5 Things You Need to Know About Preventing Ingrown Hairs When Shaving

1. A Little Moisture Goes a Long Way

Soak your skin in warm water for at least 5 minutes before shaving to help prevent ingrown hairs. A warm soak will help to clean, open and relax hair follicles as well as release and soften the hair. When hair and skin are dry, the hairs are stiff and tough and held firmly by the follicles. When cut, the razor pulls on the hair, irritating the follicle and causing the hair to slip inside of the follicle after cutting, resulting in a series of shaving bumps. When the hair is moist, it cuts easily without pulling, preventing its downward retreat into the follicle.

2. When Your Razor is too Close for Comfort

We all want a perfect shave that leaves our skin baby soft and smooth; however, double or triple blade razors can do more harm than good. Excess blades cut close to the skin and often snip off the top of the hair follicle, causing a serious case of razor burn. While the shave may be close, if the follicles are irritated or damaged or the hair is so short that it retreats back into the follicle, most likely the hair will become ingrown. Additionally, holding the skin taut while shaving or passing the razor more than once or twice over any one area can cause a shave which is too close for comfort.

3. Shave With the Grain

It may seem unnatural at first, but shaving in the direction of hair growth can help prevent cutting the hair too close to the skin. This means that ladies should actually shave down the leg instead of up. Additionally, shaving in the direction that hair grows helps to train the hair to grow in the direction of the follicle. When hair is pulled up and back while shaving, it has a tendency to grow in the direction, bypassing the follicle, pushing into the skin around the shaft and causing ingrown hairs.

4. Baking Soda Can Help

Applying a light powder of baking soda to your skin after shaving can help to prevent clogged pores as it soaks up excess oils, helping to stop ingrown hairs before they form. Baking powder is especially helpful for preventing irritation of shaved areas, which tend to sweat, or where skin rubs on skin, such as the bikini line or armpits. Additionally, you can mix a bit of water with baking soda to make a paste and rub in on freshly shaved skin as a gentle cleanser and exfoliate to help prevent shaving bumps.

5. Tea Tree Oil for Healthy Skin

Apply a light layer of tea tree oil twice daily to areas which are often affected by ingrown hairs after shaving. Tea tree oil will help to open and cleans the follicles and is also a naturally antibacterial, helping to prevent the formation of razor burn with white heads or infected ingrown hairs.