ingrowns how to get rid of them how to avoid them?

[Odinarcade00]

So before wet shaving I shaved everyday and sometimes I would get ingrowns. With a gillette razor it was rare. With harrys it was a little less rare. That being said I get them alot more often when I wet shave. Which is odd considering most people switch to wet shaving to avoid ingrowns. I do experience less irritation as far as my face feeling 5 blades vs 1 blade. I had no idea shaving with one blade would leave less stingy feelings afterwards until I tried wet shaving. Then comes my neck area. The consensus seems to be that most men have a problem area on their neck especially near the adams apple. I would fall into this group of men. I have used two razors so far that have inflamed the crap out of the middle area of my neck pretty bad so far(super adjustable that I no longer use or have, and the supply SE razor thats collecting dust) Most other razors that I use are either on the mild spectrum and then I have a couple I somewhat consider to be more aggressive(adjustables like my rex and my 6S, I shave with them on the lowest settings on purpose for this reason).
My main shaving routine when I use mild razors such as the henson or the bison or the blackbird lite is that I shave every other day and my face seems to agree with this routine. I dont often have issues with redness or ingrowns during this every other day method. I lean towards platinum blades and if they arent platinum coated they are nacets or perma sharps. HOWEVER I enjoy having a smooth face everyday. I like the ritual of shaving everyday. I started by shaving in the morning and it helped alot in kickstarting my day. Made me feel fresh. And then I switched to night time so that I could enjoy the ritual even more. Occasionally id get an ingrown but it wasnt too bad most of the time I am fine as long as I skip a day. But lately Ive been annoyed by stubble and I get into this shaving every day routine and thats when the trouble starts. After about three days of shaving every night I start to get irritation. And then it seems like the best strategy is to wait mulitple days to let it heal up before shaving again. I never do more than two passes and sometimes I wonder if one pass would work for a daily shave as long as I map out my beard.
One thing I have noticed is that I absolutely have to go ATG or I have quite a bit of stubble left behind, and unlike most people going against the grain does not bother me. Going across the grain on my neck I can sometimes find trouble. But I absolutely have to ATG or I wont get a DFS. I never chase BBS also because thats when I run into issues. I will leave my lower neck where my adams apple is located with some short stubble just to avoid any issues. I am very careful as I do have sensitive skin.
If anyone has any strategy to avoid ingrowns that would be super helpful. I have heard that in wet shaving ingrowns are still a thing and that good technique is still needed sometimes to avoid them. I am a fairly new wet shaver but I am learning quickly in the last two and a half months. Most blades I have come across I can use. I do have my preferences though. Ive tried alot of different blades back to back to back but I will say that I might prefer to use the same ones back to back just so that my skin can get used to a certain blade feel. I like to use good prep. Pre shave soap is a must. Good shave cream or soap is a must. Aftershave balm for me is a must. A good brush. Anyways any help with ingrowns is amazing. I tend to get one or two sometimes on the left side of my face. The right side only gets irritated it seems when I tried using the gillette super speed it does not generally get irritated at all.

 

[jaro 101969]

I have heard a lot of good talk about the Bevel razor.. It was designed by a person of the darker persuasion to help with the problems of ingrown hairs that a lot of " people of color" suffer from... I have one of the razors and it is sometimes my daily razor if i so choose... The bevel can be found used on the bay for less than going to get it at a brick and mortar store ( sometimes for less than half retail ) . It seems mild but efficent when i use it.. I bought mine used and it was only the razor head and i supplied my own handle so I can't speak for how it would be with the stock handle though... I wish you luck in figuring out and fixing your ingrown problems...

 

[DesertIguana]

Buy a good set of surgical tweezers, pull ingrowns.

 

[Jay21]

Going ATG increases the probability of ingrown hairs.

 

[Pacman225]

Man, I'm sorry you gotta go through that. Mine have really cleared up a lot by using a de razor. Although, I do get irritation from time to time. Especially if I shave everyday for awhile, like you mentioned. My neck is extremely sensitive. I have sun damage on both sides of my neck from chronic sun exposure. I worked outside for about 12 years. So it gets easily irritated and red if I overdo it. I've heard that shaving with cold water instead of hot helps tremendously. Although, I haven't tried it yet. Other than that, I think I'd shave every other day for awhile until you get things figured out. I also heard that shaving Atg is actually more likely to cause ingrowns. I don't risk it for that reason. I also only stick to 2 passes and some clean up. You can usually find a lot of great advice or tips here. I hope you can find something that works. The Ordinary's Zinc and Niacinamide solution has helped in clearing up ingrowns or acne. Bevel's Glycolic acid pads is another good option.

 

[Odinarcade00]

I have heard a lot of good talk about the Bevel razor.. It was designed by a person of the darker persuasion to help with the problems of ingrown hairs that a lot of " people of color" suffer from... I have one of the razors and it is sometimes my daily razor if i so choose... The bevel can be found used on the bay for less than going to get it at a brick and mortar store ( sometimes for less than half retail ) . It seems mild but efficent when i use it.. I bought mine used and it was only the razor head and i supplied my own handle so I can't speak for how it would be with the stock handle though... I wish you luck in figuring out and fixing your ingrown problems...

Yes statistically speaking ingrowns are common in "people of color" but as a white dude it is still possible. I have seen the bevel many times at target and skipped over it in my "scared of DE razors phase" and I believe that I have plenty of mild razors to compensate for the bevel. The only zinc alloy razor I still want is the merkur progress but I don't really need it. I don't think the bevel is any better at ingrowns than any other razor. I think bevel is a black owned company that aims to help those who suffer from ingrown hair problems. Good company I have their shave oil and the bevel brush. It was my first brush before I started wet shaving. It was how I dipped my toes in the water lol

 

[Odinarcade00]

Going ATG increases the probability of ingrown hairs.

yeah but I have to. If I only shave with the grain its almost like I havent shaved at all. Almost no hair comes off. Pointless almost. I am probably going to just do a one pass shave ATG in different directions. Works when I use my ambassador it should work with any razor.

 

[jasonco]

I have insanely thick and resistive Mediterranean hair that grows in flat and am prone to ingrowns. Razors that dont hold the blade rigidly can sometimes cause me ingrowns. Razors that hold the blade rigidly and bend and clamp the blade like a Fatip have never caused me an ingrown, thus when i buy razors that i plan to keep around i only buy ones with low blade gap but with decent blade exposure for its efficiency/aggression because i know that razors that rely on a large blade gap for its efficiency wont be the best match.

This is also why i avoid adjustable razors since they are just increasing the blade gap. For example the Merkur 34c is a razor i use with one shim cut as wide as possible to increase blade rigidity and get great results from it, but i can take for example 1,2,or 3 narrow cut shims which will increase the blade gap more than just 1 wide cut shim and even with 3 narrow cut shims its not as efficient / smooth as one wide cut shim. I like the handle, weight, balance, and 2-piece design of the Merkur 34c and the fact its based on a vintage design which is the only reason i keep it around. Now im sure theres some adjustable razors out there that have good blade rigidity but even so, in my own experience razors that rely on gap for efficiency are more likely to give me ingrowns.

Another thing i read years ago when researching ingrowns that some users reported success in eliminating ingrown hairs by switching to an open comb and i would agree that this can help a lot because some closed comb razors have a safety bar that make too much contact with the skin and presses it down too much before cutting the hairs which creates an opportunity for an ingrown to occurs, they dont allow one to ride the top cap without the safety bar pressing into the skin. Good skin stretching technique with an open comb or a razor that doesnt have a closed comb bar design that makes too much contact with the skin are other worthy variables to try.

 

[Odinarcade00]

Man, I'm sorry you gotta go through that. Mine have really cleared up a lot by using a de razor. Although, I do get irritation from time to time. Especially if I shave everyday for awhile, like you mentioned. My neck is extremely sensitive. I have sun damage on both sides of my neck from chronic sun exposure. I worked outside for about 12 years. So it gets easily irritated and red if I overdo it. I've heard that shaving with cold water instead of hot helps tremendously. Although, I haven't tried it yet. Other than that, I think I'd shave every other day for awhile until you get things figured out. I also heard that shaving Atg is actually more likely to cause ingrowns. I don't risk it for that reason. I also only stick to 2 passes and some clean up. You can usually find a lot of great advice or tips here. I hope you can find something that works. The Ordinary's Zinc and Niacinamide solution has helped in clearing up ingrowns or acne. Bevel's Glycolic acid pads is another good option.

oh damn yeah I get it. I worked outside for a number of years but luckily we had a wood structure over us sometimes. That is rough. I did get less ingrowns a couple of weeks earlier when I was cold shaving I think ill go back to it. Yeah I have to shave ATG or theres no point in shaving at all unfortunately. Shaving with the grain hardly makes a difference on my face. 2 passes is also my limit. If i go past that im definitely gonna suffer. Ill go ahead and look for those bevel pads and the ordinary solution. Sounds like a good plan.

 

[Odinarcade00]

I have insanely thick and resistive Mediterranean hair that grows in flat and am prone to ingrowns. Razors that dont hold the blade rigidly can sometimes cause me ingrowns. Razors that hold the blade rigidly and bend and clamp the blade like a Fatip have never caused me an ingrown, thus when i buy razors that i plan to keep around i only buy ones with low blade gap but with decent blade exposure for its efficiency/aggression because i know that razors that rely on a large blade gap for its efficiency wont be the best match.

This is also why i avoid adjustable razors since they are just increasing the blade gap. For example the Merkur 34c is a razor i use with one shim cut as wide as possible to increase blade rigidity and get great results from it, but i can take for example 1,2,or 3 narrow cut shims which will increase the blade gap more than just 1 wide cut shim and even with 3 narrow cut shims its not as efficient / smooth as one wide cut shim. I like the handle, weight, balance, and 2-piece design of the Merkur 34c and the fact its based on a vintage design which is the only reason i keep it around. Now im sure theres some adjustable razors out there that have good blade rigidity but even so, in my own experience razors that rely on gap for efficiency are more likely to give me ingrowns.

Another thing i read years ago when researching ingrowns that some users reported success in eliminating ingrown hairs by switching to an open comb and i would agree that this can help a lot because some closed comb razors have a safety bar that make too much contact with the skin and presses it down too much before cutting the hairs which creates an opportunity for an ingrown to occurs, they dont allow one to ride the top cap without the safety bar pressing into the skin. Good skin stretching technique with an open comb or a razor that doesnt have a closed comb bar design that makes too much contact with the skin are other worthy variables to try.

yeah with adjustables I keep it on low settings only. I only use newer razors with good blade clamping honestly. I never thought about trying an OC razor but I might look into that. Most razors I own are mild including the 34C

 

[Pacman225]

oh damn yeah I get it. I worked outside for a number of years but luckily we had a wood structure over us sometimes. That is rough. I did get less ingrowns a couple of weeks earlier when I was cold shaving I think ill go back to it. Yeah I have to shave ATG or theres no point in shaving at all unfortunately. Shaving with the grain hardly makes a difference on my face. 2 passes is also my limit. If i go past that im definitely gonna suffer. Ill go ahead and look for those bevel pads and the ordinary solution. Sounds like a good plan.

Good luck brother.

 

[Wombat ESQ]

Ingrown hairs have feelings too, ya know, Let them Lil Sukkas fester and blow chunks Nothing like uncurling a four foot long hair out of it's unnatural habitat, on video for everyone of the Dr Zit Poppers YT channels fans to marvel at

 

[Pacman225]

Ingrown hairs have feelings too, ya know, Let them Lil Sukkas fester and blow chunks Nothing like uncurling a four foot long hair out of it's unnatural habitat, on video for everyone of the Dr Zit Poppers YT channels fans to marvel at

 

[Odinarcade00]

So the big one next to my adams apple is shrinking slowly but surely. Im gonna shave because I feel gross its been two days but I think im gonna try to shave around it. I am a hippie but I dont like looking like one

 

[GTTony]

I'm pretty fortunate that I don't suffer from in grown hairs much. Only one incident right after I started wet shaving. If you don't already, try exfoliating a couple times week in that area to remove dead skin cells, which can trap hairs and lead to ingrown hair. Use a moisturizer to keep the skin hydrated and prevent dryness, which can also contribute to ingrown hairs. I started using CeraVe Hydrating Facial Cleanser daily along with CeraVe's PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion. Its made a noticeable difference in my skin and really reduced skin problems. The Hydrating Facial Cleanser is a game changer. I use it last thing in the shower before shaving or if no time to shower, as my shave prep. It leaves the skin hydrated and slick feeling. That and adding Proraso Blue Pre-shave Protective has made a huge difference. Between those two it really helps soften the stubble and I can now use a more aggressive razor and shave ATG or XTG in my trouble spots and shave daily where I couldn't before. Prior to this I could only use the mildest of razors like the Henson. Now I can use slants and mid aggressive settings on my adjustable razors not attained before. After a particularly bad flair up I also started using Jack Black Bump Fix. The stuff really works for me. I use it every shave and then still add regular aftershave if I want a nice scent afterwards.

 

[Andris83]

I think you answered your own question. Shave bi-daily, don't shave as close, that's it. Everyone has a built-in limit, you need to find it, and go up to it, but never cross the line. For me, with my flat growing, curling whiskers, I can't get BBS on the neck (well I can, but then I pay the price). I shave every other day, I use aggressive razors, and only do 2 passes on the neck WTG and XTG, which does not mean S-N and E-W, I mapped my beard and do it accordingly. There are some patches that I do a little ATG, like below the chin, and there I can get away with BBS, but lower, around the apple and to the side of it, nope.
Other things to consider are the prep. For me, hot shower, good soap, good lather (and lots of it).
Again, you have to find the line, but never cross it. If I shaved every day, I'd get ingrowns 100%.

 

[Alex Jr]

Stop stretching the skin. Bullfrog instead. Trust me, it’s a game changer.

 

[jaro 101969]

Yes statistically speaking ingrowns are common in "people of color" but as a white dude it is still possible. I have seen the bevel many times at target and skipped over it in my "scared of DE razors phase" and I believe that I have plenty of mild razors to compensate for the bevel. The only zinc alloy razor I still want is the merkur progress but I don't really need it. I don't think the bevel is any better at ingrowns than any other razor. I think bevel is a black owned company that aims to help those who suffer from ingrown hair problems. Good company I have their shave oil and the bevel brush. It was my first brush before I started wet shaving. It was how I dipped my toes in the water lol

I know the bevel is / was aimed at people of color originally , but its also a good razor for others too..Sorry. Was just trying to be helpful.

 

[BigJ]

Good advice above!

Fortunately, my ingrown hair issues largely resolved when I changed to ‘traditional’ wet shaving.

 

[spacemonkey42]

I used to get ingrowns frequently when I used a norelco rotary razor especially on my neck. I don't get them since DE shaving. As above, make sure to map the grain of your whiskers and don't shave ATG where you get them.

I shave ATG and do not have a problem. My neck is smoother than ever. Perhaps it is as @BigJ says, I don't stretch the skin. You're trying to cut at the skin's surface, so that hairs don't subduct.