Best razor for ingrown hairs on legs

If you have curly or coarse hair, you’ve probably had experience with ingrown hair on your legs. An ingrown hair is hair that grows back into your skin. This can occur after you shave, wax, or tweeze your legs.

After removing unwanted hair from your legs, it’s easier for curly hair to regrow and re-enter your skin, which causes inflammation in the area.

Developing an ingrown hair on your leg isn’t usually a cause for concern. But sometimes this problem can become chronic. There’s also the risk of complications, such as a bacterial infection and permanent scarring.

If you have recurrent ingrown hair that causes pain, your doctor can help you manage this condition. But in most cases, you can treat an ingrown hair with home care and over-the-counter products.

Is it an ingrown hair?

The symptoms of an ingrown hair vary, but typically involve small bumps, blister-like lesions, skin darkening, pain, and itching.

Applying the right shaving cream before you set your razor to work adds moisture, which can prevent cuts and allow the razor to move smoothly across your skin. Prep your legs by applying shaving cream as you get out of the shower to retain some extra moisture.

Some of the most effective shaving cream brands for your legs include:

• Aveeno
• Gillette Fusion
• Cremo

Ingrown hair on your legs can also be caused by a buildup of dead skin cells clogging hair follicles.

To reduce your risk of ingrown hairs, exfoliate your legs before shaving with a body scrub. This process doesn’t take too much time and can leave your skin feeling soft and rejuvenated.

Body scrubs can clean your pores, remove dirt, and expose healthier layers of skin. These scrubs can also reduce the appearance of dark spots caused by previous ingrown hairs.

Here are some of the most effective body scrubs for achieving this:

• Himalayan Salt Body Scrub
• Tree Hut Shea Sugar Scrub
• New York Biology Natural Arabica Coffee Body Scrub

If you have problems with recurrent ingrown hairs, you might be using the wrong type of razor on your legs. Although body scrubs and shaving creams can exfoliate your legs and help your skin retain moisture, you may still develop ingrown hairs depending on the razor you use.

To prevent ingrown hair on your legs, your razor should glide smoothly over your skin. If you don’t have a smooth glide, hair can get caught in the razor, which can cause ingrown hairs and cuts.

Always shave in the direction of the grain of your hair, and make sure your razor is sharp. Clean your blade with alcohol after each use, and throw away disposable razors after a few uses.

If possible, stick with single-edge razors or razors with a skin guard to avoid cutting too close to your skin.

You might want to try one of these razors:

• Gillette Venus Embrace Green
• Schick Hydro Silk
• Shave Classic

Although body scrubs exfoliate your skin, you can also lower the risk of an ingrown hair with dry brushing. This technique uses a long-bristled brush to remove dead skin cells from your legs.

Dry brushing daily before a shower clears away these skin cells and makes your skin softer.

For best results, use a natural, nonsynthetic bristle brush. Options include a nonhandle brush or a brush with a long handle for hard-to-reach areas.

Perhaps try one of these:

• TopNotch Body Brush
• SpaVerde Body Brush
• Wholesome Beauty Body Brush

Aftershave creams aren’t only for your face. Apply these creams and gels after shaving your legs to reduce the occurrence of ingrown hairs. These products add extra moisture to your legs and help keep pores unclogged.

To avoid post-shave irritation, choose an alcohol-free cream or gel.

Here are a few to try:

• Luxxx Beauty
• Lust Naked
• Tend Skin

Freshly shaved or waxed legs can look and feel soft. But if you don’t apply the right products or use the right shaving techniques, painful and itchy ingrown hairs can rob your legs of smoothness.

Although ingrown hairs are common, they don’t have to be your reality. The preceding steps may improve the appearance of your legs. But if ingrown hairs don’t improve or worsen, talk to your doctor.

Some skin conditions can mimic an ingrown hair such as eczema, impetigo, and molluscum contagiosum.

Courtesy of brands / Glamour

Looking for a clean shave? You're in the right place, since we've searched high and low for the best razors for women. Now that summer is here and sweat is more and more likely to roll down your body, the importance of a wonderful razor can't be overstated. What makes a perfect body razor compared with a face razor, you may ask? One that glides smoothly along every nook, cranny, and curve, making shorts season a breeze no matter how much body hair you choose to remove (or, of course, not remove) and doing so without nicks or razor burn. Bonus points for recyclable packaging and cute designs.

To that end, we've rounded up five-blade razors that easily eviscerate every last trace of hair; single-blade options that are better for those with sensitive skin prone to razor burn; subscription options; bikini trimmers; and beyond. Scroll on to discover our favorite razors, from drugstore basics to cool new brands you should be keeping in your shower caddy. 

All products featured on Glamour are independently selected by our editors. However, when you buy something through our retail links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

• Best for Sensitive Skin: Gillette Venus Simply 3 Sensitive Women’s Razors

  These razors are dermatologist-tested to be gentle on sensitive skin. In addition to a moisturizing strip that cuts back on irritation, each razor also has three blades that are strategically placed to require less pressure for a close shave. Genius? We think so.

• For the Quickest Shave: Schick Intuition F.A.B. Razor

  This game changer has blades that work when you shave forward and backward, meaning you can cover more area quicker without the risk of nicking yourself.

• Most Instagrammable: Flamingo Razor

  From the creators of Harry's, Flamingo's five-blade razor not only offers a close shave but also looks good doing it. It features a weighted handle and a rubber grip for easy control as well as a flexible hinge to get as close to skin as possible sans nicks. 

• For When You Don’t Have Shaving Cream: Venus & Olay Sugarberry Women's Razor

  This multitasker has Olay's sudsy moisture bars already built into the razor head, so all you need to add is water. (Add it to your travel bag, stat.) Also, the scent? Incredible.

• Best for Travel: Sphynx 3-in-1 Portable Razor

  Missed a spot…or an armpit? No sweat. This portable razor, complete with built-in spray bottle and moisturizing bar (no shaving gel needed), is perfect to toss in your gym bag, stash at your desk, or pack for a beach vacay.

• If You Like a Subscription: Athena Club Best Shave Ever Razor Kit

  Part of the award-winning razor subscription, the razor itself features a curved razor handle, patented blades, and a water-activated serum, all of which takes your closest shave to the next level. Plus, the kit includes a magnetic bathroom hook and two five-blade cartridges with the first delivery.

• Influencer-Approved: Billie Razor Starter Kit

• Courtesy of brand

  When You Don’t Want to Miss a Spot: Bic Soleil Bella Click Razors

  These disposable razors feature a moisturizing strip and a pivoting head to glide along your curves without missing a spot.

• The Splurgeworthy Razor: The Single Rose Gold Sensitive Skin Razor

  No surprise here: This razor is designed for sensitive skin. Its single blade minimizes irritation, meaning a lower chance of ingrown hairs and razor bumps. Plus, it allows you to shave with a light touch, since the weighted razor itself supplies all the pressure you need. Each razor comes with 10 replacement blades for months and months of comfortable shaves. 

• The No-Frills Option: Joy Razor With Refills

  Joy's razor is all about the reliably smooth shave. It's a five-blade situation, with a lubricated strip to help the razor glide gently across your skin. The handle features a nonslip grip, and each razor comes with two refills. One happy Amazon reviewer says: “They leave the skin feeling smooth, maintain their sharpness longer than other brands I have tried, and are so cute!”

• The Drugstore Gem: Gillette Venus Extra Smooth Women's Razor with Refills

  This isn't considered one of the best women's razors for nothing. Featuring five sharp blades, an ergonomic handle, and the pivoting, rounded head—which helps you navigate hard-to-reach areas—it's a classic. Then there's the convenience factor: You can find it in your local drugstore or order it from Amazon.

• Courtesy of brand

  If You Trim: Schick Hydro Silk TrimStyle Moisturizing Razor for Women With Bikini Line Trimmer

  With a traditional razor on one end and an electric trimmer on the other, you've got options. And that's especially helpful in the summer, when you're dealing with bikini lines and underarm stubble alike.

• Courtesy of brand

  The Best Bargain Subscription: Dollar Shave Club

  Want the best razors without the price tag? Consider Dollar Shave Club, a subscription model that's ideal if you want to keep it simple. Dollar Shave has you covered with a refillable razor and cartridges with your choice of two, four, or six (!) blades, plus shaving cream for one-stop shopping.

• Courtesy of brand

  Most Environmentally Friendly: Hanni Razor

  Made with zero plastic and rust-free metal, the Hanni razor is the perfect pick for any sustainable baddie in your life. The razor's steel blades are also fully recyclable (but we don't recommend chucking it with your aluminum soda cans) along with the packaging. Plus, the extra-long handle makes it easy to let the razor work it's magic. Win-win. 

• Courtesy of brand

  Best for Beginners: Schick Intuition 4-Blade Sensitive Care Women’s Razor Handle

  The Schick Intuition's thick handle may not be the best for getting a close shave in hard-to-reach areas, but the design is perfect for shaving newbies. A better grip allows for ultimate control while four blades leave a clean shave. Once you've graduated from the Schick Intuition, check out a thinner model from our list. 

• Courtesy of brand

  Best for Dry Shaving: Philips SatinShave Advanced Wet & Dry Women’s Rechargeable Electric Shave

  Admit it, you've dry-shaved before while in a pinch. Even though it seems like a good idea in the moment, the excruciating razor burn pain you often get after isn't worth it. Instead, opt for a dry-shaving electric razor, like the Philips SatinShave. You can use it both with or without shaving cream, since the magic in the SatinShave lies in its rotating electric razor heads, leaving you with nick-free, smooth skin. 

• Courtesy of brand

  Best for Coarse Hair: Schick Hydro 5 Men’s Razor and Refill Cartridges

  The Pink Tax is alive and well, but in the meantime men's razors are still regarded as some of the best for the closest shave. Sure, they don't look as nice, but they do the trick. These Schick hydro razors, meant for thick facial hair, are ideal for getting smooth, nickless shave without getting clogged up. 

• Courtesy of brand

  Best “Tiny Yet Mighty” Razor: Gilette Venus Mini Women’s Razor

  Keep all of the power of Gilette Venus's razors without the bulky size. The mini women's razor is perfect for packing on the go, whether you're tossing it in your gym bag or storing it in your office makeup bag.