How to shave textured hair without razor bumps

Shaving textured hair calls for a different technique than the close, against-the-grain approach often recommended for straight hair, and adapting it prevents most razor bumps.

The core principles for coily hair: never shave too close, since hair cut below the skin surface curls back inside and ingrows; always shave with the grain, never against it, even though against-the-grain feels smoother; and prepare thoroughly with warm water and a generous lubricating gel to soften the coarse hair. A single-blade or electric razor, rather than a multi-blade that lifts and cuts hair below the surface, is gentler. Do not stretch the skin tight while shaving, which also leads to hairs being cut too short. Rinse the blade often and replace it before it dulls.

After shaving, soothe the skin and exfoliate gently a couple of times a week with a chemical exfoliant to keep follicles clear. Many people with very tightly coiled hair find that no shaving technique fully prevents bumps, in which case growing the hair out or reducing the hair with laser becomes the better path. But for those who must or prefer to shave, technique built around the curl, rather than against it, dramatically cuts the bumps.