You know what’s not sexy? Razor burn. Also unsexy? A scraggly beard.
If you can’t grow a beard (or simply don’t want one) then shaving daily is part of your routine. If you suffer from razor burn, shaving can be about as enjoyable as a root canal.
It’s not clear why some men get razor burn and some don’t. If you’ve eliminated irritating shaving creams and gels and are still having issues, you may just have sensitive skin. It’s cool man, our skin is sensitive, too.
The good news is, razor burn doesn’t have to make you loathe getting ready in the mornings or make you want to hide your face under a mask (although right now that’s definitely a viable option).
You can learn how to avoid razor burn for good and never see it again by following a few simple steps.
What is Razor Burn?
Razor burn refers to patches of skin that are red, irritated, and covered in tiny bumps. The bumps are usually small and red. If your razor burn isn’t treated or if you continue to shave over it, it can become worse.
Severe razor burn can lead to folliculitis, a condition where the hair follicles become inflamed and infected. Folliculitis usually appears with bumps that look like whiteheads in the same areas of red, irritated skin where you had razor burn.
Razor burn is caused by repeated irritation to the skin from shaving in a way that makes your skin pissed like:
- Dry shaving. Shaving without water, shaving cream, or shaving gel.
- Shaving against the direction of your natural hair growth.
- Not changing out your razor heads frequently enough.
- Using a dirty razor.
- Shaving products that irritate your skin.
- Shaving over the irritated shin.
Even if you take every precaution to avoid it, you might still get razor burn if you have extremely sensitive skin. That’s okay. Better skin care and a few tips and tricks can help you bail on the burn for good.
How to Get Rid of Razor Burn
If you’ve already got a rash of razor burn, the single most important thing you can do is wait for it to heal. Avoid shaving the area again-you’ll only make the razor burn worse.
In the meantime, try using cold compresses on the area, applying colloidal oatmeal to the affected area, and avoid using harsh products on the area that could further irritate and inflame it.
Here are two other methods of getting your razor burn to disappear fast.
Aloe
Great for sunburns and razor burns, aloe is the OG of healing plant extracts. Aloe has even been shown to help heal first to second degree burns on the skin, so taking care of your razor burn is a small task for this super extract.
Because this aloe is going on your face, it's important to make sure you’re using a high quality product that doesn’t include anything that will aggravate your skin.
Coconut Oil
Coconut oil has enjoyed some pretty amazing popularity over the past decade, and there’s no wonder why. This oil is powerful yet gentle enough to use on even the most sensitive (read: razor burned) skin.
Coconut oil is able to soothe irritated skin and even help restore skin that is damaged. It’s also an effective cleanser and emollient, which means it makes your skin feel smooth, soft, and touchable.
Tea Tree Oil
Known for its astringent-like properties, tea tree oil helps tighten pores, which can help keep your hair follicles healthy and protect them from unwanted bacteria, dirt, and oil. Tea tree oil is also an excellent skin soother, so applying it to your razor-burn can help calm the area and alleviate irritation.
How to Get Rid of Razor Burn: Prevention
The best way to get rid of razor burn is to avoid getting it altogether. Here’s how to shave like a pro without hitting any bumps along the way.
Shave Correctly
There’s definitely a right way to shave, and depending on who taught you, you could be doing it wrong and causing razor burn with every stroke. Here are three tips to try when shaving that will help you avoid razor burn and irritation.
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Use a good shaving cream or gel. It helps your razor glide more smoothly over the surface of your skin and prevents nicks and cuts. Shaving cream also helps prevent razor burn if you’re using a formula for sensitive skin.
If you’re out of shaving cream, you can find a substitute, but it’s important to invest the time to find a shaving cream that works for your skin.
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Use a good razor. Your razor should have multiple blades, hug the curves of your face, and be within one to two weeks old if you shave your face. Old razors contain microscopic jagged edges that can cut and tear your skin.
Old razors can also harbor bacteria that can irritate and/or infect your skin and hair follicles.
- Shave toward the end of your shower. We know, the mirror gets foggy and it’s inconvenient. However, it’s not as inconvenient as burning, itching skin, and shaving at the end of your shower allows the heat and steam from your shower to relax your skin and open your pores, which can allow you to shave closer and easier.
Following these tips can help you get a safer, smoother shave, but taking better care of your skin can help you avoid razor burn and a myriad of other skin-related problems (like dullness, premature aging, and breakouts).
Better Skin Care
If you’re constantly experiencing razor burn, better skin care is the answer. You can try the products you find at your local bullseye store, but most of the products you find on store shelves have been formulated for women’s skin.
Men’s skin is thicker and tougher than women’s skin because of facial hair growth. Our pH balance is different, too. For products that really work synergistically with your skin, Disco is the solution.
Our products are all dermatologists formulated to work on men’s skin. That means they include ingredients that have proven to be better for the type of skin that grows facial hair, whether you shave it or not.
Our products are also safe for sensitive skin types. Our ingredients are plant-based, natural, and vegan. Here’s what we recommend for razor burn-prone skin types.
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Exfoliate. It’s the single most important part of your skin care routine that can help you prevent razor burn. Exfoliating removes the layer of dead skin cells hanging out on your skin and helps prepare your pores for shaving.
When you exfoliate, you lift away dirt, oil, and dead skin cells that could get trapped beneath the surface of your skin when you shave, forming ingrown hairs or causing razor burn rashes.
Disco’s exfoliating facial scrub is expert in preparing your skin for your shave. It contains gentle exfoliants like papaya along with soothing aloe to keep your skin happy, and apricot oil to reduce inflammation and irritation.
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Cleanse the right way. Before you shave, you cleanse. It’s crucial to make sure your skin is clean before you shave so that you aren’t shaving dirt, oil, and gunk directly into your pores causing irritation.
The problem is, many cleansers contain harsh ingredients that can strip your skin of it’s natural moisture, leaving skin dry. Dry skin is razor burn prone skin, so make sure your cleanser contains cleansing and hydrating ingredients.
Disco’s charcoal cleanser stick contains natural charcoal to help rid your skin of dirt and oil, and coconut oil to make sure your skin is still hydrated, moisturized, and softened.
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Add moisture. Apply your moisturizer after you shave. Your pores will be open and because shaving can irritate the skin, applying a soothing moisturizer can help make sure your skin doesn’t develop razor burn.
Make sure your moisturizer has clean, non-pore clogging ingredients. Disco’s hydrating face moisturizer contains hydrating ingredients that are safe for sensitive skin and help condition it to keep it feeling soft.
Our moisturizer also contains vitamin E, which can help protect your skin against free radical damage (from external stressors like the sun, smoke, and pollution), and vitamin C to keep your skin looking bright and even-toned.
Using better skin care is like hitting the next level of grown man-dom and it keeps your skin comfortable and razor burn free.
Let’s Disco
You can take care of your skin in a few minutes a day with easy to use products from Disco. Our skin care was designed by a man, for men’s skin. It’s also sustainably sourced and made with environmentally (and skin-friendly) ingredients, so you keep a clear head along with your clear skin.
Stop being afraid of the shave. Pick up your razor with the confidence of Thor picking up his hammer and let Disco help you get a razor burn free shave.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/folliculitis/symptoms-causes/syc-20361634
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17373175/
http://www.burnsjournal.com/article/S0305-4179(06)00702-9/abstract
