For girls, razor bumps are most common on the legs, underarms and pubic areas, according to the Mayo Clinic. These bumps are caused when hairs that have been shaved grow abnormally into the wall of the hair follicle or into the skin. Hairs that do this are called ingrown hairs. An ingrown hair causes a bump that looks like a pimple or zit and may itch and hurt. The bump is the result of the body treating the ingrown hair as a foreign body and trying to fight it off. Luckily, it’s possible to minimize the occurrence of razor bumps.
Step 1
Soak in a bathtub of warm water for at least 5 minutes before shaving. Warm water softens the hair and hydrates the skin—both of which help to prevent razor bumps.
Step 2
Exfoliate the area you will shave using a loofa sponge, rough towel or exfoliating product. Exfoliating removes dead skin cells that may block the hair follicle and cause the hair to grow abnormally.
Step 3
Apply a shaving gel to the area. Shaving gel provides a better barrier of lubrication between the razor and the skin than shaving cream.
Step 4
Shave using a single stroke over each area that goes in the direction of the hair growth with a single blade razor. Blades with more than one razor lift the hairs up slightly out of the follicle before cutting it. This increases the chance of razor bumps forming.
Step 5
Place a cool compress over the area you shaved or soak in a tub of cool water. This reduces the inflammation of the skin that occurs naturally when shaving. Reducing the inflammation may prevent razor bumps.
Step 6
Moisturize the skin with a non-comedogenic product. Epigee.org states that dry skin contributes to ingrown hairs. A non-comedogenic moisturizer is one that doesn’t clog the pores.
Step 7
Wear loose clothing after you shave. Tight clothing can rub against the skin and cause irritation, which can lead to ingrown hairs.
Things You'll Need
- Loofa sponge
- Towel
- Exfoliating product
- Shave gel
- Single blade razor
- Cool compress
- Non-comedogenic moisturizer
- Loose clothing
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