How To Use Common Household Items To Lessen Irritation From Razor Burn

What do we want? To be able to shave our bikini zone without getting those itchy red bumps, in-grown hairs, and skin irritation! When do we want it? NOW. Ever since the patriarchy dictated that women weren't allowed to have any body hair below their eyebrows (*shakes fist at the patriarchy*), women have been ostracized if we didn't shave our armpits, legs, or bikini zone, but we equally suffer the indignity of razor burn. God does love her little tortures.

Dermatologist Dr. Hadley King tells NBC News there's actually no medical reason to shave our body or facial hair, but if you've ever watched "RuPaul's Drag Race," you know the best performers need a close shave to apply their fire and fierce makeup creations. So really, when fashion calls, sometimes a shave is necessary.

There are lots of over-the-counter creams and lotions we can buy at the pharmacy to soothe the razor burn and skin irritation. Dr. King tells the outlet that hydrocortisone cream is a great option, but if you're opting more for a home remedy, it turns out some of your fridge and pantry staples may actually hold the key to cooling and healing razor burn. 

Go take a look inside your refrigerator and your pantry right now. Do you have cucumbers? A jug of milk? Baking soda, oatmeal, coconut oil, or an aloe vera plant? Then you have at your fingertips the perfect home remedy ingredients to soothe razor burn. Dermatologist Dr. Marie Hayag told Byrdie that blending a peeled cucumber with ¼ cup of milk, refrigerating the mixture for 10 minutes and then applying to the razor burns and bumps will restore your skin thanks to the vitamin C, fat, and protein content. "The combination of cucumber and milk may be able to provide moisture and a cooling effect to alleviate irritated skin from razor burn," Hayag tells the outlet. 

Dermatologist Dr. Anna H. Chacon told Women's Health that aloe vera (from the plant or in the bottle) will also work. She also suggests mixing warm water and baking soda to make a paste, applying it directly to the area. Other suggestions from Dr. Chacon include applying coconut oil, tea tree oil, or sweet almond oil (so dig deep in your baking shelf!). She also touts a colloidal oatmeal bath, where you grind up oatmeal in the blender, dump it into your tub, and bathe in it daily for 15 minutes, as oats have phenols that work as antioxidants and anti-inflammatories. Got witch hazel? "It can soothe burns, relieve pain, and treat minor skin irritations," says Dr. Chacon.

All of those home remedies will soothe razor burn, but you should also be mindful of preventing it in the first place. Barber Sait Koca from Adam Grooming salon told Men's Health that you should switch out your razors often. "If it's old and used, it can often result in shaving rash as the razor blade will be dull," he told the outlet. He also says we shouldn't be shaving against the grain as it can damage your hair follicles. "It's best to shave in the direction the hair grows.

It turns out you should also be caring for your skin before a blade ever hits it. Koca recommends moisturizing and using a lot of soap to soften the hair and skin, and to reduce irritation. 

But if you want to get rid of razor burn for good, stop shaving! There are plenty of other hair removal options out there, from waxing and laser hair removal, to depilatory creams and sugaring. However, if you want to continue shaking your fist at the patriarchy (like us), you could also just leave the hair on your body as is. Be kinder to your body, because your body is beautiful as it is, and don't let anyone tell you to be ashamed!