Thread: Ingrown hair(s)

Good evening - I am new here so forgive me if something like this has already been posted, which I am sure it has. First things first, I am a 45yr old male and new to wet shaving. As the title says I am having a difficult time with ingrown hairs (mostly around my chin).

i have always shaved with a standard razor bought in a store. About 3 mos ago I finally gave in and started wet shaving, and thoroughly enjoy it. Except for the ingrown hairs. I don't know why I am getting them? I shave in the shower and make sure my face has had plenty of hot water on it to soften up the hair and open up my pores, but I am plagued with several spots that always seem to have ingrown hairs. These things don't go away over 2-3 days, but stick around for over a week. At least it seems like the injured area is around for a long time. I almost always put a new razor in every time I shave.

Any my thoughts or help is much appreciated. Thx

Hi Bcarolan, try not shaving in the shower and get a descent soap and brush. If you are using a DE, don't swap out blade every time, they get a bit smoother after a shave or two. Also there are many brands of blades so get a sampler pack, you may find a blade that suits your skin better. Some, like feather are crazy sharp and don't suit everyone.
Try one pass with just the weight of the razor, and use a Balm rather than an after shave.
And welcome to SRP.

Hey,

Part of my pre shave routine is using a facial scrub in the shower before I shave. I use Jack Black Deep Dive Glycolic cleanser. The slight grit in the stuff helps to get rid of any dead skin on your face which in turn, allows the hairs to grow out properly. So far so good, and sharp edges help too.

Try exfoliation. You need to open the pores and get the hairs out again. If this is happening you are cutting the hairs too far below the skin which is why it is happening. Try shaving less aggressively in the problem areas.

First question: What is a "standard razor bought in the store"?

Second question: What shaving implement are you using now?

Third question: Are you doing anything at all to stretch the skin, to make the hairs stand up more??

Last question (for now ) : Are you shaving against the grain??

Final question (just remembered ) : Are you using any kind of shaving cream?? I ask this because using the water pouring from the showerhead while a cartridge razor dive-bombs your face does not qualify it as "wet shaving". lol.

Answers to these questions will greatly help guide our responses to your dilemma.

Welcome aboard...

I have deep crevices in my face/chin which will not flatten out. The joys of working outside for 45+ years. My beard grows flat against my skin. Now and then I shave to close around the crevices and away we go.

I keep the area moisturized to let the skin flex and give. Dry skin makes it worse for me. I lightly brush with finger nail bush. You can see the stubble pop out as you brush. Gnarly ones I tweezer the infected hair out. They heal a lot quicker with less scaring/pitting. If my face explodes I stop shaving all together till it is totally healed using lots of oil/cream and brush/tweezer time.

The above has reduced the recovery by half for me. Pre-shave prep to soften chin hair is a must. The better the prep the less bumps for me.

Thanks for the advice everyone. Crawler - here are answers to your questions....

1) As for the the store bought razor - I have been using the Gillette Mach 3 or 5 for years.
2) Being new to the process, I started with the Parker SR1 Barber Razor, and I am using Shark blades.
3) I am stretching the skin and everywhere I do it on my face is no problem, except the chin area where my beard is heavy.
4) I am not shaving against the grain.
5) When I say "shaving in the shower" I should have clarified. The water is not hitting my face as I go along. I am away from the shower head and looking in a mirror. It would be the same as doing it over the sink but I am in the shower.

Thanks, jmercer. I have been wondering if a pre-shave oil would help loosen the up a bit, plus provide some added buffer to the problem areas?

Thanks, Ed. I have read that by pulling the skin too tight I (may be) cutting the hairs too far below the skin, and I think this is part of the problem.

I have to agree with everyone on this page about what to try . You should try shaving over the sink to change things up. The only benefit to shaving in the shower seems to be rinsing the Gillette Mach 3 with a lot of water pressure. The shower maybe causing the Gillette to get traction on your chin. Some good shaving soap might help the razor to glide easier over your chin area.