Ingrown Hairs

[shavingguy]

Hey all. I get a lot of ingrown hairs when I shave, almost all of them on my neck. I thought I would DE shaving a try. I am about a week in to DE shaving. For the first 3 days or so, it was great. I shaved, and it didn't appear to make them worse (as usual shaving does). It didn't even hurt that much the day after, even though the old ones were still there. For a reference, I sometimes used to not shave for a long time so that all the ingrown hairs would come out, this took about 3 weeks to do. So, its a gradual process, but I thought it was actually helping them.

Then the last couple days, it seems to have gotten worse again. This was the same process that always happened with all other shaving techniques, sometimes it gets better, sometimes worse. But no real change.

Do you guys think I should stop shaving, let them all heal, then shave again and see if it is the DE shave that is doing it or just the old ones? Or, should I just keep shaving every day and see if they get better?

For the record, I only shave down as of now (I would like to do 3 pass, but its too dangerous for now).

 

[urkel]

I don't get them much but a couple weeks ago i did and I just let it rest for a couple days, then mowed it down with good results. but, that was just me wanting to shave with a new razor

 

[BIGFURM]

I would let them grow out then when you shave use a scrub wash. It will remove some dead skin so it will be easier for your hairs to grow. I use Jack Black's Facial Scrub. Make sure you prep well also. Maybe shower and use a pre-shave and/or a hot towel. Make sure you have a nice slick lather and shave WTG first. You may want to map out your facial hair growth pattern so that you aren't accidentally shaving ATG. Then do an XTG pass (you may want to skip the ATG pass for a while). Rinse with cold water and use a good aftershave balm.

 

[RoadKingWarrior]

I use to have ingrown hair problem but I solved it by ensuring my facial hair is clean, moist, and well lubricated. For trouble places I prefer using tweezers but I haven't had to use them in a long while.

 

[JayEddie]

For me it seems that it's when I get a close shave that I get more ingrown hairs, not whether it's with a DE or cartridge. I do have a more enjoyable overall experience with the DE, so that's what I've been sticking with. It just seems that I can't avoid them. From the various threads I've read, DE shaving seems to help eliminate them for many guys, but not for me.

 

[hscai]

This is something I just realized recently. What's your blade angle like during XTG and ATG passes? My neck area is rather sensitive, and I've always messed up somehow - either too little or too much. I decreased my ATG pass bade angle to very shallow one, so the guard is actually gliding across the neck area. I've never had such a good shave before.

 

[RandomDeamon]

This is one of the reasons I started DE shaving. I've noticed that I've had less problems since I started using a DE. I've found that a big key is shave prep. I have only ever shaved right after a hot shower. I use a hot as a I can get it towel on my face first. Then pre-shave oil. Next I make sure I have a really good lather worked up with my shaving cream and brush.

I also use a very light touch with my neck. This all seems to have helped. The time you put in before shaving will make a great deal of difference. Good luck to you!

 

[MRoney]

I used to get a lot of razor burn on my neck, ingrown hairs would come a few days after a close shave. Now I give my neck only with the grain passes, and no more than 2. It doesn't get as close, but my neck looks a million times better. I still get some SLIGHT irritation, but it goes away by the end of the day and it is only noticeable to me in a mirror and up close at that. Good luck!

 

[Khelben]

I used to get a lot of razor burn on my neck, ingrown hairs would come a few days after a close shave. Now I give my neck only with the grain passes, and no more than 2. It doesn't get as close, but my neck looks a million times better. I still get some SLIGHT irritation, but it goes away by the end of the day and it is only noticeable to me in a mirror and up close at that. Good luck!

I find it's similar for me. I can go WTG and XTG just fine on my neck, but ATG is a definite no go. One pass with and two across leave me looking and feeling quite smooth without irritation. Going against means I'm sacrificing blood to some deity who likes theirs delivered in porcelain and left with burning skin.

 

[m139]

I used to get them all the time, until I started using a DE razor... but that's not all. Using the DE razor was a result of joining B&B and reading more and understanding more about various things that go along with the shave. I, too, used to leave my beard for three to four days between shaves.

Here are all the things I changed and I'm not sure which one or which combination did it but since I've stared DE shaving (and doing all the following), I've only had one ingrown and I know why.

Here's what I changed:

1) Cartridge to DE
2) Shave before shower --- Now I shave after showering
3) No prep (except canned shave gel) --- Now I shower & EXFOLIATE in the shower. I then use a pre-shave or another prep
4) Hot water shower AFTER the shave and no A/S at all --- Now, I shave after the shower, then follow with cold water rinse, alum block, Witch Hazel, then a good A/S

Like I said, I don't know which one did it but I'm telling you my face looks so much better now!

Last but not least... I used to never moisturize. Now, I use an ASB in the morning and I always moisturize at night with an oil-free good quality product. I also wash my face three times a day with a good quality product that contains salicylic acid.... it does wonders.

Good luck.

 

[wstruth]

For me it seems that it's when I get a close shave that I get more ingrown hairs, not whether it's with a DE or cartridge.

Ditto for me. I like getting a BBS shave (4 passes for me) but I found I get ingrowns, so now I make one fewer pass when I shave , and it works.

 

[Professor Jones]

I only have them when I shave ATG. Now I only shave WTG and XTG, and I have zero problems, I don't even feel that I need aftershave anymore.

 

[MossBoss]

Make sure your WTG is truly WTG. I got ingrown hairs when I was actually shaving XTG on my first pass on my neck. So I mapped my beard and have'nt had nearly as many ingrowns and much less irritation.

 

[DaveNJ74]

I sometimes get the occasional ingrown hair around the side of my lips, I grow a goatee sometimes to avoid shaving there.

 

[Darnell]

My comment is similar in nature to that of M139. Because I learned over time there are 2 things that caused my ingrowns, products and method. Good method helps and for the remainder the right products finish the deal. Some people can eliminate ingrowns totally with proper method, but for some of us even the best method is not enough. If your hair just naturally grows downward method may help, but you also need to ensure you're using the right products to prevent ingrowns and razor bumps.

I went on at length regarding my journey in this thread http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php/249754-Aftershave-for-Ingrown-Hair-Sensative-Skin

I'll add to that, my After Shave now is 75% Tend Skin + 25% Shave Den After Shave, mixed in an empty bottle and applied liberally.

I do a 3.5 pass shave nightly post shower.

 

[the10thdan]

This is my first post here so "Hello" all.

I find I get ingrown hairs when using particular blades, so it may also pay to look at your blade.

I hope this adds to the good suggestion above.

Cheers

 

[brybry642]

Maybe it's just me, but I consider removing ingrown hairs with a nice pair of tweezers to be a hobby of mine.

FREAKING LOVE IT!!...

 

[leftenant]

Maybe it's just me, but I consider removing ingrown hairs with a nice pair of tweezers to be a hobby of mine.

FREAKING LOVE IT!!...

I am OCD about this as well, especially at my girlfriend's place with her magnified mirror. I'm embarrassed to say that I can't go in the bathroom without stopping to check the neck. But I really need to get some needlepoint tweezers to do it right.

As far as prevention, I'm beginning to think that AS balm is exacerbating the ingrown problem at the collar line. I'm going to try sticking with a splash for a month to see how the neck fairs.

A few years back, I used an AOS product at night (shave in the AM), which seemed to help as well. May have been their Overnight Balm, or another, now discontinued product. Mallin Goetz makes a nice exfoliant to use in the shower/at night as well. However, I've jumped on the anti-parabens wagon and am now looking for a replacement.

 

[DaveNJ74]

Maybe it's just me, but I consider removing ingrown hairs with a nice pair of tweezers to be a hobby of mine.

FREAKING LOVE IT!!...

Bravo...

 

[Bright (Satin) Futur]

Ingrown hairs are often due to 1. Too much pressure while pulling the blade across the skin. 2. Too many uses of the blade making it dull and unable to cut cleanly. 3. Too much variation in the heights of beard stubble due to shaving at different times of day. This forces you to shave differently which directly effects consistency and smooth gliding of skin surface; therefore - Ingrown hair. My $ .02