How To Soften Chest Hair After Trimming
If you want to trim or shave your chest hair, you may be concerned that the hair will grow back prickly.
This, unfortunately, is a reality of shaving hair, and it is made that much more uncomfortable when it is on your chest.
Is there a way to soften chest hair?
The answer is both yes and no. Your hair will most definitely grow back prickly; there is no way to stop that, but there are a few simple ways to reduce the prickliness of your hair, to make it slightly more comfortable for you as the hair grows out.
The Best Ways To Soften Chest Hair
There is no miracle cure that will instantly soften your chest hair, but there are some practices you can put in place that will help to soften your chest hair over time.
Water
This is one of the easiest ways to soften hair, but it often takes the longest. The more hydrated you are, the softer your hair will be.
While this is not something you should do immediately after shaving and overload your body with water, increasing your daily water consumption can help in the long run.
Hair conditioner
It makes perfect sense that, as hair conditioner softens the hair on your head, it would do so to the hair on your chest as well.
However, ensure that the conditioner is free from oils and fragrances to prevent it from blocking your pores and causing irritation to your freshly trimmed skin.
Conditioning your chest hair also helps prevent ingrown hairs, which can be a real nightmare to deal with.
This is my favorite leave-in conditioner for all hair types.
Hydrating masque
If you don’t have any conditioner at home, you can try making your own conditioning mask to apply to your chest hair.
Argan oil, vitamin E, and even a smashed banana help to soften hair, preventing the prickly feeling, nourishing your hair, and softening the skin as well.
Length of trimming
How long you trim your hair can determine how prickly your hair will be.
If you prefer not to clean-shave your chest, you can use a longer trimmer to ensure the hair is trimmed, but just long enough to prevent it from being prickly as it grows out.
This will not give you a close shave, but it does prevent the discomfort that comes with prickly shaved hair.
How To Prevent Itching After Trimming Chest Hair
Not only are there ways to soften your hair to prevent itchiness and pricking, but you can also adjust the way you prepare your hair and skin, as well as the way you trim your hair, to reduce the irritation felt afterward.
Here is a good way to trim your chest hair to minimize itchiness.
Exfoliate
It is always a good idea to exfoliate your chest before trimming or shaving.
Do so two days before, using a gentle body scrub to remove dead skin cells, unclog pores, and remove oil and dirt.
Removing all of this will make it easier for the trimmer to move through the hair and create a more hygienic environment for hair removal as well.
Remember to moisturize after exfoliating, to allow your skin time to recover before trimming.
Shower
The warmth of a shower or bath will relax and soften the skin, as well as open up the pores.
The warm water will also soften the hair, making it much easier to cut, and therefore leading to less irritation.
Use a gentle body wash, preferably with nourishing botanicals and aloe vera, to reduce the risk of inflammation during and after trimming.
Use fresh blades
If you are choosing to completely shave off your hair, it is so important to use a fresh blade or razor. Fresh blades cut hair with less friction, thereby reducing irritation and razor burn.
Using an old razor can increase the risk of ingrown hairs, and older blades also harbor bacteria, which could lead to infection — a condition that’s never fun to deal with.
Sensitive shaving gel
Choose a shaving gel that has soothing ingredients and is fragrance-free. Shaving without a shaving gel creates too much friction and will definitely lead to razor burn and irritation.
Keep applying more shaving gel to the area if you feel you need more; more is better than less in this circumstance.
Go slow
Do not rush through the shaving or trimming process.
By taking your time and moving slowly, you will be reducing the chance of irritation, cuts, and nicks, which could lead to inflammation and infection.
Shave with the grain
Before trimming or shaving, figure out the direction your hair grows. Shave with the grain of your hair, not against it.
Shaving against the grain will increase your chances of cuts, irritation, and nicks. You also stand a greater chance of ingrown hairs when shaving against the grain.
Do it in one go
Avoid moving over the same area of the skin more than once. Repeatedly moving over the same area can irritate the skin, causing razor burn and irritation.
Warm compress
Once you have finished shaving or trimming, you should apply a warm compress to your skin. Run warm water over a cloth and hold it against your chest.
This will soften the skin and soothe irritation, and prevent shorter hairs from causing the skin to feel itchy.
Aloe vera
Aloe vera works wonders to soothe the skin. It has a cooling effect that softens the feel of razor burn, making your skin feel much more comfortable after shaving.
It also brings some nourishment and hydration to your skin, which is always great.
Moisturize
By moisturizing your skin, you are providing it with the right nourishment and care it needs to recover from shaving or trimming.
Additionally, moisturizing helps rebuild the skin’s barrier, which in turn accelerates the healing and recovery process, ultimately reducing itching.
Avoid tight clothing
The worst thing you can do for your freshly shaved skin is to put on a super-tight T-shirt.
It will rub against your skin, causing irritation and chafing. Choose to wear soft, fitting clothes for a few days to give your skin space to heal.
Take recovery time
It might not seem like it, but your skin will need a few days to recover from shaving or trimming.
Take a few days to let your skin recover and ensure any bumps subside before attempting another hair removal.
Rushing too quickly back into it will only cause more irritation and is a sure-fire way to ensure itching and ingrown hairs!
Continue to exfoliate
Exfoliating regularly will help soften existing chest hair and remove any build-up of skin cells or impurities that may cause ingrown hairs.
Related Questions
Does coconut oil soften chest hair?
Coconut oil is a versatile product that can be used in numerous ways.
Applied to the chest daily, coconut oil can help soften chest hair and nourish the skin, reducing irritation and inflammation. It is great to use as a daily moisturizer.
Does shaving chest hair cause it to grow back thicker?
Shaving the chest can seem to cause the chest hair to grow back thicker, but this is because shaving slices off the top of the hair, which leaves the top of the hair blunt, making it much more noticeable and harsh when the hair does grow back.
To avoid this, waxing is a great option. It removes the hair from the follicles, and over time, the hair grows back less frequently and finer as well.
This is a good way to prevent prickliness after hair removal.
Is it hygienic to trim chest hair?
If you have a substantial amount of chest hair, it is more hygienic to trim it regularly.
Mixed in with sweat, long body hair can be a breeding ground for bacteria, and makes body odor much more noticeable.
Shaving or trimming chest hair will not reduce the amount of sweat produced, but it will definitely reduce body odor and create a more hygienic area that is less prone to bacteria, infection, and inflammation.
Should I completely shave chest hair?
If you are nervous about fully shaving your chest hair, you can start out by trimming it down a bit.
A small amount of trimming is all you need to make your chest hair appear more groomed and more hygienic.
Final Thoughts
Softening your chest hair after trimming it helps to reduce itchiness, irritation, and prickliness.
There are several ways to soften your chest hair at home, all of which can help create a more comfortable experience.
Not only should you soften your chest hair to reduce irritation, but you should also practice proper shaving and trimming techniques, which also help to reduce itchiness, irritation, and inflammation.
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