5 Ways of Eliminating Razor Bumps For African-Americans
Ingrown hairs, or what has become known as razor bumps, affect millions of men and women all over the world. These are the unsightly and sometimes painful bumps that occur after shaving and sometimes linger on for days. Acute cases involve bleeding, pus and scarring which may require a physician. While this condition affects men and women across the racial divide, African-American men and women are the most affected. This is because their hair is curly and course. Let us examine 5 ways to reduce razor bumps for African-Americans:
1. Do not re-use the same razor
It is recommended that you always use a sharp new razor blade as opposed to reusing an old blade. Many people use a blade for 4 or 5 uses. This is usually the reason why razor bumps erupt. An old razor has lost its edge and does not shave as close as it should. This causes the shaved hairs to regrow in an elongated shape and curl inwards puncturing the skin in the process.
2. Shave two days as opposed to daily
This has the effect of allowing the skin to heal and recuperate. Shaving every day can also lead to problems especially if, as we saw earlier, you are using an old razor. Shave every two days instead and use a new razor every time.
3. Learn to exfoliate!
You can do this with a gentle scrub using a Microfine facial scrub. This can be easily purchased at any pharmacy store such as Walgreens or CVS. This greatly softens the skin and clears the pores making shaving easier.
4. Use a single-edge razor
Many African-American men and women are deceived into thinking that double or triple-edged razors have an obvious advantage over single edged ones. This is not entirely accurate. Triple edge razors cause more razor bumps because expert dermatologists teach that the closer the shave then the more the likelihood of razor bumps.
5. Shave with warm water
When shaving, use warm water instead of cold. This is because warm water allows the skin to breathe easier, clears the pores and allows the hair to smooth. After applying gel using warm water causes a lesser likelihood of causing razor bumps.
By Anonymous