Black skin has its own particularities when it comes to shaving. The biggest shaving problems black men face at the time of shaving are razor bumps and ingrown hair. That is why shaving problems of black men are addressed at their own section in our main site. But… what are they? We try to give our best answer:

What is ingrown hair?

Ingrown hair is hair that after shaving grows back to the skin causing inflammation. This occurs because of the nature of black men’s hair. Coarse, curly hair grows that way, and when you shave it the end of the hair is very sharp, making it easy to pierce the skin and causing problems. The first sign of an ingrown hair is inflammation and then pus may appear. A “normal” level of ingrown hair heals on its own, but severe cases are better if treated.

What are razor bumps?

Razor bumps (Pseudofolliculitis barbae) are a shaving problem that appear as a result of ingrown hair. They appear when the hair penetrates the skin and the zone gets infected. You can tell the razor bumps by the swelling and burn. Though it is more common in the face, it does not limit to that zone and you can find it even if you shave your genitals for instance.

These are the two biggest shaving problems of black men. As you can see, they are closely related, and have the same origin. Luckily, you can prevent these from appearing if you follow the right guidelines for prevention, and if else fails, razor bumps can be treated with the help of specialized products. For more information you can refer to our Black Men’s Skin Care section or you can post your questions right here!

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