remedy for razor burn?

[surf mama]

I know lots of mamas don't shave and that is cool...but I do shave in the summer especially. I get razor burn in my bikini area and it looks so ugly I'm almost better off not shaving. I don't want to use products like Nair with all those nasty chemicals and I'm too chicken to wax. I'm hoping there is something I can put on after shaving to prevent razor burn....does anyone know of a remedy?

[surf mama]

I just did a search and found aloe vera recommended....I don't have any now but I will pick some up next time I'm at the store. Any other home remedies?

[Spastica]

Actually to prevent razor burn, you need to make sure your razor is still sharp, don't use a dull razor blade, that increases burn. Also, exfoliation and a slick surface is key for burn-free shaving. Get a mesh pouf and use your favorite body wash or soap and lather up. Body wash is nice and slick and you'll get a great shave that way. Be sure to scrub the areas to be shaved - this prevents ingrown hairs as well. It also helps if you allow the areas to be shaved to be wet with warm or hot water for a while prior to shaving. This softens and plumps up the hairs, and it gets raised a little bit, so you get a better shave.

For tricky areas like inner thighs and bikini areas, pull the skin taut with one hand and shave with your other hand. For armpits, since hair goes in different directions, you'll need to shave in different directions. Raise your arms as high as you can so that the skin is pulled taut and you won't get any nicks or burns. The mesh pouf with lathered soap works well for armpits as well.

After shaving, moisturize with a good lotion, aloe vera, body oil (jojoba, olive, apricot seed, etc) shea butter, or cocoa butter. As mentioned before, replace your blade often.

Also, for the bikini area, I recently (cheaply) invested in a personal grooming kit from Target. I don't know why it took me this long to buy one, but it's much better than me sitting there with scissors first, practically hacking off girly parts, and then shaving later. If you go to the aisle with men's Norelco shaving systems, you'll find women's shaving kits there too. You can specifically find a cheap personal grooming kit that is for one purpose only - to make your cootchie extra cutie.

I highly recommend it. I don't know why I waited so long to buy one.

[surf mama]

Thanks for those suggestions Spastica!

I also read that rubbing alcohol can help, so I've dabbed some on twice this afternoon and the bumps have decreased.

[Naomi_joy]

Aloe works wonders for me too.
After shaving I slather aloe all over and use ONLY aloe for a few days...no lotion at all

[alegna]

For me, I have to shave EVERY DAY to avoid bumps. Seriously, if I go 36 hours then shave, NASTY nasty bumps.

-Angela

[Momof3inMI]

As an Esthetician I would recommend using Witch Hazel or something like Sea Breeze (astringent). I will tingle! It will also kill any bacteria that can get in to the open follicle or freshly scraped skin. I have been doing this for years (between waxes). It really keeps the bumps at bay. I would also recommend waxing, as it last much longer, the hair grows back soft, not prickly!

[Spastica]

:

Bacteria are nasty little buggers....they ruin EVERYTHING!

[slightlycrunchyann]

Petroleum jelly (Vaseline) is very soothing after shaving!

[Spastica]

See, I LOVE petroleum jelly and baby oil (mineral oil), but there are some gals on this forum who think both of those things are evil....

[Momof3inMI]

I am not one who thinks it's evil persay, but it really is not good for the skin. It seals it off from air and can cause a greater problem. If you are looking for something along the same lines, try lanolin. It's not harm full, lets the skin breatheand has not allergins. (I have a allergy to wool and use it with NO problems).

[captain crunchy]

I always exfoliate first, then clean my razor with witch hazel, shave, then put witch hazel on my skin after which, I'll be quite honest, does burn a bit but my razor burn has seriously decreased to almost nothing since I have been doing that.

[kater07]

It was recommended to me to shave WITH ALOE VERA or 100% AV After sun gel. When I kept getting RB, I started searching, and, while I haven't used it yet, I hear that putting mentholated ointment (vicks) on the RB will help.

I intend to use it next time it happens.

HTH

[makawee]

try brand name 'bikini zone' made to reduce the bumps. lidocaine is the active ingredient.

eta. ummm whoops that's not a natural remedy.

[MomToKandE]

A friend of mine was just telling me that she gets tiny razors that do a great job on her bikini line. I haven't tried them yet but she says that they're about half the width of a normal razor. I'm afraid I don't remember the brand name but she lives in a small town where the only place to really get that kind of thing is Wal Mart... if they're there they're probably everywhere.

Shaving always leaves me with bumps so I've been waxing for a while now. You should really think about trying it. Go somewhere and have it done, I wouldn't try it yourself for the first time. It does hurt but not nearly as much as I thought it would... it hurts way less than childbirth!!!

[surf mama]

I haven't been checking cause I thought this thread died...but I was just rechecking suggestions before shaving....thanks everyone!

[kittywitty]

I use baby oil or olive oil to shave, a very sharp fresh razor, and then afterwards I use clear gel deodorant to keep bumps away. Even on the bikini parts. Trust me, it works a miracle.

[Divaostrich]

I just read recently to break open a capsule of Evening Primrose Oil and use that oil directly on razor burn. I haven't tried it yet, but plan on trying it!

[Jael]

Subbing.

[northern_sunshine]

I get horrible razor burn under my arms when I shave, to the point where right after, it hurts to even rinse off the shave cream. The only thing that's helped prevent it is to shave with hair conditioner (I don't think it'd matter what kind it is). No more sting and the shave is just as close!!