Hair bumps killing me

Dear Readers, Robert is a 33-year-old man who is concerned about the ugly shaving bumps on his chin, which make shaving difficult. He has to shave several times a week to keep his jaw clean of hair but it’s not looking pretty! Robert asks for some suggestions to keep his jawline bump-free.

Razor bumps affect about 60 per cent of black men at some point in time, and this is because most black men have curly hair, which, after shaving, will at times turn over on itself and grow into the skin. This causes irritation and pimples, and if left untreated, can even result in scarring of the facial skin.

A good shaving technique is very important to prevent these ingrown hairs from forming on the jaw. This involves the following: A clean razor with a newish razor blade (dedicated to shaving the face only). After one week of usage, the blade should be changed. Thick shaving cream or lubricating gel. Warm water. Moisturising cream. It is best to shave immediately after taking a warm shower when the warmth will help open the skin pores and soften the facial hair. This makes the hair easier to remove. If you have a problem with facial hair bumps you must smooth shaving oil over the face before applying the shaving gel or cream. The oil decreases the irritation caused by the razor.

Also, don’t pull on your facial skin as you shave as this increases the chances of developing ingrown hair roots. Try to use as few strokes as possible to remover the hair from each section of skin. Rinse the blade/razor blade in hot water after each stroke and rinse your face with cool water after shaving is completed. Finally, apply a moisturising cream.

This may seem like a lot of bother but becomes an easy trade-off for a handsome face clear of bumps.