I get asked this question a lot, and for good reason! Men of color are always in search of finding a solution to the ever growing problem of ingrown hairs and darkened complexions from shaving. So the question is definitely warranted!
Is there a perfect product that will make these woes disappear? Unfortunately, no.
But the answer isn’t in the product, it’s in the education. Of course no one wants to hear that because we’re all looking for the “quick fix”, but it’s true. You can use the best unscented shaving cream, razor and non-alcoholic after shave balm, and still find yourself suffering with ingrown hairs.
Most men with darker skin complexions typically have curlier hair than their lighter skinned counterparts. The curlier the beard, the more issues one will have with how the hair reacts to it being cut short (i.e. curling into or under the skin). So shaving with a razor without truly knowing the growth pattern, or even using a multiple blade razor are two quick examples of things that can easily be the source of the problem. The same applies with using alcohol heavy aftershaves and ingrown hair treatment products; these items can oftentimes aid in darkening the shaved area.
Here are a few articles I’ve written that can help you to better understand your beard…
- Know your beard!
- Ingrown hairs? Here’s why.
- Keep it “above” the skinline.
- Is shaving making the skin on your face darker?
I have had the worst ingrown hair problems of anyone I know (I have seen pictures of worse, but never in real life). I tried different products aimed at black men, but they all ‘fix’ the problem the same way; by not shaving closely.
My problem hasn’t gone away 100%, but I’m pretty close to it:
* Exfoliate your skin. Do this at least twice per week for 2 weeks, afterwards shaving will keep your skin exfoliated.
* Shave daily. If you keep your stubble short, it won’t have the length to curl and get into your skin. This will require that you learn to shave with minimum irritatio.
* Learn to shave against the grain. Doing a final pass against the grain with proper technique helps. Doing it without the right technique will worsen your condition dramatically.
Try Skin Smooth and the other products offered by Black Solutions for Black people. More barber products coming soon.