Kind of embarrasing personal question.....

TT Bride 13

So this is kind of embarrasing for me to ask, but since none of you know who I am, I thought I would ask on here. Whenever I shave "down there", ( I am too cheap and chicken to wax) I get bumps and it gets red and itches. I put non-scented lotion on afterwards, but it doesn't seem to help. FI obviously doesn't care what it looks like, but I do. Any suggestions on what I can do? Thanks!!

Sharpschruter22

Do you shave against the "grain" so to speak or with it? That's poorly worded...I mean do you shave in the direction it grows or against it? You should never shave against the way it grows. I used to have the same problem til I fixed that. Also use a very rich lather of shaving cream..never soap or some kind of shower gel like many do for their legs when out of shaving cream. Have you been doing this for a while or did you just start? It gets better the longer you do it, but the main thing is to go in the same direction. When you go up and against the way it grows, it basically sharpens the tip of the hair and if it's not completely shaved off, it will itch and hurt like a mo fo. Like Sylvia said, don't use a cheap razor. I also use a men's razor with quad blades. They dull really easily down there so replace it often. Go down, not up. No pun intended. Edit: SP

tlc35

I had bad ingrown hairs with both shaving and waxing. Finally I did laser treatments and now I still have to shave but it is thinner and no ingrown hairs.

bridalmarch

I was also too chicken to wax, but I never looked back once I did. It's soooo much better than shaving. 

Try Bikini Zone or a formula  specially formed for the bikini area. I wouldn't use lotion because that can clog up the pores down there and you might see more ingrown hairs that way. 

There's also a great product called Magic Shave that you can find at Target or drug stores in the ethnic hair care section. I think it's formulated for African American facial hair, and it's a cream like Nair but it doesn't burn or give me a rash like Nair does. I've used it on my legs and my bits and I like it a lot. I know other ladies who use it down there, too. I still use it on occasion if I forget to make my waxing appointment. 

MrsGandthebeag

Bite the bullet and get waxed.  It's not bad at all.  Just take a pain reliever about 20 min before you go.  It only takes 10 minutes too.

RamonaFlowers

I actually use an electric shaver just for down there. I try to exfoliate my skin first, and I immediately shower afterward, and that gets me the best results so far. I've never tried waxing (And considering how bad my skin reacted to eyebrow waxing, I probably never will), and I can't afford to get "lasered", so I really can't speak for those results.

For some reason, manual regular razors (Regardless of the quality or what gender they're made for) give me the itchy red bumps-even doing all the "tricks" like shaving with the grain and using a really good shaving cream and whatnot. My skin gets really irritated really easily over everything, so maybe that's got something to do with it?

Weezy56

Even though it makes you nervous, I would reconsider waxing. I have the worst pain tolerance, and I can tell you the anxiety of it all was way worse than the actual wax. I would try going to a professional as opposed to DIY. If there is a European Wax Center near you I would definitely recommend them if you ever change your mind. They use hard wax, no strips, and it really wasn't bad at all.

AdeleDazeem

Waxing leaves me red and raw for a few days.  I'd much rather shave and use Bikini Zone - clean and no red bumps.  It's sold in the shaving, waxing, etc section of drug stores.

ohmrs2014

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_kind-of-embarrasing-personal-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8d3ac41a-0dc8-4a99-a9ed-86e7cf6c3931Post:2f7ab4f5-1c8c-469b-9ab7-895fcb787f90">Re:Kind of embarrasing personal question.....</a>:
[QUOTE]Even though it makes you nervous, I would reconsider waxing. I have the worst pain tolerance, and I can tell you the anxiety of it all was way worse than the actual wax. I would try going to a professional as opposed to DIY. If there is a European Wax Center near you I would definitely recommend them if you ever change your mind. They use hard wax, no strips, and it really wasn't bad at all.
Posted by Weezy56[/QUOTE]

<div>I second this.  I had a horrible experience years ago with regular waxing so I just continued to shave.  I had the same problems as you, red bumps, ingrown hairs.  My coworker suggested European Wax Center and I'm glad I made the choice.  </div>

WinstonsGirl

I wax DIY, and use s sugaring formula, which grabs the hair but not the skin, like wax, so it hurts less.  i also do it right out of the shower which seems to help with pain.  If you don't want to wax though, always shave in the direction of hair growth and use lots of shaving cream/gel and a sharp razor.  There are some speciality shave gels for the bikini line I've seen sold at sex toy parties, but I can't remember the name.  Have you tried using those creams that dissolve hair??  Like Nair or similar.  They reek to high hell and are messy but they might cure the red bumps if you don't have sensitive skin

amymaysa

Waxing is the way to go. It really isn't bad at all

J&K10910

Are you using shaving cream?  Erotica makes a great one called Coochy Cream (lame, awful name, but it's amazing stuff).  They also have an after shave spray that's pretty good too. 

WinstonsGirl

In Response to <a href="http://forums.theknot.com/Sites/theknot/Pages/Main.aspx/wedding-boards_chit-chat_kind-of-embarrasing-personal-question?plckFindPostKey=Cat:Wedding%20BoardsForum:14Discussion:8d3ac41a-0dc8-4a99-a9ed-86e7cf6c3931Post:99b48d8d-0669-416d-b699-70bfb44bc7ce">Re: Kind of embarrasing personal question.....</a>:
[QUOTE]Are you using shaving cream?  Erotica makes a great one called <strong>Coochy Cream</strong> (lame, awful name, but it's amazing stuff).  They also have an after shave spray that's pretty good too. 
Posted by J&K10910[/QUOTE]

<div>Ha!!  I knew someone would mention it.  This is the stuff I was thinking of, but forgot the name to.</div>

AddieCake

Coochy Cream is hands down the bees knees of shaving. I use the Pear Berry scent b/c the original smells weird to me. The Pear Berry does not smell like B & BW stuff, but it is a pleasant smell. I never shave there w/o it. 

J&K10910

I like the green tea. 

It's a little pricy, but it lasts forever.  I use it on my legs and underarms too.  My pits have never been so happy

J&K10910

Oh, and if you do get some bumps, a gel or cream with salicylic acid (just be very careful applying it!) will help get rid of the bumps.

AddieCake

I use it for underarms sometimes, too. You can also use it as a conditioner!

TT Bride 13

Thank you guys so very much!! I think I may have to try the coochy cream. That seems to be the more popular on here right now lol. Thank you guys!!!!

Foodies1

 Use baby powder!

Sharpschruter22

You all just sold me on the Coochy cream. I just bought 16 oz to prepare for my wedding..night. lol. Stage, are you saying you use regular conditioner to shave instead of shaving cream? Is that basically what Coochy cream is?

mandi195

I must be a crazy person, or have been doing this for so long my body has adjusted. I use a good disposable razor, and that's it. No shaving cream/soap/oil/gunk. Just water and my razor. I go "against" the hair, as the few times I went in the direction of the growth I got ingrowns.
I get no ingrowns, bumps, etc. Just perfectly smooth and soft every time. I do the same for my legs and underarms.
Shaving cream, to me, is a waste of money, and I end up cutting myself somehow when I use it. I tried the coochy cream and such years back, and it smelled weird and gave me ingrowns, so I stopped.
Waxing, to me, hurt like hell in a few places, and I was tender and red for a few days afterwards (I also get red and swollen if I get my eyebrows waxed, so that should have been a good warning sign for me!)
 

Knottie1457463875

I use the mens razor with replaceable blades as well  with dove bar soap or aveno shave gel.  When I get out I use baby oil gel.  I have ultra sensitive skin and the bumps are non-existant.   My sisters all have the same issue on legs and everywhere else.  Good Luck!