Hate ingrown hairs? You’re not alone. A hair that curls back or grows sideways into the skin, ingrown hairs are most commonly found amongst those with coarse or curly hair. Sometimes ingrown hairs are accompanied by other conditions, like “razor bumps” (pseudofolliculitis barbae), but sometimes they are not. While ingrown hairs most commonly appears in areas where the skin is shaved or waxed like the beard, legs, or pubic region, they can appear anywhere. In fact, anything which causes the hair to be broken off unevenly with a sharp tip can cause ingrown hairs. Shaving is the leading cause, followed by waxing and tight clothing. Shaving can result in ingrown hair, razor burn, and folliculitis. Unfortunately, waxing in the delicate bikini area has also been shown to cause ingrown hairs.
Here are three tips to aid with ingrown hairs:
1.) Use a three or five-blade razor.
Despite decades of strides for equality, women still get declared as the weaker sex in certain areas. Razor blades are no exception. Yet, for the delicate bikini area, you’re better off using a man’s three- or five-blade razor than the single-blade women’s razor – and men’s shaving cream. Why? Less blades means more strokes, which equates to more chances for irritation and, ultimately, infection.
Also make sure you are shaving in the right direction! While most shaving should be done against the direction of the hair, the hair in the delicate bikini region is different, according to Alison Amoroso, M.Ed., author of Unwanted Hair and Hirsutism and contributor toOur Bodies, Our Selves. According to Amoroso, “For areas that are sensitive, such as the bikini line, shave with the direction of the hair.”
2.) Use witch hazel aftershave.
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana) is a natural astringent that is excellent in preventing inflammation and irritation after a shave. According to the journal Archives of Dermatology, it is the tannins that act as natural astringents, drying out oozing or bleeding wounds. Witch hazel is also cited in Complimentary Therapies in Medicine to have anti-inflammatory properties.
3.) Try a ViaBuff Level 3 Exfoliating Puff.
Exfoliating can help remove built-up, dead layers of dry skin. These layers of dry skin can often make ingrown hairs worse, or at least take longer to heal. By using a ViaBuff Level 3 Exfoliating Puff for Face or ViaBuff Level 3 Mild Exfoliating Puff for Body, you will get a gentle, effective way to free ingrown hairs from dead skin cells, dirt, sebum, and debris on the surface of the skin, without using chemicals.
To find out how you can prevent ingrown hairs in the first place, check out our article, “5 Bad Habits That Can Cause Ingrown Hairs”