Ask anyone , who has ever shaved with a razor, what their pet peeve is. The most likely answer is razor bumps. This unwelcome guest can appear anywhere on the body, where hair is shaved such as the face, neck, legs, armpits and the bikini area. One might wonder what razor bumps are and how to get rid of them. Here are some tips to keep razor bumps in check for irritation-free and more enjoyable shaving experiences. 

Causes

The direct cause of razor bumps is ingrown hairs. After shaving, hair can grow back into the skin, when it is naturally curly, or the hair follicle gets clogged up due to dead skin cells, or in most cases, incorrect shaving techniques cause the hair to have a beveled tip and curl back into the skin. When the hair follicle closes over the hair, it gets trapped under the surface of the skin, producing red razor bumps. Accordingly, the first step to prevent razor bumps is shaving correctly. 

How to Prevent Razor Bumps 

Then, what is the correct way to shave? DORCO suggests a three-step shaving routine: Warm up, Shave, and Moisturize.

1. Warm up -literally.

First use warm water to remove dirt and oil from the skin and open the pores before shaving. Thus, shaving at the end of a shower is better than doing it beforehand. If there is no time for shower, give a hot towel treatment to the shaving area for two to three minutes. Pre-shaving exfoliating helps prevent razor bumps from developing, as it removes dead skin cells which block the hair follicle area, trapping hair under the surface of the skin. 

2. Shave -properly.

Avoiding skin irritation is the best way to prevent razor bumps. Shaving every two to three days is much better than overdoing it. If razor bumps have already developed, do not shave the affected area to allow the skin to heal. Razor bumps usually go away on their own, unless they come with inflammation. It is also recommended to shave in the direction of hair growth to ease skin irritation. Shaving with the grain reduces the risks of skin problems, but it does not achieve a fully clean shave. Thus, gently shaving against the grain is needed in hairy areas, which require multiple passes.

However, all these efforts would not pay off, if the gear itself is not up to the task. Check the bathroom shelf and make sure the razor blade is sharp. A dull razor blade does not give a close shave as it drags on the skin and pulls at the hair, rather than cutting. Using pressure makes it difficult for the razor to evenly glide along the skin, causing irritation and making razor bumps more likely.   

Taking all these factors into consideration, DORCO added Vitamin E and Aloe Vera to the lubricating strip, making the razor blade move over the skin more effortlessly. The PACE PRO series for men features a round-shaped SmoothShieldTM lubricating strip, which is designed to increase the contact surface with the skin, to reduce friction for a smoother shaving experience. In addition, incorporating the pivoting head and the guard bar to the cartridge enables the razor blade to fit every bend and contour of the body, delivering a closer and cleaner shaving experience. The EVE 5 Motion for women also combines DORCO’s cutting-edge 3D Motion technology with the flexible head, which allows the razor to hug the body's contours for a more convenient shave.

3. Moisturize -as always.

It is important to finish off with cold water, as it helps tighten the pores and lower the risk of infections. Then, pat dry the shaved areas. Rubbing on wet skin with a towel can be too harsh on the skin. Last but not least, as shaving removes hairs as well as moisture in the skin, it is a good idea to use skin moisturizer.

We hope we answered some of the questions that you might have about razor bumps, what they are, what causes them, how to shave to avoid them, and more. Follow DORCO’s three-step shaving routine and send farewell to razor bumps. Goodbye!