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Most men and women shave on a daily basis. No matter what part of the body you shave, you will always be prone to razor burn or ingrown hairs. Nonetheless, some parts of the body are more prone to razor bumps due to the thickness of the hair.

There is no need to worry about ingrown hairs if you take steps to prevent them. There are several simple steps you can take to prepare your skin and hair before shaving.

Prevent Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs occur when the end of the hair shaft is cut resulting in a sharpened edge that curls back into the same hair follicle. It normally produces itchiness, redness, or a raised infected area. Sometimes, the ingrown hair can actually be seen beneath the raised bump.

Most ingrown hairs problems are mild and isolated. Nevertheless, if this simple condition is left unattended it can develop into severe folliculitis. Furthermore, bacteria and yeast infections are the cause of a worse onset of problems. If you want to prevent ingrown hairs from appearing, then you first need to learn how to shave properly. If you have naturally curly hair, you will want to pay close attention to the following suggestions.

First off, you might want to switch from a hand razor to an electrical razor. An electric razor does not cut the hair into a sharp edge. This helps keep the hair from reentering the follicle.

If you rather use a straight razor, disposable razor, or safety razor, you must make sure to prepare your skin first. By washing your skin before shaving it, you will be exfoliating the skin and lifting the hair away from the follicle. This step is important because it will also help soften the hair and prepare it for shaving.

When you are ready to shave, pass the razor over the skin in the direction of the hair growth. Always shave in the same direction. By maintaining this routine, you will be "training" your hair to grow straight and not to grow back into the follicle.

To avoid shaving too close, do not pull on the skin or push too hard on the razor. Using a single blade razor can also prevent too close of a shave. If you've followed all these steps and are still suffering from ingrown hairs, here are a few helpful tips to get rid of them.

How to Eliminate Ingrown Hairs

A very effective way of removing ingrown hairs is by exfoliating. This will allow you to unblock the clogged pore and permit the hair to grow outwards. An effective exfoliant is one that contains salicylic acid. This beta hydroxy acid provides a gentle chemical exfoliation that helps unclog pores.