Topping our list of best feelings in the world is how silky smooth our skin is post-shave. If you do choose to remove body hair, and opt to shave it, there truly is no comparable feeling to stepping out of the shower after shaving from top to bottom. 

But we have a bone to pick with shaving—razor bumps. Most common along the bikini line but certainly prevalent on the legs and under the arms, razor bumps are those pesky red bumps that appear when shaving has irritated the skin and/or caused ingrown hairs. And while razor bumps may seem like an inevitable part of the hair removal process, we’re here to breakdown how you can treat them (and prevent them) so you can get back to your best silky self. Yes, we would like our legs to be able to reflect light, thank you very much.

Before you go all gung ho with the razor and shave up a storm, it’s important to correctly prepare the skin to avoid irritation. Prevention is king, after all! Start by ensuring the skin is adequately exfoliated in the areas you wish to shave. If you are shaving your legs, a decadent body scrub like the Kora Organics Invigorating Body Scrub or an exfoliating mitt like the My Glow2 Original Glove will work a treat. 

If you are shaving a more sensitive area (such as your bikini area or armpits), finding a product specifically designed to gently exfoliate these areas will ensure you don’t aggravate the delicate skin. We love the Gillette Venus Skin Smoothing Exfoliant and the Bermuda Dark Spot Exfoliating Scrub. It is also a good idea to ensure the skin has had plenty of time in the warm water before you start shaving, as the hairs would have softened slightly with the steam and this will give you a closer shave.

An artist is only as good as the tools they use—and the same goes for shaving. Ensuring you are using a fresh razor each time you shave and that it is super sharp will give you a close shave with none of the irritation. A hot tip is to also buy men’s razors as they are 1) cheaper and 2) sharper and designed to be used on the face so have sensitive skin in mind. Either that, or opt for a reusable single blade razor to get a seamless shave. But, be warned, these bad boys are super sharp so make sure you take your time to avoid gnarly nicks and cuts. 

Some great razor options include The Glide Single Blade Razor and the Gillette Skinguard Manual Razor.

If you take just one thing away from this article, let it be this: do not dry shave. Ever. Ever ever. Please, just don’t do it. Dry shaving is a recipe for irritation, ingrown hair and inflammation. Instead, ensure you invest in a shaving product that gives you just the right amount of slip without drying out the skin too much. Now, this doesn’t mean you need to buy yet another product for your shower—a nourishing body wash like the L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil will work a treat. But, if you do prefer to use a shave-specific product, we love the Aveda Pure-Formance Shave Cream and the Grown Alchemist Shaving Gel.

After care is important in more than one facet of life (wink wink), but is particularly important in your shaving routine. Adequate moisture=no more razor bumps. So, indulge in a super nourishing body butter or post-shave oil and enjoy your silky smooth skin for days on end. We love the Summer Fridays Summer Silk Nourishing Body Lotion, the Sans[ceuticals] Activator Body + Hair + Face Oil and the Palmer’s Cocoa Butter Body Lotion. 

For sensitive areas like the bikini area and armpits, it is also a good idea to invest in a post-shave gel to soothe the area and prevent irritation that can come from friction (i.e. underwear and tight t-shirts). Think the Endota Intimate Moisturising Gel and the Malin+Goetz Ingrown Hair Cream.

Now, go forth and conquer the world with your silky smooth, razor bump-free skin!