Shaving
Technique
Good shaving technique is simple! No matter what area of the body you’re shaving, try a few easy steps.
Before you shave, exfoliate the area of your skin that you are shaving (scrub off the dead skin cells).
Use a sharp blade every time (new or pretty new).
Use a shaving gel or soap every time
Shave in the direction that hair grows, not against the hair (if your razor blade is sharp it will work well).
After shaving, rinse off with cool water.
Moisturize!
And most importantly, you don’t need to buy all of those expensive products for shaving. Soap works in place of shaving gel, and aloe or a good moisturizer like Aquaphor can soothe your skin after shaving.
Razor burn
Razor burn describes the irritation of the hair follicles as they exit the skin. It’ll look like little red spots where you shaved, usually happening a day or two after you shaved. If you notice razor burn forming, apply an unscented moisturizer or aloe to soothe the skin. If it’s itchy or really red you can put a low-dose steroid ointment (like hydrocortisone 1%) on your skin once or twice a daily. Don’t shave if you have razor burn because it will make things worse.
Ingrown hairs
Even if you try your hardest with the perfect shaving techniques, ingrown hairs STILL happen. So what can you do about them?
Usually, if left alone, they will resolve (go away) on their own. However, if they’re causing you problems you can do a couple of things. If it’s starting to look like a pimple (pus under the skin) try applying either a warm wet washcloth a few times a day or, if it’s on your legs or in your private area, you can soak in the bathtub. This will help it open up and drain. If it’s itching or red, you can also put a steroid ointment (like hydrocortisone 1%) on it to help improve symptoms. BUT if it’s getting bigger or is very tender, it’s worth a trip to the doctor.