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Many men experience irritation after shaving, and some are likely to further develop ingrown hairs from this irritation.
Razor Bumps or ingrown hairs are a more chronic form of irritation after shaving, which has a few causes.
However, the most likely victims of ingrown hairs are men with more curly hair or African men.
What Exactly is an Ingrown Hair
Ingrown hairs usually occur when the face is irritated and can stem from Razor Bumps. Ingrown hair is a condition that occurs in the instance where a hair either curls backward or sideways into your skin or where the skin grows over very short and irritated hair follicles.
This condition is prevalent in most men with thick, coarse, or curly hair. An ingrown hair may often be accompanied by an infection of the hair follicle, where it causes a red bump, or sometimes not. These red bumps are likewise called razor bumps.
Whatever the cause or type of ingrown hairs, they are unsightly and can be painful or irritating when infected.
Causes of Ingrown Hairs
Ingrown hairs may be genetic, or because of an increase in certain sex hormones, it may also be caused by other external factors.
As I have mentioned before, irritation from shaving can cause ingrown hairs, which may become infected and result in razor bumps, and small red bumps on the face containing ingrown hair.
Here are some factors to consider when it comes to the causes of ingrown hairs;
- Individuals with curly, coarse, or thick hair stand a much greater chance of developing ingrown hairs.
- Certain sex hormones can cause excessive hair growth, which gives you a likely chance of getting ingrown hair after shaving.
- Improperly preparing your skin for shaving will result in irritation and a razor burn that can develop into ingrown hairs and razor bumps.
- Not exfoliating your face regularly or before shaving increases the risk of ingrown hairs.
- An unsanitary and blunt razor is a major culprit in razor burn and can result in ingrown hairs.
- In many cases, sensitive skin can also be subject to razor burn, irritation, and likely ingrown hairs.
- Poor quality or the wrong skincare products can cause irritation and breakouts on your face, resulting in ingrown hairs.
Treating Ingrown Hairs
Soften
Use a warm and clean washcloth and hold it against your skin to open up your pores and hair follicles. This will ease painful bumps and help to prepare your skin for exfoliation.
Exfoliate
You can use either a gentle facial sponge, facial brush, or a scrub, such as a sugar scrub, for exfoliation. Gently massage your face in circular motions with the scrub method of your choice for a few minutes. If this does not help to exfoliate your face properly, you can always ask your physician for a retinoid prescription to hasten the process.
Pull Out Ingrown Hairs
Unfortunately, ingrown hairs will seldom grow back normally by themselves, so you will need to pull them out.
You can use a clean and sterilized needle to break the skin and lift the hair out, where you can then use a tweezer to pull the hair gently.
Avoid digging into your skin with the needle or tweezers, remove the hair with roots, and gently break it off again.
Moisturise
After thoroughly exfoliating and cleaning your face and removing all ingrown hairs, you need to moisturize it. Try to use something nongreasy that will reduce inflammation and help to heal the irritated skin. You can likewise talk to your physician about a good steroid cream to reduce swelling and irritation.
Stop Shaving
If ingrown hairs or irritation worsens, it is a good idea not to shave for a short while or give more time between shaves. This may not be the short-term answer to your problems, but given time to heal, your skin will improve.
Preventing Ingrown Hairs
When it comes to shaving and other face care routines, there are a few things that can irritate your skin and cause ingrown hairs, so follow these tips to prevent irritation and ingrown hairs;
- Try to shave after you have showered when your skin is warm and moisturized, so hairs are softer and skin more pliable.
- Always exfoliate your face to prep it before shaving to prevent dead skin cells from getting in the way of y razor.
- For thicker or curly hair, I would recommend a pre-shave oil.
- Use a good quality shaving gel and apply generously; reapply when you need to shave against the grain.
- Then again, shaving with the grain is your safest option to prevent irritation and ingrown hairs.
- Shave using short and light single strokes, not placing too much pressure.
- Make sure that your razor blade is sharp and clean.
- Invest in good quality and the right razor type for your specific requirements; opt for a sensitive blade if you have sensitive skin.
In Conclusion
Since man’s first razor, bumps, ingrown hairs, and irritation have blemished many skins. It has been proven that razor bumps are common in over 60% of the male population.
So utterly, somewhere along the line, you will see a bump or bruise when it comes to shaving, just like every sport has injuries.
Luckily prevention and cure are at hand and pretty easy too.
Following a good pre and post-shaving routine, which includes efficient exfoliation, can prevent and help ease irritation and ingrown hairs.
Most importantly, good quality, flexible, safety razors such as the Defender Dual Head or Single Head razor can make a huge difference.
Testimonials of Customer’s Using The Razor that Prevents Ingrown Hair
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