How to stop shaving rash on your bikini line, once and for all
If you choose to remove your pubic hair and bikini waxing or laser hair removal doesn't appeal to you, shaving is often the easiest and cheapest option.
It doesn't require growing your hair in-between shaves like waxing and can be done at home in the shower whenever you like, without booking an appointment.
That doesn't mean it's without its faults though. We all know how much blood a razor nick can produce, but something more painful and irritating than a cut is the dreaded bikini line shaving rash.
Razor burn or shaving rash, whatever you choose to call it, is essentially irritated skin and can be caused from shaving dry, too aggressively or with dull blades that need replacing.
I'm sure we've all had that last minute frantic shower before where your pressed for time and wildly hacking away down there, but trust us when we say that the discomfort that shaving rash can cause is really never worth it.
You will instantly know if you have razor rash as the skin will be painful to the touch, red with small bumps and even sores.
Shaving rash is painful as it is, but the healing process is often prolonged by friction caused by your underwear, which is why you want to prevent it happening in the first place.
So, before you next head to the shower armed with your razor of choice, make sure you've read and adopted our expert tips below so you can have a clean and comfortable shave.
1. Get the right temperature
Run warm water over your bikini line area before you start shaving. This will gently soften the skin and help your razor glide more smoothly.
2. Prep beforehand
Gentle exfoliation will help ensure a smooth shave and work to prevent ingrown hairs. You can either use a physical exfoliant - just make sure it's fine and avoid walnut scrubs which have jagged edged particles - or use a gentle chemical exfoliant like lactic acid and wipe over skin before you shower.
3. Try baby oil
One Reddit user, who previously worked as a stripper, shared her trusted techniques to a blemish-free bikini line, which included rubbing the area with baby oil post exfoliation and prior to shaving to soften the hair and skin.
4. Never shave without this one thing
We cannot emphasise this one enough, but never shave dry. Even if you have one of those razors with moisturising blades, you still want some form of lubricant in the form of shaving gel to prevent friction as the blades move along your skin.
Now, if you're like us and favour using hair conditioner instead of a dedicated shaving foam, make sure it's a fragrance-free as you don't want anything to disrupt your PH level down there.
5. Invest your money wisely
While we can think of a lot more exciting things to spend our money on, you really do get what you pay for when it comes to razors. Disposable ones are often more flimsy and are likely to blunt quicker, causing more damage. Plus they have less blades which can result in uneven pressure on the skin.
We are huge fans of the Estrid razors which are affordable, have 5 blades and a weighty handle so you can easily balance the pressure you use. Plus you can sign up for a subscription service so you never run out of blades again.
6. Change your blades
The general rule of thumb is to change your razor blade every 5 - 7 shaves... which we're 99.9% sure you're not doing right now. Once the blade begins to get damaged you're more likely to cut yourself as well as experience razor rash, so it's worth your while to stick to this.
7. One direction
When you're shaving, don't just hack away as going back and forth in opposite directions is a one way ticket to ingrown hairs and irritation. Don't shave against the growth of your hair, only shave in the direction it grows.
8. Post shave rules
Remember pre shave warm water, post shave cold water. Once you've finished the job make sure to rinse any excess shaving cream away with cold water this will help immediately calm any irritation if you did use a dull blade.
9. Prevent the chafe
Once you're out the shower it's important to moisturise the area to keep it hydrated and prevent chafing (remember we don't want friction).
10. Storage matters
While most razors come with those suckers to stick it to your shower wall, it's actually a bad idea to store your shaver in the shower. Exposure to water and damp will damage and rust the blade quicker, so store it in a drawer where it won't get wet.
11. Treat your ingrown hairs with a routine
While shaving poorly can lead to ingrown hairs, ingrowns also make it harder to shave without causing a rash. It's a vicious cycle. But even the most rule-abiding shavers, waxers and even those who don't remove hair will suffer from ingrowns from time to time. Daily moisturising (PH balanced and fragrance free), as well as exfoliating twice a week, not just when shaving, will help prevent ingrown hairs. There are also an increasing number of products on the market designed specifically to treat them, like this one from Nads with aloe vera and chamomile to help reduce redness, and gently exfoliating Salicylic Acid to slough away dead skin and release ingrown hair.
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