Being a barber for more than 11 years you can believe that I have seen Razor Bumps of all shapes and sizes.
This I know for a fact is a hindrance to any man or woman who has to suffer the painful look and feeling of shaving bumps.
This is frustrating but there are many solutions for that problem and I will share a few of them with you.
Why do I get Razor/aftershave bumps? The first thing we need to find out is "why do we get after shave bumps or irritation?" "Where do they come from?" "Why is my skin behaving like this whenever I shave?" To answer the first question of why do we get them, let's paint a picture of the facial skin in our minds.
When you shave you press against the skin on you face in order to get the hair off.
When this happens as we keep doing the action repeatedly we cut the hairs closer and closer to the skin surface.
Eventually the strands get so short that they get under the skin and this is where the problem begins.
To answer the second question, they come from the irritation of the hairs growing back as the hairs try to make their way back out.
Some of us think that the bumps are there just waiting to happen and that is so so not true because I was a victim myself.
For the last question it is pretty simple, it behaves like that because you keep using the same method over and over and over.
As the hairs try to make their way back out from under the skin, sometimes it becomes difficult to do so and this is where the itching begins.
Due to the SHARP ends that were cut while shaving and went under or cut closer to the pore, when the strands try to grow back the same way they were cut it becomes difficult and the strands try to make a different way out in order to grow.
When this happens, it comes from the irritation to where you start seeing the little heads pushing out and the Razor bumps start making a statement.
This is because the facial skin is very delicate.
In a nutshell all shaving bumps are really is strands of hair that cannot grow back the way they were cut and tries to push out close to the pore which pushes against the skin.
How can I get rid of my bumps? You can get the razor/shaving bumps under control or even gone for good.
The first thing we need to know is how does my hair grow.
Does it grow straight or does it grow nappy or does it grow and curl.
Anyone can get bumps but if you know how your hair grows and the texture of your hair then you are halfway solving the problem.
For many Black individuals the hair grows and curl or it grows nappy which is totally fine.
One of the first things that I would advice you is to STOP this very minute using those razors (e.
g Shaving sticks and Razor Strops).
Those give you too much of a close shave and because of the way your hair grows it will not grow out as it should and you will get bumps.
Clippers and trimmers work mush better because they do not get as close as the razor does.
You still get a perfectly clean shave but with less risk of getting after shave irritation.
I recommend Wahl clippers or trimmers, Andis trimmers or Oster trimmers.
Ensure that you clean before every shave and clean it as soon as you're done.
Also you want to keep your hands from your face as much a possible because you do not want to clog the pores to allow the hair to grow back freely.
If your hair grows straight (Whites, ethic with straight growing hair) and you still get razor bumps you might want to watch how you shave.
My advice to you is ensure that the razor that you are using is clean every single time you use it.
If you use shaving creams then ensure that the razor or strop that you use is also clean.
When you are shaving try not to stretch the skin and always cut against the growth.
Not only does this give you a better cut but is causes your skin to stay tight and lifted.
Do not change your shaving pattern, try to be consistent.
Wash your face before shaving with some warm water in order to get the pores open.
Use after shave when you are done and please please please keep your HANDS FROM YOUR FACE.
Shaving do's and dont's Do's Clean face before shaving Use clean razors or strops Clean trimmer/clippers before and after shave Cut against the growth Dont's Keep hands from face after shaving Do not use razors and strops if your hairs grows nappy or curly Do not shave when skin is sweaty Do not stretch the skin while shaving