How to Avoid & Soothe Dreaded Razor Burn

There’s nothing quite like the feel of a clean, smooth shave. Whether you’re shaving your legs, armpits, or pubic area, it just feels good to be neat, fresh and clean. But in the quest to achieve that perfect shave, you might accidentally cut yourself or walk away with razor burn. There’s good news though—you’re not alone with your struggles and there are plenty of methods to prevent and treat razor burn wherever it may occur. 

What Causes Razor Burn 

Razor burn is a skin irritation that can develop from shaving. Typically, it appears as a red patch of skin that may burn, itch, or be generally tender. 

There are many ways to accidentally give yourself razor burn, including:

• Shaving on dry skin or barely wet skin
• Not using enough shaving cream, gel or lather
• Using an old or dull razor blade
• Pressing harder than necessary while shaving
• Shaving in the wrong direction

If you have sensitive skin, you may be more likely to develop razor burn so it’s even more important to be careful when you shave. 

Where Is Razor Burn Most Likely to Develop? 

While it’s true razor burn can form anywhere you shave, you’re most likely to develop razor burn on and around hard to reach areas of the body like armpits, bikini lines, and your pubic area. Since these areas aren’t flat and smooth—and hair can grow coarse and more wild in these places—you may find yourself pressing too hard or going against the grain of your body’s hair growth, irritating the skin. 

Shaving Techniques to Prevent Razor Burn

Proper shaving techniques go a long way in preventing razor burns, but prevention starts before you even pick up the razor. Here are some tips for a smooth shave:

Get rid of dead skin cells first

Exfoliating your skin before shaving is a great way to set yourself up for success. You can use a loofah or bath scrub to gently loosen any dead skin and soften your skin. However, you don’t want your skin to be too soft, or else it will be easier to cut with the razor. 

Use cool water instead of hot or warm

Cool water is better for shaving since it will moisturize your skin and help keep it from becoming too soft. Pairing that cooler water with shaving cream instead of soap helps you achieve the proper lubrication and lather to protect your skin. 

Razor quality and shaving direction

Keep in mind that the quality of your razor and the direction of shaving are very important. Going with the grain (in the direction the hair grows) will leave you with an uneven shave and potential for more cuts or razor burn, while using a clean sharp razor and going against the grain will give you a cleaner, smoother shave. 

The clearest example of shaving against the grain is shaving your legs; since the hair grows downward, you want to shave upward from the ankles toward the knees for the closest, cleanest shave. 

Deciding the shaving direction for armpits can be tricky, so you may want to experiment with downward and upward strokes to clean up this area. Even more challenging are bikini lines and pubic hair. Pubic hair generally grows downward, but if you are concerned about sensitive skin or developing razor burn, you may want to start shaving with the grain (downward) at first to build confidence. Eventually, if you move on to shaving against the grain, you will get a closer shave. 

Moisturize skin after shaving

An additional step to take care of your skin is to moisturize after shaving. This helps soothe skin and lock in moisture after you rinse and pat dry. Look for lotions, creams or oils without alcohol, fragrances or other ingredients that can further dry or irritate your skin.