I'm African-American. Why am I more prone to shaving bumps?

ANSWER:

Many African-Americans do suffer from shaving bumps, but the real culprit isn’t ethnicity -- it’s hair type. Anyone with wavy or curly hair may be prone to shaving bumps or ingrown hairs because of the way their hair grows out of the skin. While straight hair grows out of the skin at a 90-degree angle, wavy or curly hair tends to grow closer to the skin’s surface (between zero and 40 degrees). And when short, recently shaved hair grows low to the surface of the skin, it’s easier for it to simply curl back into the skin, resulting in a shaving bump. This isn’t the case with straighter hair.

So what’s the solution? Start becoming more conscious of the direction in which your hair grows, and focus on shaving in only that direction (also known as “with the grain”). Also, always make sure to prep your skin with a moisture-rich shaving cream or gel, and remember to always use an aftershave balm.

For more tips on how to nip shaving bumps in the bud, check out How to Avoid Razor Bumps.

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