Itchiness after shaving? Here's how to stop and treat it

Ever asked yourself what causes itchiness after shaving? The answer often lies in the blades that glide over your skin. Even when you shave, your hair follicles continue to grow hair under your skin’s surface – sometimes, gliding over your skin with a razor can lead to irritation.

Another common culprit is using products with a lot of fragrance or alcohol for body grooming. These can dry out your skin’s surface, causing flaky dry skin that can clog your razor and lead to pulling and tugging.

Itchiness may also be caused by a medical condition called folliculitis. Folliculitis occurs when the hair follicles become inflamed, you’ll notice small red raised bumps or pimples around your hair follicles that are often itchy and sore.

Experiencing itchy armpits and legs after shaving can be annoying, here’s the best ways you can give your skin the relief it needs:

Your first go-to for soothing skin after shaving is to grab a clean washcloth and soak it in warm water and apply it to the affected area. You may find more relief by adding a drop of salt to the solution.

Dry skin is a lot more likely to feel itchy and uncomfortable so try applying a gentle moisturiser. Some formulations also include aloe vera which is particularly good for red and itchy skin.

Letting your skin breathe is another top tip for reducing your risk of irritation and itchiness. Rubbing against fabrics and building up sweat are both far from ideal for freshly shaved skin so look for loose and flowing items to wear after shaving.

While the tips above are great for aftercare, some simple prep can make your shaving experience a whole lot smoother and help you know how to stop itching after shaving.

One way to give your razor less to do is quickly trimming any longer hairs with scissors before you start shaving. This will let your shaving device target any hair without getting caught in growth.

To let your razor glide over your skin’s surface, make sure it’s prepped before shaving. Taking a warm shower or bath and soaking your skin will give its surface a moisture boost, which softens your hairs making them easier to shave.

Using high-quality, moisturising shaving gel also reduces friction, minimising the risk of razor burn and itchy armpits after shaving.

Whenever you shave, check that your razor blades aren’t dull as this will pull on skin and irritate your follicles.

Finding the right razor for you is also great for avoiding itchiness. If you regularly struggle with itchiness after shaving, we suggest trying the Venus Deluxe Smooth Sensitive Razor as it features low-cutting force blades and a SkinElixir lubrastrip with a touch of aloe vera for glide.

Our dye-free and dermatologically tested Venus Satin Care Pure & Delicate Shaving Gel is our top pick for sensitive skin and it’s designed to minimise your risk of irritation.

Now that you know that itchiness after shaving is largely caused by disturbing your follicles, make sure your shaving direction follows the direction of hair growth.

Going with the direction your hair grows will reduce the chances of tugging at your follicles and getting that itchy feeling no one wants.

Washing and shaving your skin can leave it feeling dry so it’s also essential to restore its moisture levels once you’re done. Pick a fragrance-free or mild body moisturiser to lock in that all-important hydration.

As a particularly sensitive area, protecting your skin from irritation when shaving pubic hair is a must. Here are our essential prep tips for how to stop pubic hair itching when growing back.

Razors are designed to catch short hairs for a close finish so any growth that’s longer than half an inch is worth trimming with scissors before you get started.

Before you grab your razor, remember to soak any hair you’ll be shaving. Pubic hair tends to be coarser than other areas of the body, so this is a particularly important step. When your razor glides through softer hair you’ll be a lot less likely to feel itchy after shaving.

Moisturising regularly will give your hair the best chance of growing without any of that dreaded itchy feeling. Make sure any moisturiser you use after body shaving is unscented and gentle for your skin, like Venus’ Daily Soothing Serum. This can be used either between or after shaving to maintain skin smoothness and hydration – perfect for if you’re worried about dry post-shave skin!

Everyone’s skin is unique, so be sure to find a gentle shaving routine that works for you. A great place to start is our range of Venus Shaving Products which are designed with your skin’s comfort in mind.

If you experience itchiness from shaving, following our tips throughout this guide will set you up for success in body grooming - so make sure you prep and do aftercare the right way!