How to Shave Armpits Without Darkening?

Do you avoid wearing sleeveless tops because of the unwanted underarm hair? And even if you shave that hair, does your confidence stay down shaving the armpits that come with darkening of the skin? Well, let us inform you that many women suffer from underarm darkness post-shaving.

Mainly caused by skin irritation and friction with the clothes, armpit Pigmentation is a source of discomfort for women. However, you do not have to worry any longer as you can avoid underarm darkening by following a proper shaving routine that targets its root causes.

Therefore, let us explore does shaving your armpits makes them darker, how to shave armpits without darkening, and how to lighten dark armpits.

Table of Contents:

• Part 1: Why Are My Armpits Dark After Shaving?
• Part 2: How to Shave Underarms Without Darkening?
• Part 3: Home Remedies to Lighten Dark Armpits
• Part 4: Alternative Hair Removal Methods to Avoid Darkening

Part 1: Why Are My Armpits Dark After Shaving?

To eliminate the darkness of underarms after shaving, you have to know what causes it. Therefore, here are the reasons why your underarms are dark after shaving.

Skin Irritation

Shaving with a sharp and fresh razor gives you instant silky smooth skin. However, you do not always use a fresh razor, right? Using an old or dull razor to shave the underarm hair imparts trauma on the skin and irritates it.

This skin irritation acts as a trigger for the production of melanin and increased melanin production leads to dark armpits.

Stubble Effect of Razor

Shaving does not remove the unwanted hair from the roots. Rather it only cuts the strands of the hair above the surface of the skin. As the armpit hair is dark and thick, the shaved hair gives a stubble effect making the armpits appear dark.

Furthermore, shaving also makes the skin prone to ingrown hair that appears as red bumps with a black dot in the middle. This adds to the dark appearance of armpits.

Build-Up of the Shaving Products

Most often, women use a gentle shaving cream to shave the armpits and wear a deodorant only freshly shaved underarms. Both of these products stay on the skin instead of being absorbed.

These create a dark buildup in the underarms by combing with moisture, microbes, sweat, and dead skin cells.

Part 2: How to Shave Underarms Without Darkening?

From preparing your skin to the process of shaving and taking care of it afterward, here is how to prevent skin darkening after shaving

Step 1: Pre-Shaving Tips

Skin preparation for shaving starts before the day of your shaving session. So, here are some pre-shaving tips to prevent ingrown hair,

• Do not forget moisturizing your underarms while moisturizing your body as a shaving razor works smoothly on well-hydrated skin. Thus, apply body lotions to your armpits regularly.
• Exfoliate your underarms with a gentle physical scrub to remove the dead skin cells, impurities, microbes, dirt, and other pollutants. Exfoliation is required to open the clogged pores of the skin. Also, people with sensitive skin can use a chemical exfoliant.
• If your armpit hair is long or you have not shaved in many weeks, it is better to cut the hair using small scissors.

Step 2: Choosing the Right Razor and Products

As shaving can be harsh on the skin and cause irritation leading to pigmentation, using the right products can help you make shaving a gentle experience. For this,

• Never use a dull razor on your armpits. Rather, ensure that your shaving razor is either brand-new or has sharp blades. Also, a razor with a flexible head helps in the prevention of nicks and cuts as it adjusts its orientation according to the curves of the armpits.
• A pre-shave moisturizing cream or shaving gel creates a barrier on the skin and makes the skin wet offering a smooth shaving experience.
• It is preferred to shave in the bathroom when you take a shower because it provides a we surface to the skin.

Step 3: Proper Shaving Technique

Here is a step-by-step instructions to shave your armpits properly.

• Wash your armpits to remove sweat and impurities that have accumulated over the day
• Wet your armpits and apply a shaving gel or cream on the desired apply
• Move your arm overhead to make the skin taut
• Start shaving in the direction of the hair growth in short stokers with gentle pressure on your fingertips
• After 2 to 3 strokes, rinse the shaving blade
• Continue until you see no hair in your armpits
• Wash and dry your armpits

Step 4: Post-Shaving Care

After shaving, skincare is essential to reduce the after-effects of a sharp razor and thus avoid darkening of the armpit. So, here is what you can do for post-shaving care,

• Apply a thick layer of aloe vera gel on your underarms to soothe the skin immediately and reduce skin redness and inflammation.
• Take a natural oil like olive oil and massage a few drops of the oil on the skin to moisturize the area.
• Apply a non-comedogenic and scent-free lotion to your underarms after shaving to keep the area well-nourished and boost skin recovery.
• Lastly, avoid using products with chemicals as they irritate the skin, stimulate melanin production, and cause darkening of armpits. Such products include aluminum-based antiperspirants and deodorants.

Part 3: Home Remedies to Lighten Dark Armpits

To help you regain your confidence, here are the 9 methods you can use to reduce your

1. Sodium Bicarbonate Exfoliation

Sodium bicarbonate is one of the major ingredients of bleach. Thus, it has the ability to Lighten the skin tone. However, it also dries the skin out.

Therefore, you can make a sodium bicarbonate scrub by adding a moisturizing oil and water to it. You have to apply it for 15 minutes and then clean it off with lukewarm water.

2. Use of Essential Oils

The following essential oils have skim-lightening properties and can be used to remove pigmentation caused by shaving,

• Coconut oil
• Almond oil
• Tea tree oil diluted in water
• Egg yolk oil

Simply massage a few drops of these oils onto your armpits and leave it overnight. Then, wash it off the next morning with a gentle body wash.

3. Rice Water

If rice water can give Koreans glass skin, it can surely give you even toned underarms. Make your kojic acid-rich fermented rice water by soaking rice in mineral water overnight. Spray it twice on your underarms every day for a few weeks for desired results.

4. Potato Scrub or Juice

Potato has skin-bleaching properties and is gentle on the skin as compared to sodium bicarbonate. So, slice the potato and rub it on your underarms for 2 to 3 minutes. Then let it dry for 10 minutes and wash it off.

Alternatively, you can use potato juice obtained by grating and squeezing a potato.

5. White Clay Mask

White clay is a natural gentle exfoliating and cleansing agent. It can be mixed with an equal amount of green tea and half the amount of coconut oil to make a skin-brightening white clay mask.

This is because the anti-oxidation properties of green tea with the hydrating effect of coconut oil can effectively reduce hyperpigmentation. So, Apply it on clean skin for about 30 minutes and wash it off with cold water.

6. Turmeric and Lemon Juice

Turmeric can reduce hyperpigmentation of the armpits by reducing the production of melanin in the skin and lemon has bleaching properties. Both of these, when combined 1:1, can provide you with an effective solution to dark underarms.

Simply, make a lemon juice and turmeric mask, apply a thick layer of the mask on underarms, and leave it on for half an hour.

7. Orange Peel Powder Scrub

Orange peel powder has a high content of vitamin C. As an antioxidant, skin-lightening, and anti-inflammatory substance, orange peel powder scrub is used to brighten dark underarms.

For this, mix an equal quantity of rose water and milk and add orange peel powder in a way that a scrub-like mixture is formed. Then, use it to rub your underarms for 3 to 5 minutes and let it be for another 15 minutes before rinsing it off.

8. Aloe Vera Gel and Cucumbers

The skin irritation caused by shaving can be coped with by the application of gentle products like Aleo Vera gel and cucumber use. While both serve as hydrating agents, aloe vera gel is also antimicrobial and cucumbers are full of essential vitamins and minerals.

So, either use both one by one or mix them to make your DIY de-tanning mask. Use it every day for 15 minutes for best results.

9. Apple Cider Vinegar

The lactic acid content of apple cider vinegar works as a natural chemical exfoliant that accelerates the removal of dead skin cells and impurities from the skin along with stimulating the production of new skin cells.

Fresh skin cells are bright. So, dilute apple cider vinegar or add some baking soda to it to make a paste. Apply this paste to your underarms and remove it once dry.

Part 4: Alternative Hair Removal Methods to Avoid Darkening

Although it is possible to get rid of underarm darkening caused by shaving with the help of skin-lightening home remedies, it is important to note that you have to be patient with the timeline of the results.

So, instead of going to such lengths just to make your armpits even-toned, how about you remove the root cause of hyperpigmentation from shaving?

As frequent shaving causes it, you can use a semi-permanent hair removal method like IPL hair removal that reduces the need for shaving. Ulike Air 10 IPL hair removal handset can help you with making your underarms hairless with the following benefits,

• No chance of underarm darkening as it is gentle on the skin
• Results in significant hair growth reduction in 2 to 3 weeks
• It is sustainable in contrast to razors that create waste
• In the long run, it proves to be more economical as compared to shaving

Conclusion

Shaving your armpits can make them darker by causing skin irritation, increasing the production of melanin, and giving way to ingrown hair and product buildup.

To avoid darkening the armpits, you have to follow a proper pre-, per, and post-shaving routine as mentioned in this article. Furthermore, you can use natural remedies including skin-lightening and hydrating ingredients to brighten the dark underarms.