Dermatologist Shares 11 Shaving Mistakes to Avoid (Tips for Ingrown Hairs, Irritation, & More) 

1. not shaving at the end of bathing 2. rushing the process 3. wrong type of razor 4. using a dull razor 5. not using a shaving lubricant 6. not exfoliating before shaving 7. shaving with long strokes 8. not cleaning razor blades frequently while shaving 9. applying too much pressure 10. not trimming before shaving (for longer hair) 11. not using aftershave products for those prone to ingrown hairs, irritation, etc. reminder to moisturize afterwards thanks for the timestamps

Guy here. The double edge safety razor is a game changer! Since I’ve started using it I’ve never looked back. It gives me the most amazingly close shave. Gals, this would be a great gift for your man.

I’m a man with rosacea who likes a shaved face, so.. a bit of a recipe for disaster. This is my routine that’s offered the best results so far- - apply oil cleanse before getting in the shower at night to break down sunscreen. The shower rinses that away - apply non fragrant oil (I like sunflower seed) to wet face to lock in water, soften facial hair, add slip, and protect the skin from the blade and the shaving cream - apply shaving cream. I’ve been using the Nivea sensitive pro ‘menmalist’ razor cream. Really fragranced, which I despise, but the texture and skin feel is amazing. The oil beforehand helps create a barrier so the fragrance isn’t so close to the skin. Plus, it’s a wash off product 🤷🏼‍♂️ - shave with a safety razor and clean, new blade every time. Usually I go with the direction of growth, then a final second pass with more cream across the grain. This’ll get you clean enough for a government job 😉 - cleanse all that off! The oil, the cream, etc. I use LRP dermo. It’s a non foaming cream cleanser. It leaves a little something extra on the skin too, which gives you that cushion of time to get moisturizer on after showering before your skin shrivels up from TEWL. - moisturize. I like Mixa ceramide cream. I usually follow up with AA and micro silver cream, which prevent any of those pesky white heads forming the next day. - if there’s any cuts or raw exposed skin, or if I’ve shaved over a blemish and it’s irritated, I put a thin layer of Vaseline over top. Speed up that healing!! Shaving before bed allows any irritation or flushing to settle before the next day, when people are really going to see me 😅 I also only do this about 2x a week. I wish I could do more, but my skin just can’t handle it. As for the manual exfoliation Dr. Sam talks about for ‘lifting’ ingrowns - this is SO essential!! I don’t need to exfoliate dead skin away - I need to literally lift the hair away from the skin to prevent the ingrowns. A tooth brush sounds pretty aggressive for this, personally. I use a silicone scrubby pad and sometimes gently work the shaving cream in with this, OR I’ll use a cellulose cleansing sponge with my cleanser to gently polish the surface of the skin. Sorry this was so long, but shaving is the bane of my existence. I hope this helps someone out!!

Now I understand why the safety razor has been so much better. I always felt like multi-blade razors were pulling my hair out and that's literally what was happening.

Thank you so much for clarifying that you can shave against the grain! I had no idea, I was told if you shave against the direction of hair growth you automatically get ingrown hairs and irritation. So helpful to know, thank you

Fantastic video - succinct yet full of practical advice!

Thank you SO much for this! I feel like all of my skincare needs concerns have been addressed except for shaving so I really appreciate this! Hoping to crack the code on the ingrown hairs on my neck soon! 🤞🏼 💕

I have a Henley safety razor & LOVE IT. I change the blade every single time I shave. It has dramatically helped my ingrown hairs by doing this 🙌🏼 I get 1000 blades for $9.99 too, it’s crazy cheap. Razors are expensive!

Thank you! I appreciate it! ❤️❤️ Happy holidays!

Great information. Thank you.

Excellent recommendations! I'm struggling with a very stubborn ingrown hair, and it's due to all the disposable razors I've used for my own RU-vid videos. I strongly endorse safety razors as they perform much better and leave the cheeks feeling rubbery smooth. Disposable razors aren't as effective and are more expensive and more harmful to the environment. Thank you for your advice! Subscribed!

Great video. Question. How about a POST SHAVE routine? After shave? After shave + moisturizer? When to apply sunscreen after shaving? So much confusion!

Time for a makeup tutorial/ blush, lipstick etc etc

Those Panasonic body trimmers are great! I have the mini one that takes a AA battery and I love it.

A great video. Thank you. Could you suggest additional electric razors that you feel are good - high, medium, and low cost.

I was disappointed that you didn't include shaving with a traditional straight razor. I changed from multi-blade cartridges to straight razors about 3 years ago. After developing my technique, I now get the closest most comfortable shaves and all without any skin damage or irritation.

can you do a video on hair removal creams, how they compare to shaving and if you can use it with other skincare actives? aside from that, super helpful video ty!

Thank you. ❤

I used to shave my legs after I started puberty. I would always shave against the grain and after several years I got razor bumps all over my legs that stayed for at least a decade. Thankfully my half Korean (half white) genetics give me less body hair so I no longer grow hair on my legs. I used to have some hair on my armpits that my mom told me that she plucks them out so I did that too. I'm 43 and now I only have about 5-10 hairs on my armpits so I don't have to shave my armpits either. I was just curious about the shaving mistakes and tips. Thank you for this video!

Don't forget double blade razors, it's really nice for sensitive skin but gets you a little bit extra. (I have been using those cheap bics or knock offs forever, love them). Great video and advice, appreciate it.

Thanks for this video Dr. I used hair conditioner every time I shaved.., is that ok? 😊

Make a video on at home ipl for hair removal. I don't understand how my Remington at home machine got rid 100% of everything in my pantie area but did not work on my arms (like zero) the hair is dark on my arm.

Hey doc! I suffer from some ingrown hairs and I tend to get foliciulitious (sp?) kind of off and on and especially bad in the summer I use a 5 blade razor - would it be better for me to use a 3 blade?? And should I be using something like that aftershave on my legs?

Is there anything that can be done to reduce or reverse male like facial hair growth (chin, jaw, cheeks) for women with PCOS and other hormonal imbalances that isn’t laser treatments?

If you and your gentleman are fine, it would be great if you both could make a mend shaving Q&A together

Does it make sense to use any type of astringent such as witch hazel as an aftershave?

I’m sorry if already asked. Is there anything I should do different if I wax and still get bumps and ingrown hair? Or just follow the routine and products? Thanks

What about application of retinoids to the face the day prior and after? Many estheticians recommend discontinuing retinoids several days prior to in-office services that involve exfoliation. I’ve been doing this as a precaution as I’m prone to irritation but it means I miss at least 3 retinol days in a week.

Hey Dr. Sam We are the makers of Bump Patrol. Happy to have you write an open honest review of our aftershave! #1 Rated for removing and preventing razor bumps, burn, and irritation!

Hi, thanks for the guidance. I get ingrown facial hair after shaving too often. The only concern I have with a safety R is that I have a slight raised mole on my face..would Mac3 be better for me?

I also leave my razor blade lying up and apply a little drop of baby oil keep it nice and sharp

Does one shave in the morning or the evening for the legs?

What is the treatment when an ingrown hair develops?

Ive been using the Flamingo razor and it gives me a lot of Knicks and cuts...is this normal? Could I possibly be going too harsh?

proraso green for me is very irritateing due to menthol as well as taylor of old bond street or nivea original . I use proraso white and nivea sensitive line. for blades i use personna platinum, they last 7 shaves and are cheap. Electric shavers give me bumps and are unhhigyenic.

Tapping the Razor to clean? I feel like it would possibly cause damage to the blade?

The safety razor cuts the heck out of me for some reasob

I have strawberry skin on my legs so could anyone recommend me how to get rid of it?

😥 I'm having horrible razor burns atm, seems like my mistake is not trimming the hair before shaving

the 10 COMMANDMENTS for PREVENTING RAZOR BUMPS & INGROWN HAIRS 1. THOU SHALT NOT USE DIRTY BLADES! Avoid shaving with dull, over-used razor blades. And be sure to keep your slightly used tools as clean as possible. Scrub the cutting heads of your tools with soap, hot water, and rubbing alcohol to destroy bacteria. Pro Tip: even brand new blades still need to be cleaned. 2. HONOR THY DELICATE SKIN! Avoid too many blades! If you are prone to ingrown hairs then you don’t need 3 or more blades. More blades equal more passes causing the hair to fall beneath the skin and become ingrown. Plus, more blading the skin leads to micro cuts through which bacteria is more likely to enter and this leads to razor burn. 3. DO NOT TAKE PREP TIME IN VAIN! Wash or steam the skin for 2 to 3 minutes with warm water. Then apply the shaving cream leaving it on for at least 2 minutes to really soften the hair. 4. THOU SHALT NOT GO AGAINST THE GRAIN! Shaving against the grain (upwards) may get you a closer shave but doing so also increases ingrowns. Shave in the direction of hair growth…it’s usually downwards. Confirm this by doing a face/ body inspection to see which way your hair grows. 5. THOU SHALT NOT PRESS! Avoid pressing too hard on the skin with the blade. If you follow STEP #3, then a gliding, light touch is all you need. The hair stubble should literally fall away with little or no pressure from the blade. Pressing hard is the main cause of shaving irritation! Be gentle so as to prevent the hair from being cut so low that it falls beneath the top layer of skin. 6. THOU SHALT NOT PASS, PASS, PASS! Avoid too many quick passes with the blade. One pass per hairy area - going 1-2 inches downward at a time - will prevent ingrown hairs. Always shave like you might cause damage, not like you’re mowing the front lawn. 7. THOU SHALT NOT COMMIT OVER SHAVING! Avoid shaving too often. This rule is hard to follow, especially if you have to be beardless for your job…but if you are prone to ingrowns, try hair removal with electric clippers (the barber kind of clippers). The results are not super close but no one but you will know the difference. Provided your skin can handle these alternatives try waxing, depilatory, lasering or an epilator. 8. THOU SHALT NOT CLOG! Avoid using skin/pore clogging creams or lotions since they keep hairs from growing up. After a shave, keep your skin bare; let the tiny army breath, and allow those newly shaved, microscopic hairs to grow out just in time for the next shave. If your objective is smooth, bump-free skin following a shave or wax, then right after hair removal allow the skin to heal first. Promote healing by proper shaving techniques followed by 70% rubbing alcohol which kills any bacteria that may enter those micro cuts created from the shave and prevents the onset of razor burn. Sure your skin will be a little dry at first but this is a temporary tradeoff. Wait 2 hours then moisturize. 9. KEEP THY SMOOTH SKIN FREE! At least for the first day or two, try to avoid tight fitting clothing around the Adam’s apple (neck) and/or below the waistline region. Newly shaved hair follicles need room to grow up. 10. REMEMBER TO EXFOLIATE! Whether you shave, sugar, wax or epilate, not enough exfoliation to remove excess layers of skin can lead to ingrown hairs. There are two types: chemical exfoliation (AHA, BHAs) and physical exfoliation (beads, coffee scrubs, gloves, brushes). Exfoliators like the WIZKER brush have soft and firm bristles. When you follow these 10 tips religiously, you’ll prevent razor bumps and ingrown hairs permanently!

Hmm... well I've been doing this all wrong since I was a teen!

As a trans woman who has to shave pretty much daily but with sensitive skin what should I do? I noticed that if I shave too soon I get knicks and cuts but if I wait too long the shadow begins to get too dark! and is there a way to reduce the shadow from shaving without laser hair removal?

I only shave above my upper. Most of them are white now. Lol

Waxing and Laser are for those who can afford it.....

Transgender beauty.