Body hair can seem like more of an inconvenience than anything else. After all, add up the minutes and you’ll find that you’ve probably spent hours (if not days!) shaving your legs. And between the nicks and the ingrown hairs, dealing with your body hair can feel like a battle. But it doesn’t have to be—especially once you learn more about it. Here’s what you should know.
1. Certain areas are more vulnerable to ingrown hairs.
Anyone who’s groomed her bikini line knows that it’s a hotspot for ingrown hairs. It happens for two reasons. First, “the hairs there may be curlier than underarm or leg hair, so when they start growing, they may curve back under the skin instead of coming straight out,” says Jessica Krant, MD, a dermatologic surgeon at the Laser & Skin Surgery Center of New York in NYC. Secondly, your bikini line endures constant friction and pressure from clothing, which can keep the hairs from growing straight out (as they should) and force it back into skin.
2. You’re probably shaving your underarms in the wrong direction.
In terms of safety, the best way to shave your underarm hair is in the direction of hair growth — and for most people, that’s in an upward direction. But most people have their own preferences and, for the most part, that’s totally fine. “Shaving against the hair growth makes it easier to get a smooth result, but has an increased risk of ingrown hairs,” explains Dr. Krant. If ingrowns are a regular issue for you, try swiping your underarms post-shave with Bliss Ingrown Eliminating Pads.
3. Nicks are no big deal.
Nicks are annoying, but that’s mostly it. No matter where it is, you can treat it like you would any other cut. “Rinse it fully and keep pressure on it for several seconds to a few minutes to make sure it’s not actively bleeding,” advises Krant. If it’s a deeper nick or in a sensitive area, dab a little petroleum jelly on it and top it with a bandage until it heals.
4. Shaving does exfoliate your skin.
You can skip the body scrub when you’re planning to shave your legs. “Shaving does exfoliate skin because the blade scrapes off outer layers as you go,” says Dr. Krant. “But it’s important to be gentle with this.” If you’re too razor-happy, you risk over-exfoliating, which can cause dryness and irritatio