10 Ways to Prevent and Treat Razor Burn (a.k.a. Stop Ingrown Hairs Caused by Shaving)

Razor burn is one of the most annoying aspects involving shaving your face, legs, underarm areas or bikini line. While most of us can’t live without engaging in some type of hair removal, if you suffer from razor burn or razor rash very often, chances are you hate to shave! Instead of throwing away your razor forever and buying stock in Nair, use these helpful tips to learn how to prevent and treat razor burn.

1. Never use a dull razor! The first step to razor burn cure is to always use a clean and sharp razor, every time you shave.

2. Shave in the same direction as your natural hair growth. This technique will help to avoid the hair being pushed back into the follicle and getting inflamed or ingrown.

3. Never , ever shave dry! While almost everyone knows you should never shave dry, some people jump in the shower and immediately begin shaving. However, it’s far better to wait until after you’ve been in the shower for a while. That being said, experts do warn that if you wait more than eight minutes before you start shaving, you may not get as close of a shave as you’d like. After eight minutes, the skin will start to draw up and pull the hair inward a bit. A good rule of thumb is to wait about three minutes (as long as it takes you to wash your hair) before shaving. This will help prevent irritation or razor bumps, but will give the hair enough time to soften before you start shaving.

4. Try shaving post-shower. If you don’t like to shave in the shower, think about shaving after your shower is over. Some shaving experts believe the remedy to razor burn is shaving after the shower. Wet hair can wear down your blade quickly, which can be a problem and can cause irritation.

5. Don’t shave the same area of skin multiple times. You may think shaving your underarm areas over and over again will help you get a nice and close shave. However, it can irritate the area and cause razor rash.

6. Try not to shave when you first wake up in the morning, as your is retaining body fluids and can be puffy, which makes shaving a challenge. Try to wait about 20 minutes after waking before you shave.

7. Get rid of dead, dry skin before shaving. To help your skin stay fresh and healthy, be sure you exfoliate before you shave and not after you shave. Remember, it’s important to wash, exfoliate, shave and then moisturize!

8. Use a good shaving medium. If you want a nice shave, but have sensitive or tender skin, think about trying to lubricate your skin really well before shaving. Some people prefer to use shaving gel, shaving oil or a shaving cream. It doesn’t usually matter what type you use or whether it’s Gillette or another brand. Use whatever type of treatment that works for you, as long as it gives plenty of lubrication.

9. Choose the right moisturizer post-shave. As a precaution, if your skin is sensitive to moisturizers (most likely it is the fragrance and chemicals in that moisturizer that cause reactions) used after shaving, try baby oil. Simply apply it immediately after getting out of the shower. It’s sensitive enough for even the most tender skin areas and can help prevent razor rash.

10. Treating the razor burn your already have. Razor burn cal still happen even if you do all the right things. There are plenty of products on the market to help you treat razor burn, but aloe-vera based cortisone cream seems to work quickly. You can apply the cream twice a day to soothe your skin.