Razor bumps after shaving: prevention and aftercare

Razor bumps after shaving are sore, red bumps caused by shaved hairs growing back into the skin, and Healthdirect lists the chin, cheeks and neck among the common spots for ingrown hairs. Much of what causes them happens during the shave itself, so prevention starts there. If you are booking a cut-throat shave at Clipper Culture in Glen Alpine, or shaving at home, this guide covers how to prepare your skin, how to look after it afterwards, and the signs that mean it is time to see a health professional.

What causes razor bumps after shaving

Healthdirect describes an ingrown hair as a hair that grows back into your skin, leaving the area red, swollen and itchy. When that inflammation keeps coming back, it goes by several names: razor bumps, shave bumps, barber's itch or pseudofolliculitis barbae. Healthdirect lists shaving among the causes and notes that very curly or coarse hair makes ingrown hairs more likely.

The mechanism is simple. A razor cuts each hair at or just below the surface, and as the hair grows the cut end can curve back into the skin instead of growing straight out. Healthdirect's page on folliculitis explains that this ongoing beard-area inflammation most often affects men with darker skin and tightly curled hair. Its ingrown hair page adds that an ingrown hair can sometimes cause an infection around the hair follicle, which is folliculitis.

Before and during the shave

Healthdirect's prevention advice for ingrown hairs and its advice for shaving-related folliculitis overlap on the basics:

• Wash the skin with warm water and a mild facial cleanser before you start.
• Use plenty of shaving gel rather than soap.
• Shave in the direction the hair grows.
• Do not pull or stretch the skin while shaving.
• Use a sharp blade, and do not shave too close to the skin.
• Moisturise after shaving.

The same advice also suggests exfoliating before you shave and using a single blade or electric razor. Letting the hair grow a little longer before shaving helps as well, which is why some people prone to bumps keep a short beard and have it trimmed and lined up instead of shaved.

Hot towel shave benefits for bump-prone skin

A traditional barber shave covers several of those steps by design. The hot towel softens the beard and warms the skin before any blade touches it, a straight razor is a single blade, and a barber can see which way the hair grows across your neck, which is hard to judge in a bathroom mirror. Clipper Culture's Cut Throat Shave is $10, with a hot towel and straight razor, and can be added to any cut or beard service or booked on its own. Each shave uses a fresh disposable blade in the straight razor.

None of that makes a shave a treatment. If your skin is already inflamed, Healthdirect's ingrown hair advice says it may help to stop shaving until the skin heals, so let active bumps settle before you book. Once they have, mention that you are prone to them when you book, so it can be talked through before the razor comes out. General guidance on barber tool hygiene is on the hygiene standards page.

Aftercare in the first few days

Most of the work in managing razor bumps after shaving is leaving the skin alone. Healthdirect notes that ingrown hairs often improve without treatment, and suggests washing the area with a washcloth in a circular motion for several minutes to help release trapped hairs. Its general measures for folliculitis also apply while the skin settles:

• Keep the skin cool and avoid heavy sweating.
• Wear loose, breathable clothing; tight collars rub the neck.
• Change out of wet or sweaty clothes quickly.
• Skip shaving the area again until the bumps have gone.

When to see a GP or pharmacist

Ingrown hairs often clear up on their own, but some need a health professional. See a GP if:

• a bump fills with pus or turns into a hard, painful lump under the skin
• the bumps do not go away, or keep bothering you
• you feel unwell or have a fever of 38°C or higher
• you get bumps so often that they are leaving marks

Healthdirect explains that an infected ingrown hair may need antibiotics, that a doctor can refer you to a dermatologist if needed, and that frequent ingrown hairs can cause scarring. It also notes that a severe folliculitis infection can make you feel unwell or bring on a fever, although this is rare. For health advice at any hour, the Healthdirect helpline on 1800 022 222 puts you through to a registered nurse. A barber can work around healed skin, but an infected area is a job for your doctor.

Frequently Asked Questions

When bumps keep coming back

If razor bumps after shaving keep returning even after you have changed how you shave, treat the pattern as a reason to talk to a GP. Healthdirect notes there are medicines and products that can remove dead skin cells, reduce inflammation and treat infection, and a doctor can advise which, if any, suit you.