|
Black Men and Ingrown Hair
One of the biggest problems black men face when it comes to taking care of their skin is
ingrown hair. This problem arises for black men because of the physical nature of their
beard hair, which
is coarse and thick with a tendency to curl. This article looks at the
problem and suggest ways to avoid ingrown hairs.
What is ingrown hair? To put it simply, it is most often beard hair that curls back towards the skin as it grows. The hair then penetrates the skin and continues growing beneath the surface causing pain and infections.
Ironically shaving makes it more likely for an individual hair to become ingrown. Why? After being shaved, the ends of the hair are now like the pointy end of a sharp knife that can easily pierce the skin.
This problem is not exclusive to black men of African and Caribbean origin, any males with curly, thick hair are more likely to suffer from this skin condition as well. Still 60 percent of black men have this skin care problem. (Women, too, can get ingrown hairs from shaving.)
The area of the skin that is most likely to be affected is, of course, the areas we men shave: Typically, the neck and the face. But it is possible to develop ingrown hair, if you shave another part of your body. Black body builders, for example, who routinely shave the hair from the chest and legs, etc., can find ingrown hairs developing in those areas.
As mentioned earlier, areas with ingrown hair can get infected with bacteria. When this happens bumps form which are commonly known as razor bumps.
When trying to solve the problem of ingrown hairs, some men, due to lack of knowledge about skin care for black men, think that re-shaving the area is the proper solution. This, however, is one of the worst things you can do. Re-shaving an area of your face or neck, usually ends up worsening the condition. And this creates the possibility of making scars on the surface of your skin.
One preferred solution for this black men skin care problem is also an obvious one: Keep the beard, don't shave. This doesn't mean that you need to have a long beard. You can keep it trimmed with the help of an electric razor or other barber implements.
If you don't like wearing a beard, or if a beard conflicts with your employment or social life, there are still effective steps you can take to prevent ingrown hairs.
Use a beard inhibitor to slow down and, in some case,s eliminate the need for shaving altogether. You can make your own hair growth inhibitor at Super Hair Growth Inhibitor Recipe. Or use a commercial hair inhibitor such as KALO.
When you do shave, avoid shaving too closely. The closer your shave, the higher the possibilities of hair curling back into the skin. Do not shave against the grain, which means, that you SHOULD shave in the direction your hair grows. This is normally in the downward direction. And as you shave, use a light touch, do not put too much pressure against the skin.
Prior to shaving, scrub your face to remove dead skin cells. And soften your beard with hot water. Clean and exfoliate your face regularly to destroy the barriers that keep the hair from getting out from under the skin's surface.
Change your razor blade weekly or even more often.
To free an already ingrown hair, some men like to gently pull the hair out from under the skin with tweezers. You can also use a needle (sterilized with alcohol first), to pry the hair lose from under the skin. Be very careful, and avoid this if you don't have a steady hand...
There are also products that can help you get rid of ingrown hair. Some of which you will find on this page or elsewhere on this site. Do your research before buying one of them, specially about the ingredients. And finally, remember to improve the health of your skin by keeping an integral black skin care routine.
About the Author: Scott Harker is the publisher of several websites including: Bodybuilding, Vitamins and Supplements, Dinosaur Fossils for Sale, Taste of the Grape - Wine, and Alaska Travel.
What is ingrown hair? To put it simply, it is most often beard hair that curls back towards the skin as it grows. The hair then penetrates the skin and continues growing beneath the surface causing pain and infections.
Ironically shaving makes it more likely for an individual hair to become ingrown. Why? After being shaved, the ends of the hair are now like the pointy end of a sharp knife that can easily pierce the skin.
This problem is not exclusive to black men of African and Caribbean origin, any males with curly, thick hair are more likely to suffer from this skin condition as well. Still 60 percent of black men have this skin care problem. (Women, too, can get ingrown hairs from shaving.)
The area of the skin that is most likely to be affected is, of course, the areas we men shave: Typically, the neck and the face. But it is possible to develop ingrown hair, if you shave another part of your body. Black body builders, for example, who routinely shave the hair from the chest and legs, etc., can find ingrown hairs developing in those areas.
As mentioned earlier, areas with ingrown hair can get infected with bacteria. When this happens bumps form which are commonly known as razor bumps.
When trying to solve the problem of ingrown hairs, some men, due to lack of knowledge about skin care for black men, think that re-shaving the area is the proper solution. This, however, is one of the worst things you can do. Re-shaving an area of your face or neck, usually ends up worsening the condition. And this creates the possibility of making scars on the surface of your skin.
How Can You Avoid Ingrown Hair?
One preferred solution for this black men skin care problem is also an obvious one: Keep the beard, don't shave. This doesn't mean that you need to have a long beard. You can keep it trimmed with the help of an electric razor or other barber implements.
If you don't like wearing a beard, or if a beard conflicts with your employment or social life, there are still effective steps you can take to prevent ingrown hairs.
|
|
Use a beard inhibitor to slow down and, in some case,s eliminate the need for shaving altogether. You can make your own hair growth inhibitor at Super Hair Growth Inhibitor Recipe. Or use a commercial hair inhibitor such as KALO.
When you do shave, avoid shaving too closely. The closer your shave, the higher the possibilities of hair curling back into the skin. Do not shave against the grain, which means, that you SHOULD shave in the direction your hair grows. This is normally in the downward direction. And as you shave, use a light touch, do not put too much pressure against the skin.
Prior to shaving, scrub your face to remove dead skin cells. And soften your beard with hot water. Clean and exfoliate your face regularly to destroy the barriers that keep the hair from getting out from under the skin's surface.
Change your razor blade weekly or even more often.
To free an already ingrown hair, some men like to gently pull the hair out from under the skin with tweezers. You can also use a needle (sterilized with alcohol first), to pry the hair lose from under the skin. Be very careful, and avoid this if you don't have a steady hand...
There are also products that can help you get rid of ingrown hair. Some of which you will find on this page or elsewhere on this site. Do your research before buying one of them, specially about the ingredients. And finally, remember to improve the health of your skin by keeping an integral black skin care routine.
About the Author: Scott Harker is the publisher of several websites including: Bodybuilding, Vitamins and Supplements, Dinosaur Fossils for Sale, Taste of the Grape - Wine, and Alaska Travel.
|
|
|
News About Men and Ingrown Hair
Google News |