Ingrown hairs are quite possibly the most frustrating part of shaving. You know what they are: those red, irritated bumps or zits that appear after shaving. They form when a hair either curls and enters the skin again, or when it struggles to break through the skin. Most razors with multiple blades lift the hair out of the skin before it slices, and the hair then sinks back beneath the skin, making ingrown hair more common. Luckily, there are things you can do to treat and prevent ingrown hairs.

SHAVE PROPERLY—If you are experiencing razor bumps, here are some tips for getting a great shave:

Always shave with the grain. Going against the grain will irritate your skin and cause bumps.

Make just 1 pass with the razor. Shaving the same area over and over will also cause irritation.

Shave in the shower or immediately afterward. The heat and steam will help to soften the beard and the skin to make shaving easier.

Use a new blade. Change your blade frequently—at least every 4 to 5 shaves.

GET THE RIGHT PRODUCTS—

PFB Razors— PFB is a fancy name for razor bumps, it means pseudo folliculitis barbae. There are a few razors available that are designed so they don’t cut hair so close. It leaves just enough length to help avoid razor bumps. I haven’t tried them myself, so I’m not going to recommend a specific brand. If anybody has tried them, post a comment with your review!

Treatments— There are a ton of treatments that rely on salicylic or glycolic acid, two chemical exfoliants, to help your hair push through your skin. The most common complaint is the smell of these products and some of them are pretty aggressive and can sting a little bit. They take a bit of getting used to, but they might just save your face.

Tend Skin: The gold standard, Tend Skin has been around a while and it relies on salicylic acid to gently exfoliate your skin. The odor is a bit noxious but you’ll get used to it. This is what I currently use and it works pretty well. $20.
The Art of Shaving Ingrown Hair Night Cream: The Art of Shaving has created an overnight treatment product that also uses a form of salicylic acid that is derived from White Willow Bark. It also contains essential oils and shea butter to moisturize and soothe the skin. $40.
Bump Patrol—This product also contains a form of salicylic acid and it comes in 3 formulas to fit your skin type: sensitive skin, original formula and extra strength formula. It also has a strong scent, but it is quite affordable. Only $5.99! Bump Patrol even has a friendly video to teach you how to shave properly. Check it out!
Barc—Barc is formulated specifically for men of color. It contains glycolic acid to exfoliate and antibacterial triclosan. To soothe the skin, it contains chamomile extract and glycerin. It might be a little intense if you’ve got sensitive skin. $20.
Anthony Logistics Ingrown Hair Treatment—Contains salicylic and phytic acids to exfoliate. Willowherb and lavender help to soothe the skin. $25
Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads—Alpha and Beta Hydroxy acids exfoliate while oat extracts soothe and green tea extracts provide antioxidant benefits. These were originally formulate for use on the bikini area, but they are effective on your face, as well. They are applied using individually-soaked pads like those Oxy pads we all tried during our teen years. $35.

OTHER TECHNIQUES

If you’ve got razor bumps and ingrown hairs, some people recommend going after the hairs yourself. I personally don’t recommend this method because it can cause more trouble than you started with. With a pair of tweezers, try to pull the tip of the hair out from beneath the skin, but do not pluck it out completely. Once you’ve dislodged the hair, shaving normally will trim the hair properly and prevent it from becoming ingrown again. However, this method can cause more problems (infection, scarring, etc) if your tweezers aren’t sanitized properly or if you get too aggressive with them.