Here’s our full guide to tending to razor bumps—from treatments, prevention, and what to do about that pesky bikini line. This develops into pimple-like red spots. It may feel sore and inflamed. And in more severe cases, it might become infected, which will look like a large, puss-filled cyst. In either case, these might last a while—around two weeks. If you are someone who feels you develop them more frequently than your friends, well, it might be your shaving technique (more on that later), or it could be something out of your control: your hair texture. Those with curly, thick strands can be more prone to shaving bumps. “Curly hair is more likely not to grow out cleanly through the surface of the skin,” says Zeichner. This is also the reason you might find more frequent bumps around areas that hair naturally grows in coarser—like your bikini line or beards. This is why those with beards might mistake razor burn for acne on or around the jawline (it could, of course, be a combination of breakouts and ingrown hairs). Even if it’s on your body, feel free to simply use your favorite face treatment and gently apply it to the inflamed bumps. If it’s a larger area of razor bumps, though, a proper chemical body exfoliant is likely more economical. For an all-natural route: Tea tree oil is also another popular natural option because of its anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. During the shave, always go with the grain, or the hair’s growth pattern, in single strokes. Along the shin, for example, that will be shaving down—not up, like most shaving commercials will have you believe. This might get tricky around rounded areas where growth patterns might go in different directions, so just take it slower in those areas. Razor burn, on the other hand, is generally what we refer what occurs immediately following shaving—that stinging, inflamed, hot rash that comes up from post shower. It can also refer to folliculitus when the hair is growing back: But rather than angry isolated bumps, these tend to be smaller and allover.
