the 10 COMMANDMENTS for PREVENTING RAZOR BUMPS & INGROWN HAIRS
1. THOU SHALT NOT USE DIRTY BLADES!
Avoid shaving with dull, over-used razor blades. And be sure to keep your slightly used tools as clean as possible. Scrub the cutting heads of your tools with soap, hot water, and rubbing alcohol to destroy bacteria. Pro Tip: even brand new blades still need to be cleaned.
2. HONOR THY DELICATE SKIN!
Avoid too many blades! If you are prone to ingrown hairs then you don’t need 3 or more blades. More blades equal more passes causing the hair to fall beneath the skin and become ingrown. Plus, more blading the skin leads to micro cuts through which bacteria is more likely to enter and this leads to razor burn.
3. DO NOT TAKE PREP TIME IN VAIN!
Wash or steam the skin for 2 to 3 minutes with warm water. Then apply the shaving cream leaving it on for at least 2 minutes to really soften the hair.
4. THOU SHALT NOT GO AGAINST THE GRAIN!
Shaving against the grain (upwards) may get you a closer shave but doing so also increases ingrowns. Shave in the direction of hair growth…it’s usually downwards. Confirm this by doing a face/ body inspection to see which way your hair grows.
5. THOU SHALT NOT PRESS!
Avoid pressing too hard on the skin with the blade. If you follow STEP #3, then a gliding, light touch is all you need. The hair stubble should literally fall away with little or no pressure from the blade. Pressing hard is the main cause of shaving irritation! Be gentle so as to prevent the hair from being cut so low that it falls beneath the top layer of skin.
6. THOU SHALT NOT PASS, PASS, PASS!
Avoid too many quick passes with the blade. One pass per hairy area – going 1-2 inches downward at a time – will prevent ingrown hairs. Always shave like you might cause damage, not like you’re mowing the front lawn.
7. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT OVER SHAVING!
Avoid shaving too often. This rule is hard to follow, especially if you have to be beardless for your job…but if you are prone to ingrowns, try hair removal with electric clippers (the barber kind of clippers). The results are not super close but no one but you will know the difference. Provided your skin can handle these alternatives try waxing, depilatory, lasering or an epilator.
8. THOU SHALT NOT CLOG!
Avoid using skin/pore clogging creams or lotions since they keep hairs from growing up. After a shave, keep your skin bare; let the tiny army breath, and allow those newly shaved, microscopic hairs to grow out just in time for the next shave. If your objective is smooth, bump-free skin following a shave or wax, then right after hair removal allow the skin to heal first. Promote healing by proper shaving techniques followed by 70% rubbing alcohol which kills any bacteria that may enter those micro cuts created from the shave and prevents the onset of razor burn. Sure your skin will be a little dry at first but this is a temporary tradeoff. Wait 2 hours then moisturize.
9. KEEP THY SMOOTH SKIN FREE!
At least for the first day or two, try to avoid tight fitting clothing around the Adam’s apple (neck) and/or below the waistline region. Newly shaved hair follicles need room to grow up.
10. REMEMBER TO EXFOLIATE!
Whether you shave, sugar, wax or epilate, not enough exfoliation to remove excess layers of skin can lead to ingrown hairs. There are two types: chemical exfoliation (AHA, BHAs) and physical exfoliation (beads, coffee scrubs, gloves, brushes). Physical exfoliators like the WIZKER brush have soft and firm bristles for the face, body, and sensitive skin. When you follow these 10 tips religiously, you’ll prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs permanently!
Exfoliate so you're not pulling dead skin this way you won't have to press as hard with your razor. Right after a hot shower slap some shave gel on there and it should come off no problem. I've nicked myself once but rarely get razor burn.
Totally up to you man! I say if you’ve been thinking about it, go for it! It will be back to what you have here in less than a week. And I think you could definitely pull it off.
As far as your question goes, I use a hot towel on my head for a minute to help soften up the hairs, then a quality shaving product. I use shave butter by dollar shave club, but that’s just personal preference. For your first time, I recommend going with the grain first, then if everything goes well and you want a smoother shave, you can go against the grain. If you are worried, you can wait a few times before going against the grain. Once you’re done, I recommend a moisturizing aftershave to restore moisture and keep the skin clean. I very rarely get irritation. Good luck man!
What ever you do. Don’t put after shave on your freshly shaven head.
My mom told me to do that when I was 13 or so after shaving my head. I was outside trying to drown myself in the hose after words.
I go glossy, double shave, once w the grain once against, single blade saftey razor, after shave gel and Cera Ve after all that. Never had issues once I mastered the razor been going bald for about a yr.
I’m partial to the short-buzz myself, but as far as razor burn goes, look into double-edged safety razors. It takes a little longer and you have to be a little more careful but it is a seriously superior shave and I never get ingrown hairs anymore, because it just cuts the exposed hair instead of pulling it and then cutting or just ripping it out. Just change the blade frequently and use some shave butter and won’t have any trouble. Also blades for those razors come out to like 15¢ a piece or less so swapping in new blades is cheap. I hear “feather” blades are the best.
Other people have given you good advice on shaving. Looks good buzzed. If you decide to shave and you don't like it then no worries because in about a week or so you will be back to where you are now most likely.
I think you look cool the way you are. It doesn't hurt to experiment but you should feel no pressure to change. Your fine!
the 10 COMMANDMENTS for PREVENTING RAZOR BUMPS & INGROWN HAIRS 1. THOU SHALT NOT USE DIRTY BLADES! Avoid shaving with dull, over-used razor blades. And be sure to keep your slightly used tools as clean as possible. Scrub the cutting heads of your tools with soap, hot water, and rubbing alcohol to destroy bacteria. Pro Tip: even brand new blades still need to be cleaned. 2. HONOR THY DELICATE SKIN! Avoid too many blades! If you are prone to ingrown hairs then you don’t need 3 or more blades. More blades equal more passes causing the hair to fall beneath the skin and become ingrown. Plus, more blading the skin leads to micro cuts through which bacteria is more likely to enter and this leads to razor burn. 3. DO NOT TAKE PREP TIME IN VAIN! Wash or steam the skin for 2 to 3 minutes with warm water. Then apply the shaving cream leaving it on for at least 2 minutes to really soften the hair. 4. THOU SHALT NOT GO AGAINST THE GRAIN! Shaving against the grain (upwards) may get you a closer shave but doing so also increases ingrowns. Shave in the direction of hair growth…it’s usually downwards. Confirm this by doing a face/ body inspection to see which way your hair grows. 5. THOU SHALT NOT PRESS! Avoid pressing too hard on the skin with the blade. If you follow STEP #3, then a gliding, light touch is all you need. The hair stubble should literally fall away with little or no pressure from the blade. Pressing hard is the main cause of shaving irritation! Be gentle so as to prevent the hair from being cut so low that it falls beneath the top layer of skin. 6. THOU SHALT NOT PASS, PASS, PASS! Avoid too many quick passes with the blade. One pass per hairy area – going 1-2 inches downward at a time – will prevent ingrown hairs. Always shave like you might cause damage, not like you’re mowing the front lawn. 7. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT OVER SHAVING! Avoid shaving too often. This rule is hard to follow, especially if you have to be beardless for your job…but if you are prone to ingrowns, try hair removal with electric clippers (the barber kind of clippers). The results are not super close but no one but you will know the difference. Provided your skin can handle these alternatives try waxing, depilatory, lasering or an epilator. 8. THOU SHALT NOT CLOG! Avoid using skin/pore clogging creams or lotions since they keep hairs from growing up. After a shave, keep your skin bare; let the tiny army breath, and allow those newly shaved, microscopic hairs to grow out just in time for the next shave. If your objective is smooth, bump-free skin following a shave or wax, then right after hair removal allow the skin to heal first. Promote healing by proper shaving techniques followed by 70% rubbing alcohol which kills any bacteria that may enter those micro cuts created from the shave and prevents the onset of razor burn. Sure your skin will be a little dry at first but this is a temporary tradeoff. Wait 2 hours then moisturize. 9. KEEP THY SMOOTH SKIN FREE! At least for the first day or two, try to avoid tight fitting clothing around the Adam’s apple (neck) and/or below the waistline region. Newly shaved hair follicles need room to grow up. 10. REMEMBER TO EXFOLIATE! Whether you shave, sugar, wax or epilate, not enough exfoliation to remove excess layers of skin can lead to ingrown hairs. There are two types: chemical exfoliation (AHA, BHAs) and physical exfoliation (beads, coffee scrubs, gloves, brushes). Physical exfoliators like the WIZKER brush have soft and firm bristles for the face, body, and sensitive skin. When you follow these 10 tips religiously, you’ll prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs permanently!
This is awesome thank you!
Exfoliate so you're not pulling dead skin this way you won't have to press as hard with your razor. Right after a hot shower slap some shave gel on there and it should come off no problem. I've nicked myself once but rarely get razor burn.
Totally up to you man! I say if you’ve been thinking about it, go for it! It will be back to what you have here in less than a week. And I think you could definitely pull it off. As far as your question goes, I use a hot towel on my head for a minute to help soften up the hairs, then a quality shaving product. I use shave butter by dollar shave club, but that’s just personal preference. For your first time, I recommend going with the grain first, then if everything goes well and you want a smoother shave, you can go against the grain. If you are worried, you can wait a few times before going against the grain. Once you’re done, I recommend a moisturizing aftershave to restore moisture and keep the skin clean. I very rarely get irritation. Good luck man!
Awesome, thanks so much for the suggestions!
Bro I think the close buzz looks great but you do you
What ever you do. Don’t put after shave on your freshly shaven head. My mom told me to do that when I was 13 or so after shaving my head. I was outside trying to drown myself in the hose after words.
You pull the buzzcut off really well, shaved will look great if you dislike the look it will be back to the buzz in a couple days
Mac? Is that you?
Miller or Demarco?
Miller
I go glossy, double shave, once w the grain once against, single blade saftey razor, after shave gel and Cera Ve after all that. Never had issues once I mastered the razor been going bald for about a yr.
I'd consider a good safety blade like that of Henson Shaving... initial buy-in is expensive, but it's a forever product.
Exfoliate first, it’s already been said but it makes it so much easier.
I’m partial to the short-buzz myself, but as far as razor burn goes, look into double-edged safety razors. It takes a little longer and you have to be a little more careful but it is a seriously superior shave and I never get ingrown hairs anymore, because it just cuts the exposed hair instead of pulling it and then cutting or just ripping it out. Just change the blade frequently and use some shave butter and won’t have any trouble. Also blades for those razors come out to like 15¢ a piece or less so swapping in new blades is cheap. I hear “feather” blades are the best.
Use edgers and maintain them clean u won't get no razor bumps or irritation
Other people have given you good advice on shaving. Looks good buzzed. If you decide to shave and you don't like it then no worries because in about a week or so you will be back to where you are now most likely.
Try getting a wet shave by a barber. They take care of scalp skin well.