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How to Prevent Razor and Waxing Bumps, According to Aestheticians

Photo-Illustration: The Strategist

A version of this story originally appeared on the Strategist US.

As if keeping up with hair removal weren’t hassle enough, waxing and shaving often lead to painful ingrown hairs and pesky razor bumps. These spots aren’t to be confused with razor burn, which Lara Kaiser, an aesthetician at Brooklyn’s Carrie Lindsey Beauty, says are two different things. “Razor burn is caused by friction against the skin when the skin is not prepped well enough or the person shaved too aggressively,” she says. Razor bumps are basically ingrown hairs, which can pop up anywhere you remove hair and often happen on more delicate areas where the hair is coarse like the bikini line. These warmer months can feel fraught if you dabble in body-hair removal. And razor bumps can happen to anyone no matter how you remove the hair: “Razor bumps are very common and can happen no matter what your landscaping method is and how thorough it is,” says Ania Siemieniaka, the manager and owner of Freckle, a spa in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

Luckily, there are lots of products out there that you can use before and after waxing and shaving to help prevent irritation and soothe bumps caused by ingrown hairs. We talked to six aestheticians and waxing experts to hear which creams, gels, and serums to reach for in the days after waxing or shaving and other steps you can take to stave off razor bumps in the first place.

Best overall product for preventing razor bumps

Three of the waxing specialists named this cult-y product as the best for combating razor bumps. The oil, which is specifically formulated to be safe for the pubic area, blends several soothing antiseptic and antimicrobial ingredients, including grape-seed, jojoba, and tea-tree oil, which will help keep the area clean and smooth. “A great way to prevent razor burn is by keeping the skin around the bikini line really healthy, like with Fur Oil,” says Kaiser. “This is an oil you apply for a few days before or after hair removal that is antiseptic and helps soften hair and hair regrowth. As far as I know, it’s about the only product on the market specifically for pubic hair.” Samantha Garlow, waxing specialist at Daphne, agrees. She says that while Fur Oil does carry a specific spot treatment for ingrowns, the original Fur Oil “can be used daily on clean, exfoliated skin, and is safe for your most sensitive areas.” Audra Senkus, a co-owner of Haven Spa, recommended the oil as well, telling us, “We love Fur Oil.”

Senkus pointed to the brand’s stubble cream as another useful product to keep in the medicine cabinet. The stubble cream “smooths the skin after waxing, and it also softens any prickly stubble,” she says, as well as “prevents ingrowns and bumps.”

Best physical-exfoliation products for preventing razor bumps

All of the aestheticians we spoke to said that exfoliating a few days after waxing or shaving is an important step in preventing bumps as hair starts to grow in. There are many ways to exfoliate — manually with a scrubbing mitt or cleansing scrub, or with a chemical exfoliant — and choosing one comes down to personal preference. Kaiser suggests using a “scrubby mitt” or dry brush. “That leaves less of a chance for the hairs to curl in on themselves, and exfoliates the area so there is nothing to clog pores, making them vulnerable to bacteria and inflammation,” she says. “The scrubby mitt or dry brush can be from anywhere, they’re all about the same.”

For those who want to exfoliate with a cleanser (or want to combine one with their scrubbing mitt), Mihoko Ninomiya, skin-care manager at Great Jones Spa, suggests using a gentle facial scrub. She likes Dr. Hauschka’s Cleansing Cream, which has a “grittiness close to that of a rice flour or an almond meal or powder,” the ideal texture for a scrub for more delicate areas, according to Ninomiya.

And for those who prefer bar soap, Stalina Glot, senior aesthetician at Haven, recommends Crystal Peel Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Soap Body Bar. She says you can use it in the days leading up to shaving, but to “avoid doing that the same day as shaving.”

Unlike the other physical exfoliants on this list, Cure Aqua Gel is made with 91 percent hydrogen water, which Winnie Zhong at oo35mm says works on the surface to remove dead skin. She says it can be used on the face and more sensitive parts of the body. “You would use this after cleansing steps or on dry skin; rub the gel into the skin and it reacts to dead skin,” Zhong told us.

Best chemical exfoliation products for preventing razor bumps

Zhong also recommends Alpha Skin Care’s Renewal Body Lotion, which she calls “a cult favourite.” The lotion has 12 percent glycolic acid, which makes it ideal for improving skin texture. “Many of our customers use it on keratosis pilaris and stubborn bumps,” Zhong says. “It can also be good for acne scars.” (We imagine it would be good for fading any scars left from past ingrowns as well.)

Speaking of cult exfoliants, you’ve probably heard of Biologique Recherche’s Lotion P50, a favourite facial toner of celebrities, beauty editors, and your skin-care-obsessed friend. The exfoliating toner can be used for more than your face, though, according to Garlow. “P50 has a smart blend of proven clarifying ingredients like lactic acid, gluconolactone, salicylic acid, and sulphur, which moisturise, regulate oil, and prevent ingrown hairs,” she says. Depending on sensitivity, you can dilute P50 with water. “It’s best used out of the shower by pressing, not rubbing,” Garlow told us. “It’s recommended to use once a day and 24 hours after hair removal, and you can follow it with Fur Oil.”

Best hair-removal-specific skin cleanser

Another alternative to harsh wipes are Skyn Iceland’s Nordic Skin Peel pads, which Siemieniaka says were designed for acneic skin but “work wonders on your bikini bumps.” She told us that she learned about the pads — the perfect application format for when you’re feeling a bit lazy or busy — from Katie Jane Hughes, a makeup artist. “I got hooked, and after a while, I realised that it works really well on the bikini area, especially those sensitive types,” says Siemieniaka, who also notes that they won’t dry out your skin. These wipes are currently out of stock, but the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta exfoliating body treatment sachets work similarly well.

Best gels for preventing razor bumps

Siemieniaka also told us about PFB Vanish, which can be used with not-so-sensitive skin. “Its powerful combo of glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids will reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and exfoliate the skin (yes, ingrown-hair prevention right there),” she says. “Our clients love it.” It comes in a roll-on bottle, which makes it easy to apply.

If you’d rather use a formula specifically designed for women, Senkus suggests UltraLuxe’s Women’s Ingrown Hair treatment, which she says can be used on the face and body to stave off ingrown hairs. “The technology actually cools and calms your skin post-shaving, preventing the chance of irritation before it begins.” The cooling factor comes from the ingredient allantoin, which is known for its anti-redness, anti-irritation properties. Please note: This product is currently only available imported from the US with a delivery cost of around £5 and a two-week wait time.

This one is a favorite of both Glot and Senkus. Glot suggests using it twice a day and notes that “serums are designed with low molecules that penetrate to the hair follicle and remove dead skin cells, pushing the hair up.” Senkus told us that Princereigns also “removes dark spots and soften and straightens curly hair while removing ingrown hairs and razor bumps.”

Best natural treatment for preventing razor bumps

“For natural-remedy lovers, I recommend tea-tree-oil compress,” says Siemieniaka. “Tea-tree oil is extremely rich in antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that will help you get rid of redness and itchiness caused by razor bumps.” She cautions against using tea-tree oil in its pure form and suggests mixing a couple of drops of oil with a few tablespoons of warm water instead. “Then make a compress with a cotton ball and apply onto affected areas for about ten minutes. For best results, I would do this twice a day,” she says.

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How to Prevent Razor Bumps, According to Aestheticians