Answering a Reader Question #612

Anonymous Wrote:

 Hi. Dania....
it's really embarrassing asking you this question but i didn't know who to ask...
i have recently started shaving using shaving cream. when i shave underarm, the hairs don't get shaved off cleanly. it leaves really small black dots (?). I think this is because of the root of the hair. I honestly don't know..because of these black dots i can't lift up my arms in case someone sees it...also i can't change to using razor or waxing because im scared...im really sorry for asking you this question! hopefully you'll have the answer to my question because I really want to know if I can get rid of these black dots...

Thank you!! 

Hey there, Anonymous!

No need to be embarrassed at all, it's a common problem a lot of people deal with so I hope I'll be able to help you (and others in the same situation). Basically those small black dots are the actual hair that hasn't been completely removed. The root of the hair is just beneath the skin so we technically can't "see" the root unless it has been plucked out (it looks like a bulb on one end).

Shaving often leaves behind some of the hair and when they're all clustered together in an area like the underarms, it gives off the appearance of "dots" or even a darker shade of skin in that area overall. This is common especially for those with darker skin.

I'm a bit confused when you said that you started shaving using shaving cream but don't want to change to using a razor...so what are you currently using with the shaving cream? Sorry, I wasn't really clear in how you worded that. Do you mean to say you are scared to change to using a new type of razor?

Anywho, if you're not ready to try waxing or other methods of hair removal, below are a few suggestions you can try to see if it will remedy the problem:

Exfoliate

Using a loofah and body scrub (not to be confused with body wash) to gently exfoliate your underarms before shaving is a good way to push up the hairs so that they're completely erect, making it easier to get a closer shave.

Some of those black dots may actually be ingrown hairs, which happens when the hair itself curls inward and ends up burrowing right back into the skin. Ingrown hairs can't be caught by the razor so exfoliating helps to break them out of the thin layer of skin they're hiding underneath and pushes them up to the surface where they can be removed.

Wait in Between Shaves

With underarm hair, it's often difficult to get clean results if you shave every day. If the hairs are already pretty short from a previous shave, it'll be harder for the razor to remove additional hair. Instead, wait a day or two and let the underarm hair grow a bit longer (it's kinda gross, I know) but you will see a big difference in how close of a shave you end up getting.

Trying to shave the underarms every day could irritate the skin and may lead to razor burn so waiting a bit in between shaves would probably be better for your skin anyway.

I know the thought of waxing sounds scary but it's something men and women do all the time. No beauty routine is without some kind of experimentation and if your underarm problem is really bothering you--especially if the suggestions above don't work--it will be a big relief for you to just get your underarms waxed. It's easy, affordable and delivers great results.

You should at least give it a try one of these days. The technicians that do the waxing are specially trained, friendly and know how to handle first-timers. Once you get past the initial discomfort of the waxing strip coming off, it'll be over before you know it and you'll walk away with great looking underarms!

Comments

  1. AnonymousJune 13, 2013 at 4:54 AM

    thank you so much! what i meant by that sentnece was that i just use shaving cream. like the one you don't need razor or anything. u just put the cream on the area you want to shave, then wait a while and clean it off and the hairs will be removed. ill try exfoliating and if it doesn't work...well then ill think about waxing :D

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dania DeniseJune 14, 2013 at 11:01 AM

    OOOOHHH, I know what you're talking about now, LOL! The product you're using isn't traditional "shaving cream," it's actually called a depilatory aka "hair removal cream."

    I've never had very good results with those, which is why I stuck with shaving with a razor. But I have many friends who swear by waxing, especially the underarm area so if exfoliating doesn't work with the hair removal cream, take a leap and try waxing. :-)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousJune 15, 2013 at 10:32 PM

      Ohhhhh right. it was called hair removal cream...oops. yep! i will try waxing then! thank you!

      Delete

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