Tag - holiday beauty tips

Unsightly. Annoying. Difficult to avoid. While you may think this is a post about Kerry Katona, we’re actually on about ingrown hairs. A common problem after waxing and shaving, these pesky, little blemishes can drive you absolutely mad. If you get the urge to irritate, pick, or squeeze them – STOP – they could become infected and turn into nasty, oozing boils. Gross, right? And definitely not the beach babe look you were aiming for. Here are are tips so you ‘ll beat razor burn and never worry again!

What causes razor burn?

Shaving. While you may shave (in particular around the bikini area) to look smooth and sleek, this is precisely what causes that ugly rash, which often looks far worse than those few strands of hairs did in the first place. Razor burn occurs primarily because most women shave improperly, which irritates their skin, taking off the outer layer of skin and literally injuring the skin tissues.

The body then responds to this as it does with any wound – it sends blood to the wounded area in order to heal it. The blood vessels dilate, the skin develops a rash, and hey presto, you have razor burn.

What can I do to prevent bikini line razor burn?

• Firstly, stop shaving. Allow your bikini hair to grow for around two weeks, then get yourself a bikini wax at a professional salon.
• If you can’t brave a wax, hair creams can work just as well and they cause less trauma to the hair follicles.
• If you absolutely must shave, trim the hair first so that the razor isn’t ripping out longer strands – hair should be no longer than ¼ inch.
• Moisterise the area immediately after shaving with an unscented moisturizing lotion. This will reduce itching and dryness.
• Shave after you bathe, not before or during as your skin must be supremely hydrated before you go at it with a razor.
• DO NOT USE SOAP. Only use shaving cream, or if you have none left, hair conditioner. The best options contain aloe or other soothing ingredients.
• Shave down, not up. This way you are less likely to irritate your hair follicles.
• Reduce intense redness immediately by applying hydrocortisone cream, which works instantly.
• Treat your skin with benzoyl peroxide, a common acne medication, which will minimize bumps and lumps.

What can I do to get rid of ingrown hairs?

Bikini blemishes are more commonly known as ingrown hairs. These small, irritated bumps develop when strands of hair curl and grow back into the skin after shaving. Thankfully, there is an answer for how to get rid of razor bumps. Treatment includes gently lifting out the ingrown hairs with a tweezer and applying exfoliating and soothing lotions to the area.

Click here for PART ONE: THE ULTIMATE BIKINI DIET PLAN

Click here for PART TWO: HOW TO SURVIVE A BIKINI WAX

Click here for PART FOUR: GETTING RID OF CELLULITE

Click here for PART FIVE: FIND THE PERFECT BIKINI FOR YOUR SHAPE