Why Black Men Get Razor Bumps More Often?

When it comes to shaving, there are plenty of do’s and don’ts to follow. And no matter what you do to protect your skin, those pesky razor bumps might just pop up anyway. Interestingly, not all men are affected in the same ways. Research has proven that black men are 60 to 80 times more likely to develop razor bumps. Here’s a detailed explanation.

Black men typically have coarse and curly hair. When the hair is shaven to the point of being extremely short, it sits underneath the skin’s surface. After a while, it tends to curl back on itself as it starts growing again and re-enters the skin, creating razor bumps. 

There are also other factors at play such as the type of razor used, shaving techniques and the state of your skin. For instance, shaving dry skin with a manual razor or using a blunt razor blade increases chances of developing razor burn and bumps. And if your skin is naturally more sensitive, you are at a higher risk of developing skin irritation when shaving.

Everything you need to know about razor bumps

‘Razor rashes’ and ‘razor’ bumps are two terms often used interchangeably, but are actually considered to be separate conditions. Razor rashes result in itchy, irritated, tender, and inflamed skin. On the other hand, razor bumps are ingrown hairs caused by cut hair strands that curl back into the skin and grow under the surface. This causes red or flesh-coloured, pimple-like bumps.

Continuing to shave once you have developed razor bumps can potentially cause irritation and inflammation. To make matters worse, the now damaged skin collagen can sometimes lead to keloid scarring. This is when the collagen spreads into healthy tissue, leaving a noticeable scar. People with darker skin tones are 15 to 20 times more prone to keloids than those with lighter skin tones. It is essential for black men, in particular, to learn effective shaving techniques and treatments to prevent not only razor bumps but scarring as well.

Preventing and treating razor bumps

Now that we know why black men get razor bumps more often, and have a better understanding of how they develop, it’s time to prevent and treat them. 

Here’s what you have to do:

The most effective treatment is to let the beard grow. Once the hair reaches a certain length, it will not grow back into the skin forming razor bumps. It is recommended to totally avoid shaving for 3 to 4 weeks until all bumps have subsided, while applying a mild prescription cortisone cream to the involved skin each morning. 

Just before shaving, use warm water to hydrate the hairs on your face and a quality pre-shave cleanser to wash away any bacteria and dirt on the skin.

After washing your face, run a towel under hot/warm water and press it to your face for 10 to 20 seconds. This will open your pores and make the hair on your face easier to cut.

Multi-blade razors tend to pull the hair out of the skin and cut it beneath the skin’s surface, increasing the chances of getting ingrown hairs. Also, multi-blade razors don’t allow the level of control that comes with a safety razor. A safety razor will provide a better shave with less irritation. 

When shaving, shave in the direction that the hair grows or with the grain. Try not to stretch or pull the skin while shaving and shave each area only once. Be sure to install a new blade every 4 to 5 shaves to avoid needing to shave areas multiple times with a blunt blade.