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How to Get Rid of Razor Bumps and Ingrown Hairs (Including the Bikini Line)

Razor bumps and ingrown hairs aren't a shaving problem you just have to live with. They're a buildup problem — and buildup can be cleared. Here's how, from a licensed aesthetician.

What Are Razor Bumps?

Razor bumps are small, red, sometimes itchy bumps that show up after shaving. They're most common on the bikini line, legs, underarms and — for men — the neck and beard area.

They happen when a shaved hair curls back into the skin or gets trapped under dead skin as it grows out. Your skin treats that hair like an intruder, and a bump forms.

Razor Bumps vs Ingrown Hairs vs Razor Burn

Ingrown hairs are hairs that grow back into the skin instead of out of it. They can happen after shaving, waxing or tweezing.

Razor bumps are the bumps that ingrown hairs cause after shaving — often a cluster of them.

Razor burn is redness, stinging and irritation right after you shave, usually from a dull blade or shaving dry. It shows up fast and fades in a day or two.

Razor bumps and ingrown hairs have the same root cause: dead skin trapping the hair in the follicle.

Clear the follicle. Free the hair.

What Causes Razor Bumps and Ingrown Hairs?

  • Dead skin buildup that traps hair under the surface
  • Curly or coarse hair, which is more likely to curl back into the skin
  • Shaving with a dull blade, shaving dry, or pressing too hard
  • Shaving against the grain, which cuts hair below the skin line
  • Tight clothing and friction, especially on the bikini line

The Best Way to Prevent Razor Bumps: Exfoliate the Follicle

Since dead skin is what traps the hair, the fix is keeping the follicle clear so hair can grow out the way it's supposed to.

Scrubs aren't the answer. Rubbing freshly shaved skin with grit makes irritation worse.

Chemical exfoliation dissolves the buildup evenly, without friction. Our TCA Multi-Acid Body Peel helps clear the follicle so hairs grow out instead of in — and it's safe to use on the bikini line.

How to Use a Body Peel for Razor Bumps and Ingrown Hairs

  1. Use it 2 times a week, on clean, dry skin.
  2. Spray it close to your skin, then rub it in with your hands.
  3. Let it dry. It dries quickly, so there's no need to wait to get dressed.
  4. Don't rinse. It neutralizes on its own.
  5. Moisturize after, as usual.

Shaving? It's fine to use right after shaving.

Waxing? Wait 24 hours before using the body peel.

Bikini line? Yes, it's safe to use there. Keep it on the outer skin.

Want to use it daily? Mix about 1/4 of the bottle into an 8 oz moisturizer to dilute it, and use that daily.

How to Shave Without Getting Razor Bumps

1. Use a Sharp, Clean Blade

A dull blade drags and tugs at the hair. Replace your blade often and rinse it as you go.

2. Never Shave Dry

Use a shave gel or cream so the blade glides instead of scraping.

3. Shave in the Direction of Hair Growth

Shaving against the grain gives a closer shave, but it cuts hair below the skin line, where it's more likely to grow back in.

4. Don't Press Hard or Go Over the Same Spot Again and Again

Light, single passes cause less irritation.

5. Wear Loose Clothing After

Tight underwear and leggings rub freshly shaved skin, especially on the bikini line.

6. Exfoliate Consistently

Using a body peel 2 times a week keeps dead skin from building up and trapping new hair.

Should You Pick or Tweeze an Ingrown Hair?

No. Picking, squeezing or digging for an ingrown hair can cause infection, scarring and dark marks.

Let exfoliation do the work. As the buildup clears, the hair can grow out on its own.

If an ingrown hair becomes painful, swollen, hot or filled with pus — or turns into a hard lump under the skin — see a doctor.

What About Dark Marks From Ingrown Hairs?

Repeated razor bumps can leave dark spots behind, especially on the bikini line and legs. Clearing the razor bumps that cause them is the best way to prevent new marks. Read more in our Dark Spots on the Body guide.

Dark dots in the pores on your legs? That's often strawberry legs. See our KP and Strawberry Legs guide.

Is the Body Peel Safe for My Skin?

  • It's safe for all skin tones, lightest to darkest.
  • Don't use it if you're pregnant — it contains salicylic acid.
  • It's for the body only — don't use it on your face or neck.
  • Don't apply it to open wounds, broken skin or infected bumps.
  • Patch test before your first use.

The Real Philosophy

You don't need to stop shaving.

You need to stop letting dead skin trap the hair.

Clear the follicle. Free the hair.