Thread: Preventing Ingrown Hairs

Is prevention of ingrown hairs a post shave care issue or a pre-shave prep issue?

Suggestions?

For me it is an actual shaving issue. If I try to shave against the grain I get ingrown hairs.

I would say it's an issue with pre, mid and post shave. All of these things contribute to your overall feel of a shave and the condition of your skin.

Semi-related: Anthony Ingrown Hair Treatment | Fendrihan Shaving Store

I picked some up, but have yet to try it out as I stopped getting ingrowns when I started SR shaving.

Originally Posted by Qatsats

Is prevention of ingrown hairs a post shave care issue or a pre-shave prep issue?

Suggestions?

Suggestions.... sure.

In many cases it is the result of a shaver that snips the whisker below
the skin surface and leaves it with a sharp point that then takes a left
turn into and under the skin. It then gets infected and the skin erupts.

For me the multi blade razors that the mega mart sells are the worst
offenders. Often I point beginners at the BiC yellow handle tossable
shavers for sensitive skin. They have a single blade and a largish
gap to make rinsing easy. BiC has hidden on their web site a lot
about ingrown hair and shaving. Folk with curly hair/ whiskers are most
likely to suffer this. Other notable single edge shavers help like a str8 or
a double edge razor but cost a bit more to get started.

If you are one of those that has this problem select a single edge shaver
and spend a full five min in a basic warm water lathering process. Every
30 seconds splash warm water on your well washed face and then
go back to your goto brush + basic shave soap or cream. In five min you will
have softened your whiskers and will also have a smooth deluxe lather
to shave with.

Apply your hand crafted deluxe lather and shave one systematic pass. After pass
one rinse and apply lather one more time after inspecting for missed spots.
Give the missed spots a touch up and rinse with clear water multiple times.
For me closing the skin with a splash of cool almost cold water helps.
Pat dry with a CLEAN towel.

Now for 30 min air dry no goo, no post shave, nothing.

After 30 min you can apply a very mild aftershave balm.
Nivea makes a nice one.

This process addresses two problems. One is whiskers cut below
the skin the other is that many of us react to stuff like fragrances
and other additives. Use as short a list of products as possible.
Each time you add a product you much increase the statistical odds
of adding something that you react to.

Note that I said systematic pass and did not mention with the grain
or against the grain. Many folk with curly hair will note that the
grain of their whiskers changes half a hundred times. Trying to
keep up with all the changes is almost impossible so skip that
worry.

This is a common problem and once you start looking you
will find a lot of products some of which help. If the simple
solutions do not help keep looking.

You are not alone.

Rumor is that A. Lincoln, U. S. Grant and Robert E. Lee
had this issue.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

Suggestions.... sure.

In many cases it is the result of a shaver that snips the whisker below
the skin surface and leaves it with a sharp point that then takes a left
turn into and under the skin. It then gets infected and the skin erupts.

For me it's a shaving thing. My neck has 2 areas that demand almost-ATG (but not quite) to get smooth. This is totally doable for me now on a straight (after years of practice shaving & honing), but I need that razor ultra-sharp to do it. Any lack of sharpness that would not be a problem anywhere else causes a slight pulling there--which leads to the hairs snapping back below skin level. Consequently, an effortlessly-shaving blade is key. Otherwise I just do a single pass w/ cleanup. Still works fine, but not as fun or smooth.

I happen to have curly whiskers ( blame it on my Jewish lineage). I find shaving with a sharp straight razor using COLD water eliminated my ingrown hair problem. Hot water straight razor shaves have always dramatically reduced my ingrown hairs. Funny I discovered cold water shaving by accident. One morning my boiler was on the fritz and I had no choice but to shave in cold water. Turned out it was the best thing that could have happened.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

For me the multi blade razors that the mega mart sells are the worst offenders.

Same here and that's why after very nearly five years, I have not even been tempted by a shave that comprises one of the above beasts that I won't mention again...

In addition to this very useful post, my advice would be to use an exfoliator the night before a morning shave, i.e. 12 hours before the shave. I use the L'Occitane Cade scrub which isn't too harsh. Dermalogica's skin prep scrub has also worked for me in the past.

My curly whiskers and ultra-dry skin don't help either. But you need to stay alert when the weather is dry/moist and also what season you are in. Avoid all alcohol based products and stick to after shave balms. Trumper's Skin Food has helped me in the summer/warmer months, as has Roger & Gallet's L'Homme after shave balm and the very good Santa Maria Novella Pre-Post cream as an after shave in the winter/colder months.