Ingrown hair, no matter where legs, armpit, or around your hoo-ha, isn´t just a cosmetic flaw! They can become infected and leave permanent scars. Read here why ingrowth might happen, how to prevent it with simple tricks, and how to remove it.

What Causes Hair to grow-in?

Several reasons can block your hair from growing properly:

• The method you use to remove the hair

Methods, such as waxing or epilating, can cause ingrown hair because pulling the hair out can irritate the skin.

• Your Hair Type

Thick, coarse, or frizzy hair tends to grow in more often.

• Sebum and dead skin cells

If sebum, dead skin cells, etc., clog the hair growth canal, this can block the hair from reaching the surface.

• Tight Clothes

Even our clothes can lead to ingrown hair. Due to the friction and pressure of tight clothes, the hair can’t grow straight out and stays under the skin.

Ingrown Hair Treatment

Since the main reason for ingrown hair is the method you use to remove your hair, you can prevent it with some simple steps:

#1 Choose a gentle method to remove the hair

The gentler the method, the less skin irritation, and less ingrown hair. Therefore, shaving can prevent ingrown hair rather than, for example, epilating. With epilation, the hair is pulled out by the root, which can severely irritate the skin.

#2 Prepare your skin

Before shaving, take a hot shower or bubble bath or go to the sauna. The warmth and water make the skin smoother and open the pores. This will help the blade glide more smoothly over the skin.

#3 Exfoliate regularly

As mentioned above, clogged growth channels can be responsible for ingrown hair. Regular exfoliation can help to ensure that dead skin cells and sebum are removed. This helps to keep the growth channels unclogged.

#4 Keep Hydrated

Keeping your skin hydrated by drinking enough water will help improve circulation and keep your skin elastic.

#5 Change blades regularly

Dull blades can rip out the hair when shaving instead of cutting it off. The torn hair on the irritated, shaved skin can now easily grow in. Sharp blades usually cut the hairs cleanly, which can prevent ingrowth.

#6 Use shaving foam

Shaving cream helps the blades glide smoothly over the skin and reduces hair breakage. In addition, the foam softens the hair. This makes them easier to cut.

#7 Moisturize your skin regularly

Moisturizing your skin helps to keep it soft and smooth. This makes it easier for hair to grow properly.

#8 Shave in the direction of growth

Shave in the direction of hair growth. This will cut the hair more cleanly.

Ingrown Hair Removal

There are several ways to remove hair once it is ingrown:

• You can exfoliate the hair from the skin. Body Scrubs mechanically remove dead skin cells and can expose ingrown hair.
• You can soften the skin with a washcloth soaked in warm water and remove the hair.
• Creams with salicylic acid can help remove ingrown hair. These creams can loosen light keratinization and the hair from the skin.
• You can remove “stubborn” ingrown hair with a needle or tweezers. You must disinfect the needle beforehand. Otherwise, bacteria might get in.

If you’re looking for other tips and hacks related to skincare, hair, nails, etc., check out the other blog posts.