When it comes to hair removal, there are always pros and cons. Yet, nothing is quite a hassle like hair removal around our lady bits. It’s incredibly common to deal with an aftermath of bumps, rashes, ingrowns and discolouration on and around the pubic area, especially if you shave or wax.
However, there are a few ways to both combat current issues and stop such things from occurring. The way we shave, and with what, is incredibly important when taking care of the skin in such a sensitive area. Our aftercare also plays a vital role in making sure we don’t have to deal with the unwanted repercussions from hair removal.
Personally, I struggled for a long time with ingrown hairs and discolouration around my bikini line, sometimes leaving the area too painful to even touch. However, after much trial and error I have discovered a routine, that leaves the area soft, smooth and most importantly healthy. I am still working on lightening the area back to its original colour, but it’s safe to say I believe I have found the magic trick to shaving my intimate region and I want to share my routine, as well as some tips and tricks, for all my ladies who find themselves struggling with this too. So, let’s get started.
Pre-Shave
Before you even reach for the razor, you need to make sure the skin is as prepped as possible. Soaking in the water for a good ten to fifteen minutes before hand, will ensure the skin is soft and pliable, which is a great help, as it will allow you to get a smoother shave. It also makes the removal of ingrown hairs much easier, which takes us to our next step, exfoliating.
Firstly, never exfoliate dry skin or with a rough hand. Exfoliating to harshly in general is a bad idea, but when it comes to the bikini line and pubic region, you are almost guaranteed to cause more harm than good. So, exfoliate on soaked skin, with a gentle product, in light circle motions. Exfoliating the area is vital, as you will loosen up any ingrown hairs and remove dead skin or build up that could get between you and a smooth shave. A few gentle exfoliators I use are:
I like to use exfoliating gloves, but you can use your hands if you’d prefer. Make sure you exfoliate for atleast thirty seconds to a minute, and then rinse completely.
Now when it comes to shaving cream or oil, everyone is different. A lightweight oil can work really well if you have coarse skin, and if you have sensitive skin, you will want to opt for a thick shaving cream or even coconut oil for skin protection. I have several in rotation that I use, depending on how long it’s been since I last shaved:
· Satin Care Sensitive: Aloe Vera (£3.55) – A few days since shaving.
· Dove: Shower Mousse with Coconut Oil (£3.99) – Haven’t shaved in a while.
· Venus For Pubic Hair, 2-In-1 Cleanser + Shaving Gel (£9.99) – Very recently shaved.
Personally, all three work fine for me, however my recommendation is the Venus Shaving Gel. Though a little pricey, it is specifically designed to prevent shaving irritation, which is extremely good if you are a very frequent shaver. It’s both rich and creamy, with a good lather that you can build up or layer with other products. A little does go a long way, which helps offset the price.
No matter what you use, you want to make sure the area is well lathered, as you want to shave razor to product, not razor to skin.
Shaving
Now we’ve gotten to the meat of the routine, and arguably the most important aspect. The actual shave. What you do here is integral, because by doing the wrong thing, you could potentially exasperate the problem and it will remain ongoing.
First step, the razor. There are plenty of good razors on the market, but not all work for intimate shaving. The best razor in my opinion – and a lot of others on the internet – is the Venus For Pubic Hair & Skin Women's Razor (£10). Like their shaving gel, this razor is designed to help protect pubic skin from shaving irritation. Honestly, since using this razor I haven’t used any other in that area. Even with a strict routine, using other razors would still leave me with bumps and sensitivity, but with this, I don’t suffer any irritation. Remember, you want to make sure you are changing out the heads of your razor often, for shaving with a dull or clogged blade will just undo all your hard work.
Second step, the direction you shave. Anywhere else on the body, you usually shave against the grain for the best results. However, when it comes to the pubic area – including your behind – you actually want to avoid doing this. The best motion for this is to shave in the direction of the hair growth and from side to side. What I mean by this is, if shaving your bikini line, start at the inner thigh and work your way outward. If it’s your behind, start between your cheeks and slowly work the razor outward across them, instead of down between them.
The reason for this is, going against the grain of your hair will make irritation much more likely, especially if you are prone to shaving spots. So, use smooth, steady strokes with the grain and side to side, always making sure you have ample product between you and the blade.
If, you feel like you aren’t getting as smooth an area as you want, then lather up again and shave upwards, in incredibly slow and soft strokes, once or twice. I stress the importance of doing this as little as possible, as shaving against the grain frequently will result in the ingrowns and bumps you are trying to avoid.
Post-Shave
Once the shaving process is over, it’s time for post-shave care. Do not skip out on this. As, even if you shaved in the right directions, made sure to use a good amount of product and were extremely careful, you can still get ingrowns and razors bumps if the skin is not properly looked after.
What you use here, depends entirely on your skin concerns. If you are dealing with a multitude of issues, then you may want to invest in several products that target those concerns for the best affect. If you’re not looking for anything too in-depth, a simple solution to mitigate ingrowns and then a moisturiser for hydration, that is completely fine aswell. You really have to determine what your skin needs and what is right for you. If you are unsure or looking for some guidance/product recommendations, then down below is my personal post-shave routine, in order of use:
1. Solution: You can layer some of these products if you are dealing with quite severe ingrowns, but I would be very careful. I suggest going for the one that best suits your needs, seeing the results and then moving forward from there.
Tend Skin Solution for Ingrown Hair (£29.96) – Use immediately after shaving, apply religiously atleast twice a day for up to three or four days after shaving. Focuses purely on ingrowns.
PFB Vanish + Chromabright for Ingrown Hair and Skin Lightening (£26.50) – Use atleast 24 hours after shaving, apply twice a day to reduce ingrowns and help lighten up discolouration.
Paula’s Choice: Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant (£31) – Chemical exfoliators are a good alternative to targeted solutions, as salicylic acid works very well in reducing the inflammation of current ingrowns and stopping future ones. If you aren’t looking to invest in more products and already have a good liquid exfoliator at home, then give it a go.
Creightons: Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Toner (£2.99) – A good and cheap alternative Salicylic acid, that works if applied twice a day, every day.
2. Serum: This is something I do to pamper my skin, or when I feel the area could use some extra love. You can skip this step if you want, but for my girls that like to go the extra mile, here are the two serums I go between. I recommend doing your own research however, as there are a pleather of serums on the market that may work better for you.
Ren: AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum (£37) – This serum isn’t much different from a liquid exfoliator, but what I like about this, is it contains lactic acid and extracts that both naturally exfoliate and strength the skin’s barrier, which comes in really handy on such a fragile area of skin. It will also help to reduce hyperpigmentation. This one does sting a little when applied to freshly shaved skin, so please be careful.
Eva: Skin Whitening Serum (£10.99) – As the name suggests, this serum targets dark spots and hyperpigmentation. If you are dealing with either of those, then apply a thin layer of this, letting it dry before you moisturise to try and lighten up the area. I want to stress this is not a bleaching product, only a corrector. There are bleaching products available on the market, but please do ample research before purchasing.
3.Moisturiser: You don’t need a specific moisturiser for this, the one you use for your body will be just fine as long as it’s hydrating. However, just like with the serums, if you are trying to reduce hyperpigmentation in that area, you can opt for a cream or lotion that targets this problem. Personally, I apply both a specific moisturiser and my usual body moisturiser to the area, to make sure the skin is well and truly hydrated and protected.
Therapeutic: Derma-E Skin Brighten Cream (£14.15) – This moisturiser has all the ingredients you need to start seeing a reduction in hyperpigmentation. Vitamin C and Licorice extract are specifically good for dark skin.
Jergens: Hydrating Coconut Lotion (£11.99) – This may be a little hard to come by depending on where you live, but if you can get your hands on it, it’s a great body moisturiser that also works really well for your pubic skin. However, anything relatively thick and hydrating will work just fine.
4.Oil: I find using a little bit of oil, over the top of a moisturiser helps to soothe the skin, and protect it against rubbing. It’s also extremely hydrating, and the more hydration the better. Honestly, any oil you have will work here, and I just use whichever body oil I have at hand, so no recommendations here. Just be sure to apply it carefully, as with all products, making sure it doesn’t go inside.
With your post-shave routine done, my biggest tip is to simply avoid that area all together for a while. Ditch the tight clothing or anything that will rub for atleast a day. If possible, forgo wearing knickers at all immediately after shaving, but I know not everyone is comfortable with that. So, try cotton, soft and slightly loose knickers or thongs, and re-apply a moisturiser if you feel the skin become dry or tight.
If you are careful with your shave and keep up with your routine, then you should see a huge reduction ingrowns, razor bumps and sore skin, which I think we can all agree, is wonderful.
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