Why You’re Getting Razor Burn
Razor burn is the worst.
If you also shave your legs, armpits, and bikini line (or anywhere else!), you'll understand the frustration that comes with razor burn and bumps. It's not cute, and it's definitely not comfortable.
So why do you keep getting it? And is there a way to prevent it? Read on to find out why you might keep getting razor burn and ingrown hairs, and what to do about them.
A Dull Razor
Without a doubt, one of the most common causes of razor burn, ingrowns, and razor bumps is shaving with a dull razor. When a razor isn't sharp enough, you're forced to apply more pressure and repeat strokes to get a closer shave, and that constant friction can cause irritation.
Invest in a quality razor like Truly Life Shaver Starter Razor. With its double blades and pink, flex-grip handle, you can get that fresh shave on silky sheets feeling every single time.
Improper Preparation
The secret to a super smooth shave starts with good prep. The Cleveland Clinic recommends exfoliating before shaving, which will help prevent the razor from getting clogged up with dead skin cells, which reduces its effectiveness. It also helps prevent razor burn and ingrown hairs.
Try using a mechanical exfoliator made with moisturizing ingredients like coconut oil to buff away dead skin and leave your skin silky smooth.
We love Truly Smooth Legend Pre-Shave Scrub. This sugar-based scrub blends nourishing coconut oil with soothing lavender and vitamin E to heal razor bumps while loosening hair follicles to ensure a baby soft shave.
Shaving Without Shave Cream
Unless you want itchy red bumps and ingrowns, you absolutely need to use shaving cream or gel when shaving. Shaving gels, butters, and creams offer two things: hydration and lubrication.
"Hydration softens the hair and skin, which helps reduce the amount of force it takes the razor to cut through the hair during a shave," explains Elizabeth Compo, senior scientist at Venus. "Lubrication gives just the right amount of slipperiness between the blades and the skin." As a result, the grooming process becomes way easier and far more comfortable with a significantly lower risk of skin irritation.
Lather up your furry areas with Truly Happy Hairless Shave Butter. This super rich, whipped butter relies on a blend of hydrating coconut and elasticity restoring passion fruit for an effortless razor glide and a mega smooth shave. Use it every time you shave.
Poor Technique
Your shaving technique makes all the difference to the end result. Dermatologists say you should be shaving in the direction of hair growth, also referred to as the direction of the grain. Shaving against it pulls the hair and ultimately leads to irritated skin. Shaving with the grain is the best technique for achieving a flawless shave minus nicks, bumps, and burns. Of course, this doesn't apply to the legs -- you'll need to glide against the grain there.
Shaving Particularly Long Hair
Been a while since you last shaved, and now you're trying to drag your razor through a forest of fuzz? Tackling long hair with a razor almost never works, and usually leads to painful ingrown hairs. This is because the long hairs clog your razor, and that buildup makes the razor perform less effectively, causing you to apply more pressure which leads to irritation.
D yourself a favor and trim your hair with scissors first. Alternatively, try going for a waxing session or use an electric razor to get the most of it off before going in with a manual razor.
Not Using Lotion Post-Shave
Exfoliation strips your skin of moisture. Since shaving is a form of exfoliation, it's important to moisturize your skin post-shave to ward off irritation and nourish dry skin. Try one with aloe vera, tea tree oil, rosewater, or chamomile. If you get red, try applying a hydrocortisone lotion as an aftershave.
Truly Unicorn Fruit Whipped Body is a moisturizing, soothing skincare essential for your post-shaving routine. Its calming blend of matcha, rosewater, aloe, and acai work synergistically to firm, smooth, plump, and soothe the top layer of skin.
Shaving Too Often
Are you someone who shaves every day? Then that's probably the reason behind those pesky razor burns and bumps. As tempting as it is to shave every day, dragging a razor blade across your skin that often isn't the best idea. To prevent burns from forming, try shaving every other day or less to give your skin a chance to rest and recover.
HOW TO TREAT RAZOR BURN
If you do wind up with a painful case of razor burn, here are a few ways to treat it.
Apply a Cold Compress
A cold compress can help bring down the initial irritation and constrict blood vessels. Simply wet a clean washcloth in cold water and cover the affected area with it. Leave it on for several minutes.
Try a Topical Treatment
´...like Truly Glazed Donut Shave Oil.
This flash-absorbing post-shave treatment replenishes lost moisture while healing active inflammation and bumps. While the formula relies on passion fruit for hydration, it thanks coconut oil for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties which help treat and prevent razor burns, pimples, and irritation. Apply this after every hair removal session for sensationally smooth skin. It's suitable for all skin types!
Consult Your Derm
In more extreme cases of redness, consult your derm or doctor to make sure it's not infected. While razor burn is usually minor enough to resolve on its own in a few days, it's worth getting it checked out by a professional if it starts showing signs of infection.
Shaving is one of those rituals you're never officially taught. So you don't need to feel bad about getting things wrong. It's totally normal!!!
All the lessons you need to learn about preventing and treating razor burns, bumps, and ingrown hairs can be found above. With good prep, good techniques, and a few good skincare products, you'll no longer have to deal with annoying burns again. Instead, you can enjoy a smooth to the touch shave every. single. time.
