with it more frequently than most other men. Up to 60% of black men deal with ingrown hairs, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology, compared to only 3% of white men.

Many factors cause razor bumps, which can persist for weeks, especially if you continue to shave and irritate them. These factors can include dry shaving, shaving too close, and shaving at an angle that causes your hair to have sharp edges.

Best Razor Bump Treatment for African Americans

Many men end up with razor bumps on their necks due to the way they shave. Improper shaving technique coupled with bad razors causes razor bumps to show up shortly after shaving. This is especially common on the neck but can occur anywhere on the face that you shave.

The biggest cause of razor bumps is shaving too close and against the grain. The instinct of most men is to shave up from the neck in order to get a close shave, but what you really should be doing is finding the direction your hair grows in and shaving with it to avoid tugging and irritation. This often means that you should actually be shaving down the neck rather than up.

Preventing razor bumps is the best course of action, which you can do by using a shaving system like the Bevel Shave System and treating your skin properly. However, if you already have razor bumps or still develop them due to sensitive skin, the best thing to do is to leave them alone. Definitely don’t keep shaving, and instead, let your hair grow out for a few weeks and allow the razor bumps to heal.

Shaving over your razor bumps is the worst thing you can do, as this will further irritate them and cause extra problems. You both irritate the bumps themselves by shaving over the rough surface, and you also cut any hairs that have grown beyond the surface, causing them to go back under the skin and create irritation/ It’s worth the patience to simply let them heal over time and then improve your shaving habits in the future.

How to Get Rid of Razor Bumps on the Back of Your Head

If you regularly shave your head, you’re likely to get razor bumps there, especially in the back of your head. Why? Because you can’t see the back of your head, your shave is more likely to be rougher and less smooth due to the lack of visibility. You also may shave at an odd angle because of the shape of your head and having to reach behind you.

Again, prevention is the best medicine. Use a sharper razor that doesn’t cut below the skin line to help prevent razor bumps, and do your best not to apply pressure or shave against the grain. You should be extra mindful and take more time as you’re shaving the back of your head due to these difficulties.

If you have razor bumps and want to get rid of them quickly, you can try aloe to soothe the skin. This isn’t guaranteed to work due to the nature of the infection, but it can soothe the irritation caused by the ingrown hairs and help with the size of the bumps. You’ll still need to wait for the hairs to sort themselves out, during which time you should avoid shaving the area.

You can also try a hot compress to open up your pores and follicles and free the trapped hairs. It also increases blood flow, which eases pain and speeds up healing. This can be a more effective solution than simply treating the symptom of irritation. Lay face down and apply the hot compress to the back of your head. You or someone else should hold the compress down gently to apply the heat for about 20 minutes at a time.