Ingrown Hair Removal Tips

The best way to deal with ingrown hairs is to prevent them before they begin.

You can do this by exfoliating before shaving and by exfoliating with a loofah or body scrub each time you shower. This seems to work by stimulating the skin and by keeping pores open. Some women find that consciously relaxing their muscles while hair is being removed helps to prevent ingrown hairs. After removing hair, you should avoid using heavy moisturizers or creams on your skin for a few hours. These can clog skin. You can use witch hazel, aftershave, toner, or even cold water after waxing, tweezing, sugaring or using an epilator. This tightens the pores and cleans the skin (NEVER use witch hazel, toner or aftershave on sensitive areas like the bikini line, and only use toner on your face). If you find that one part of your body is always affected by ingrown hairs, try using a different hair removal method on that part of the body.

Even if you take every precaution, you may still get some ingrown hairs. The best way to treat them is to let them heal on their own. Keep the area clean and the situation should clear up on its own. If the ingrown hairs get worse or itch or hurt a lot, you may have an infection. Check with your doctor or dermatologist for help. If you have ingrown hairs on your legs or bikini line, try to wear loose-fitting clothing for a few days so that the friction from the fabric does not aggravate your skin even more. Only start shaving, waxing, or using your regular hair removal methods again.