How to prevent razor bumps this summer

No matter how hard you try, even the most seasoned shavers can still get razor bumps. They can become itchy, red, and feel tender. Razor bumps come from a razor burn, which is when the skin is irritated after shaving.

No one likes to feel uncomfortable in their own skin, especially in the summer, when some may want to be hair-free for the season.

Let’s go through why we get razor bumps, how to treat them, and tips to prevent getting them.

Why do we get razor bumps?

Razor bumps happen when the hair follicle is inflamed because the hair is cut short. Hair can get trapped under the surface of our skin, causing all sorts of different issues to occur. Short curly, coarse hair can get trapped under the skin, curving into it, and may cause ingrown hairs, which will also prompt razor bumps to pop up.

If you have sensitive skin as is, razor bumps can be incredibly uncomfortable and even cause pain.

6 tips to prevent razor bumps

• Regularly exfoliate the skin. Exfoliating helps remove any dead skin cells, meaning they won’t get trapped under the skin or irritate it during hair removal.
• Remove hair in the direction it’s growing. Shave downwards on legs because that’s the way the hair is growing. Shaving against the grain (i.e. up the leg) may have a closer shave but it will increase your risk of ingrown hairs or razor bumps.
• Experiment with hair removal cream. Hair removal creams, or depilatory creams, are far less likely to give you razor bumps. Try Veet® Professional^TM* effective from 2 minutes of application and works even on tougher hair!
• Rinse skin after hair removal. It’s important to rinse your skin with cold water or use a cold compress after removing hair to reduce inflammation of the skin.
• Use wax strips. Cold wax strips, like Veet® Professional^TM Cold Wax Strips* are an effective way to fully remove hair from the follicle rather than the strand, which is what shaving does, so it can prevent the newly cut hair from poking through the skin, which causes razor bumps.
• Moisturize. Moisturize and calm your skin 24 - 48 hours after any hair removal. It’s important to re-hydrate the skin, and then continue to hydrate it thereafter. Skin that’s dried out can cause further irritation.

*Ensure this product is right for you. Always read and follow the product label before use.