Here’s everything you need to know how to get rid of razor bumps on legs and also on how to prevent them.
You’re so ready to rock that short dress and jumped into the shower to shave your legs to make sure they look super smooth and shiny. BUT, that’s not quite what happened, is it?
Of course, the immediate results are somewhat great but then you start seeing and feeling those bumps after a day or two. Sometimes you can see signs of ingrown hairs right after you come out of the shower.
You’d remind yourself of the “No pain, no gain” quote and focus on wearing that dress. All is well until the day passes. Those razor bumps start looking more visible and itchy.
The fairer your complexion, the more visible it is. You’ve tried to shave slowly, you made sure your skin was wet and had a lot of shaving cream or shower gel but still ended up getting those annoying little bumps. How?
If you want to prevent shaving bumps the next time you pick up your razor, you need to know what causes it. What disturbs the shaver from smoothly gliding on your skin? Let’s discuss the causes and effective ways to get rid of razor bumps on your legs and how to prevent them.
What is a Razor bump?
Razor bumps are ingrown hairs, also known as Pseudofolliculitis barbae and it’s a chronic inflammatory condition that usually occurs in parts of the body where thick hair is likely to grow after shaving [1].
Sometimes when you shave your legs (or any part of the body), you can accidentally shave parts of the hair follicle that allows the hair to come out of the dermis. This can cause the new hairs to grow and curl back into the dermis instead of coming out through the hair follicle.
There are 2 types of Pseudofolliculitis barbae (ingrown hairs):
- Transfollicular: This is the type of ingrown hair that never comes out and usually has symptoms such as irritation and fluid buildup.
- Extrafollicular: This type of ingrown hair comes out of the hair follicle and goes back into the skin.
The result of this is inflammatory reaction is razor bumps that you might see on your legs, bikini line and anywhere else after shaving.
Signs and symptoms of razor bumps include red and itchy bumps that look like pimples, hyperpigmentation, and pustules.
In order to understand how to get rid of it, you need to know what causes it so here we go:
4 Main Causes of Razor Bumps
Dry and Dead Skin
When was the last time you gave your skin a good exfoliation? It’s good to make it a habit to exfoliate your skin from head to toe at least twice a month to have a beautiful soft skin.
What on earth does soft skin have with shaving? It’s simple. The softer and cleaner your skin, the easier it will be for the shaver to glide through without bumping.
If you want the shaver to work smoothly on your skin, you must start exfoliating.
How do you exfoliate? (and the 1st best way to prevent razor bumps)
Give it a try. You don’t even have to invest a cent on it. Everything you need for a deep skin exfoliation is already in your kitchen cupboard. That’s right, grab that salt bottle, lemon and olive oil.
- Mix about 2 tablespoons of each into a tiny bowl or a cup and get into your bathtub. Gently massage all the parts of the body that you’re planning to shave (avoid private part) in small circular motions for 10-15 minutes.
Wash it off with warm water and apply your normal bath cream or shaving cream and start shaving. You will definitely see a huge difference in how smoothly the shaver will glide on your skin.
Other natural exfoliation remedies you can try:
- Mix 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of salt and 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt. Mix them well and massage on your skin and leave it on for about 10-15 minutes before washing it off with lukewarm water. This pack will give your skin a nice deep cleansing and make it super soft before shaving.
- You can also try massaging a scrub made out of honey, olive oil, and salt.
2. Caring about price more than product quality
Second great cause of razor bumps on legs is that you care more about the price of your shaver than the bumps you can prevent.
If you’re using one of those cheap razors you can get for 5 or more in a pack, you shouldn’t be wondering why you’re getting those bumps. Cheap doesn’t always mean poor quality but when it comes to razors, yes it does. Those $1 razors have poor quality blades compared to decent priced professional razors.
Spend anywhere between $10-50 to buy a decent quality razor, preferably one that has received a lot of positive customer feedback so you know your money is not going to be wasted.
3. All in 1 go attempt
Do you attempt to shave at least 3 strikes of the skin in one go before you clean off the razor to start again? And you’re surprised about razor bumps?
No matter how much of a rush you’re in, you must never rush shaving. Take your time and do one line of your skin at a time. Thoroughly clean off the razor before you start shaving the next line.
Always take a nice warm shower before you start shaving.
4. Going in the opposite direction
This one is hard to avoid especially when you’re in a rush but do not shave upwards on your legs. Only shave in the same direction your hair grows which is usually downwards. Failing to do so can increase the chances of getting those irritating and painful razor bumps on your legs.
5. How old is that razor?
No matter how fancy it may look, you’re not supposed to use the same razor for more than 12-15 times maximum. Most razor brands these days come with a detachable head so you can just replace the blades instead of the whole razor but what matters is that you need to change the blades on a regular basis.
And do not forget to clean your razor blades thoroughly after every use.
How to Shave Your Legs the Right Way
Now that we’ve covered all the basics, let’s have a look at what you can do to get rid of the razor bumps you already have.
How to Get Rid of Razor Bumps on Legs (4 Remedies)
Aloe Vera gel application
Why it works: Aloe vera gel is packed with anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, and wound healing properties. It’s also full of antioxidants that keep your skin healthy and smooth [2]. Aloe Vera speeds up wound healing by stimulating collagen synthesis [3].
The antibacterial properties of Aloe vera gel can also help prevent the occurrence of infections from razor bumps on your legs. The anti-inflammatory properties of Aloe vera gel can help soothe the burning and irritating sensations of those bumps.
How to use it:
- If you’re looking to prevent razor bumps then make sure to apply some aloe vera gel your skin after you shave and pat dry. It’s a cheap and better alternative for aftershaves.
- If you want to treat the ones you already have, wash the affected area with some warm water and mild soap and then apply fresh aloe vera gel on those razor bumps (or burns).
NOTE: Try your best to get the fresh aloe vera gel directly from the plant, which is usually available in Indian grocery stores and Amazon. If not be sure to check the ingredients of the Aloe vera gel to make sure it doesn’t have anything that could make razor bumps worse.
2. Hot compress
Why it works: The heat reduces swelling of the inflamed razor bumps and helps prevent the accumulation of bacteria. It also soothes the irritation of the razor bumps.
How to do it: Apply warm wet cloth on your razor bumps for 10-15 minutes and repeat twice a day.
3. Tea tree oil
Why it works: Similar to Aloe vera gel, the many great benefits of Tea tree oil include its antiseptic properties, anti-inflammatory, and wound healing properties.
It will help speed up the healing process of the affected area and also prevent bacterial infections.
How to do it: Mix a few drops of Tea tree oil with some Aloe vera gel and apply it on the affected area with a cotton ball. Reapply again after the first layer dries.
NOTE: If you’re someone with super sensitive skin, apply it on a small batch of razor bump affected skin to see if it causes any irritations before applying it to the rest of the skin.
Can you apply the tea tree oil on razor bumps without diluting?
It’s a risk we don’t recommend just in case you end up having any adverse reactions. As mentioned earlier, mix a few drops of TTO with some water or Aloe vera gel before applying.
4. Aspirin
Why it works: Aspirin is an anti-inflammatory drug and happens to act the same way when used orally and/or topically.
How to do it: Mix 2 Aspirins with about 1-2 teaspoons of warm water until it’s completely dissolved and looks milky. Now dip a cotton ball into the Aspirin mixture and apply it on the parts of your skin that have razor bumps.
What’s your favorite way of getting rid of razor bumps on legs?
Share your experience with us in the comment section below.