Armpit Shaving
Shaving irritation on your armpits is terribly annoying and uncomfortable. If you are prone to it, part of the reason may be how you're shaving. Armpit shaving follows similar rules to any other sort of shaving. The most important thing to keep in mind is how extremely sensitive this area is. You must always go gently when shaving armpits. The skin there is amazingly thin, and cutting it puts you at great risk for a bacterial infection - Plus it really stings!
How to Shave Your Armpits
Wash them first with antibacterial soap. This simple but ultra-important move does three things: 1) It removes deodorant and antiperspirant that will irritate freshly shaved skin. 2) It cleanses the area of bacteria that can infect cuts and ingrown hairs, and 3) It moistens the hair. You may not think it possible, but the sharp, brittle stubble under your arm is very absorbent. If you shave in the shower or bath (a good idea), wait for a little while for the hairs to absorb as much moisture as possible. This will result in the hair coming off easier and cleaner, which means less irritation and a lower likelihood of ingrown hairs.
Armpit Shaving and Irritation
Remember to always use shaving cream or gel and be sure to
work it into the hair a little before you start to shave. If you have
very sensitive armpits, try leaving the cream sitting there for a few
minutes to really soften the hair. Another step to avoid irritation
when armpit shaving is by trying to shave with the grain of the hair.
Armpit shaving is tricky enough already without worrying about the
grain, so be careful! If you find it too tricky, stick to the method
you're used to, and just use the other tips listed here.
Also, you should replace your razor’s blades as soon as
they start to dull. Depending on the roughness of the hair being
shaved, the blades should be replaced after as few as 2 shaves to as
many as 8 shaves, and no more. When you shave it's not just hair coming
of, but a thin layer of skin (which is why skin can get irritated). A
dull blade doesn't let that skin come off cleanly, so you must make
sure to only use sharp blades when armpit shaving.
When you're done shaving, rinse with warm, not hot (hot water doesn't kill bacteria unless it's SUPER hot - too hot to tolerate for more than a couple of seconds) water to get all hair and gunk off, then, and this is important, rinse with cold water. This part sucks. Cold water on the armpits is not fun, but it helps close your pores quickly thus protecting them from damage and irritation quicker. Ever so gently pat them dry.
If you're not on your way to work or school or somewhere where people are present, skip putting on deodorant for at least a couple of hours until your skin has had a chance to recover.
Following these tips will take the irritation out of armpit shaving.