, making it that much easier to remove, but it also cuts down on the friction created by the blade, which reduces both epidermal and follicular irritation that may lead to razor burns or razor bumps, respectively.
Cut Down on Razor Strokes
It's also important to pay attention to razor strokes while removing body hair. Running the razor in the same direction of hair growth can reduce ingrown hair growth, according to the American Academy of Dermatology. If the hair grows in a downward direction, this is the way in which you should move the blade of your razor. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology also suggests minimizing your strokes. The more you run a razor along an area of the skin, the more likely you are to develop razor bumps and even razor burn.
Use Fewer Blades, Change Them Often
The Mayo Clinic advises that you also pay attention to the razor you're using for hair removal. Though single-bladed razors don't provide as close of a shave, they're less likely to cause razor burns and razor bumps as double- or triple-bladed razors are. Blades need to be clean and sharp with each use, so make sure to effectively rinse and dry the razor after shaving and change the blades with some regularity.
Use an Electric Razor
If you tend to suffer from razor bumps or ingrown hairs, you should reconsider your method of hair removal. Electric razors tend to leave shorn hairs a longer length than other forms of hair removal, such as razor blades, waxing, tweezing and electrolysis. The longer length prevents the hair from curling back and growing into the skin. Depilatories can also help to prevent this curl back, since hairs are dissolved, leaving a dull tip on the hair that is less likely to penetrate the skin. However, men with sensitive skin can suffer from chemical burns due to the use of such products.
Get Laser Hair Removal
When ingrown hairs are an ongoing problem, or you're hoping to provide yourself with more long-term results, consider laser hair removal. This type of cosmetic procedure uses pulses of laser light energy that are absorbed by the melanin in the hair and follicle. This disintegrates the shaft and damages the follicle, providing hair removal and preventing hair growth.
Consider Electrolysis
Another long-term form of hair removal is electrolysis. Electrolysis provides permanent hair removal, so make sure you no longer want to grow hair along those areas being treated with this cosmetic procedure. A thin probe is inserted through the pore and into the follicle, where an electric pulse destroys the follicle and causes it to no longer produce hair.
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