Razor Burn? How to Avoid It, How to Treat It

If you’ve never suffered from razor burn, count yourself extremely lucky. Most women at one time or another suffer from this painful side effect of shaving. And when we’re not burning, we’re itching, scratching, and trying to hide our razor bumps.

Any way to make shaving more comfortable? Here are a few tips!

What is a Razor Burn?

You can describe it in many ways, but the definition is temporary “skin irritation.” When shaving goes wrong, you’re likely to form itchy red bumps, overall temporary redness and inflammation, and that burning, hot sensation that makes putting on clothes just torturous. Some people call it a “rash” rather than a burn, but either way, it’s a sign that you somehow agitated your skin when shaving.

What causes this? It can be a number of things, but some of the more common culprits are a dull razor, too much pressure, shaving too fast, failing to use a gel or lotion, or incorrect preparation of the skin.

How to Shave Safely

Making your skin more comfortable involves two steps: shaving safely and treating any problems immediately. Here are a few tips to help you reduce your risk of suffering any irritation in the first place:

• Exfoliate. Without regular exfoliation, shaving can leave trapped hairs behind, causing red, temporarily inflamed bumps. You may be used to exfoliating your face, but not your legs or underarms. A day or two before shaving, try the Ayurvedic Facial Scrub mixed with water on your legs, and maybe a little under your arms as well, depending on how sensitive your skin is. It’s best not to exfoliate and shave the same day, however, because it’s too much for skin to handle.
• Clean razor. A dirty or worn razor is one of the main culprits in causing razor burn. We all want to save money, but using a razor that’s worn out, old, or has been sitting around awhile is just asking for pain.
• Use warm water. Shaving after a shower or while in the bath is best, as the warm water softens the hair and opens up the pores.
• Wash first. Dirty skin with built-up oils creates a rough shaving surface, meaning you’ll be more likely to suffer rashes later. Wash skin completely first. Try our Rosemary Peppermint Body Wash for a stimulating clean.
• Lubricate. Shaving creams and gels help create a layer between the razor and the skin, reducing the risk of burning as well as your chances of nicking yourself.
• Shave slowly. Trying to go too fast is another major reason why we suffer from razor burns. Go slowly, using long, even strokes. Rinse the razor in hot water between each stroke.
• Don’t push too hard. Go as lightly as you can and still get the hairs. Pushing too hard takes some skin along with the hairs, which can lead to later irritation and itching.
• Rinse thoroughly. Once you’re done, rinse thoroughly with warm water.
• Apply aloe. Applying an aloe after-sun gel or other aloe-based lotion after shaving can help skin feel cool and comfortable, and may help keep it happy later. You may also try our Radiant Skin Silk Body Lotion, which has calming calendula, chamomile, and sunflower oil.

How to Treat Razor Burn

Sometimes, even if you do everything right, you may suffer from razor burn afterwards. Here are some tips to help make your skin more comfortable.

• Aloe. It’s cooling. Try a lotion with as much aloe as possible.
• Aspirin paste. Mix 2 uncoated aspirins with 1 teaspoon of warm water and make a fine paste, then apply to skin for 10-15 minutes.
• Apple cider vinegar. Simply apply to the skin and let it absorb.
• Oatmeal bath. Oatmeal is very soothing to skin. Grind up real oatmeal and mix it into your bath, then soak for 20 minutes.
• Tea tree oil. This will not only soothe, but will help fight against rashes from shaving. Mix with water and spray or rub on skin.
• Calendula cream. It’s naturally soothing and also provides cleansing protection.
• Green tea. Make a cup of green tea, cool it in the refrigerator, then apply to skin with a soft cloth. It helps ease and calm.
• Fresh avocado. It’s so cooling! Pull it out of the refrigerator and smooth it over the razor burned area. It will also help moisturize.
• Witch hazel. This extract is soothing and will help protect and cleanse.
• Almond oil. It’s soothing and super moisturizing.
• Strawberries and sour cream. Mash up some strawberries, which can reduce the swelling and redness attributed to razor burn, into some sour cream, which is cooling, and apply to the skin for 10-15 minutes.
• Shave less often. If you’re prone to razor burn or razor bumps, cut back on your frequency of shaving.
• Coconut oil. It’s very moisturizing, and can help calm skin. Try our Coconut Body Oil.