It’s starting to heat up here in sunny Los Angeles, and you know what that means! We’re ditching our thick jackets for some high-waisted shorts and tank tops. And with all that skin showing, we’re definitely opting for smooth, hairless skin.
But if you’re anything like me, you get weary using razors, especially for the underarm area. Dealing with razor bumps, irritation and the dreaded discoloration that comes with shaving was just too much for me. It was so embarrassing to even raise up my arms, because it was a disaster. Many of my Southeast Asian sisters out there can understand the struggle. The wonderful melanin in our skin, which makes for a great tan, backfires when it comes to scarring and it takes forever for our scars to fade.
I finally threw out the razor for good and switched to an all-natural deodorant. That’s when I started to see my skin healing. Here’s some tips from AprilAthena7 and JLovesMac1 to help keep the body hair at bay and lighten up those razor scars:
1) Epilate, DON’T Shave
Remember that good ol’ razor? Turns out it’s not so good after all. Because a razor only removes the surface level of hair, the skin can easily grow over the remaining hair follicle causing ingrown hairs or “razor bumps.” Having to extract an ingrown hair isn’t the most pleasant feeling and it will scar. It’s better to remove the hair from the root to prevent these bumps. If you’re not a fan of waxing, but want the same efficiency, use an epilator. Don’t fret about its alien-nesque design, these contraptions are basically tweezers on a rotating wheel.
2) Exfoliate
Scrub away those dead skin cells! Exfoliating will not only prevent ingrown hairs, it will stop the build up of dead skin cells plus any deodorant residue that will clog up those pores. Nobody wants to spend their time removing black heads from their armpits.
3) Deodorant VS. Antiperspirant
One important thing to keep in mind is that the aluminum compounds found in antiperspirant can cause irritation, and as a result you’ll see skin discoloration and darkening. Invest in an aluminum-free deodorant that will deodorize and allow you to perspire. You need to sweat out the toxins! If you’re still hesitant, then try alternating days from antiperspirant to deodorant.
4) Natural Remedies
Try these all-natural remedies once a week to help lighten up those underarm scars.
[Bonus] Tone Your Chest and Armpits
Be tank top ready with these moves from blogilates!
