Top 10 Products for Treating Ingrown Pubic Hairs
Top Ten Products
A 6 oz tube of hypoallergenic, cruelty free, Vegan friendly, moisturizing shave gel for a very smooth shave. Specially formulated natural ingredients to help prevent ingrown hairs/bumps. Cost online $11.50
Exfoliating scrub removes dead skin cells to help prevent ingrown hair. Contains salicylic acid, cruelty free, made in the USA. Anti-inflammatory reduces swelling. Cost around $13 for a 6 oz jar.
Ergonomically designed exfoliating brush to stop ingrown hairs and razor bumps all over body including bikini area. Easy to use and clean, can be used wet or dry. Available at around $10.
One pair of dual texture exfoliating gloves. Use regularly to help prevent ingrown hair and skin blemishes. Light textured for delicate skin. Easy to use - one size fits all. Cost online just $8.
Kerah Lane razor bump and ingrown hair formula (8 oz) consists of natural, holistic ingredients and is cruelty free and vegan friendly. To treat and help prevent ingrown hairs gently - suitable for sensitive skin. Cost around $18.
1 oz bottle of 2% BHA liquid Salicylic Acid exfoliant developed specially for ingrown hair treatment. Suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. No animal testing. Cost around $25.
Contains 50 easy to use pads to treat ingrown hairs. With Witch Hazel and Green Tea extracts, Salicylic and Glycolic acid. PETA Cruelty Free and Vegan. Pleasant citrus scent. Available for just over $12.
Can be used to treat existing ingrown hair and razor bumps and help prevent them. Comes in a 4 fl oz bottle. Acts as an exfoliant. Made in the USA. Available online for around $15.
Set of 2 tweezers by Tweezer Guru. Point tipped for removal of ingrown hair and splinters, slant tipped for tweezing brows etc. Use to tease out shallow lying ingrowns prior to removal. Available for around $10.
Attractive ladies double edge safety razor includes 5 premium blades. Butterfly opening mechanism for easy blade change. Single blade is best for irritation free shaving. Money - saving blades. Available for $28.
Why Do You Get Ingrown Hairs?
Ingrown hairs are a very common and annoying side effect of hair removal methods such as shaving, waxing, tweezing and epilating.
Coarse, curly hair is most susceptible to developing ingrown hairs.
Shows how ingrown hairs are formed following epilation
They arise because the hair grows back in on itself or to the side underneath the skin instead of breaking through the surface to grow out in the usual way.
Ingrown hairs lead to symptoms such as itching and irritation, red bumps and inflammation. Although unsightly, they are not usually a major cause for concern providing you treat them in the correct way to avoid infection.
Treating Ingrown Hairs
Often, with a bit of time the ingrown pubic hair will clear itself without requiring any intervention from you.
The main thing to remember is not to scratch, rub or squeeze them as this may worsen or deepen them, increasing the irritation and risk of infection.
However, if you are continually plagued with ingrowns which do not clear up on their own, there are things you can do to treat them:
Ultimately if you have an ingrown hair or hairs that have become infected and pus-filled or deep and painful, then you should seek medical advice from your GP.
Minimising the Risk of Ingrown Hairs
Exfoliating
Regular exfoliation is the single most effective way that you can minimise the risk of getting ingrown pubic hairs in the first place.
Exfoliation prevents the natural build up of dead skin cells which can clog your pores and hair follicles, making it easier for your hair to emerge safely.
The pubic area is sensitive, so make sure that you are gentle when using any manual exfoliator e.g. brush, cloth or scrub.
Use circular motions to rub the skin all round the bikini area between hair removal sessions.
If you opt for a chemical remedy, make sure that it is recommended for use on the sensitive bikini area.
Hair Removal Method
How you choose to remove your hair and using the correct technique can have a big impact on your risk of getting ingrown hairs.
Waxing, Tweezing and Epilating
All of these methods involve you ripping the entire hair out from the root, which often results in lighter and finer regrowth over time as the follicle becomes weakened.
Unfortunately, sometimes the hair can break off just above or below the skin's surface, at the widest part of the hair shaft, leaving a sharp tip to the hair rather than its natural tapered end.
It is this hair that can then curl back on itself instead of growing out, thus becoming your pesky ingrown.
Waxing
Key to reducing your risk of ingrown hair from waxing is good preparation, technique and aftercare.
The ideal wax for the bikini area is hard wax, which is a hot wax that does not require the use of strips.
However, if you want to wax at home, hard wax is a bit trickier to master as you need to allow it to cool to just the correct point that it can be pulled off in one piece.
If it is too warm, it won't come off in a strip, is ineffective, leaving lots of residue and if it is too cool, will crumble.
Always make sure that you follow all the instructions provided to the letter, including testing first if you are using a new product.
Trim long hair to the recommended length and don't attempt to wax if it is too short (¼" minimum).
Apply the wax in the direction of hair growth and remove in the opposite direction.
Hold your skin taut and rip it off quickly and firmly, parallel to your skin, back across itself and not upwards away from it.
Post waxing, moisturize and avoid tight clothing - ideally wax in the evening before bedtime to give you skin the best chance to recover.
Use ingrown hair prevention products as per instructions.
Tweezing
Tweezing, in the context of bikini hair removal, is only really suitable for removing any odd strays you may have left by other methods, but it is still important to get it right.
The rules for tweezing are pretty simple - use a good, well aligned, sharp pair of tweezers and pull each hair out individually in the same direction that the hair is growing.
It is important that your tweezers are sharp and well-aligned so that your hair is gripped firmly and won't slip or break off.
Make sure that you grasp each hair as close to the skin as possible as pulling from the end makes it much more likely that you will simply break it off.
Shaving
Shaving is a very common cause of ingrown hairs, as the hair is cut off at the skin's surface, and sadly the closer the shave, the more likely they are to develop.
A single blade razor is best and always be sure to use a very sharp blade to reduce the chance of dragging on the skin and hair.
Ideally shower or bathe first to soften the hair and skin, or even shave in the shower.
Use plenty of shaving cream, foam or gel, recommended for sensitive skin, which should be re-applied as needed. Hold skin taut and shave in the direction of hair growth in a single pass. Avoid going over the same area more than twice at most.
Rinse, pat dry and moisturize the area, avoid tight clothing and use ingrown hair prevention lotion.
Change Method
If you are finding that your chosen method of hair removal is causing ingrown hairs, one thing you can do is try changing it.
If you are shaving, you could have a go at waxing and vice-versa.
Alternatively, providing your skin can tolerate it, you could try using a suitable depilatory cream.
Depilatory creams do not tend to cause ingrown hair, as they dissolve your hair at the skin's surface and do not leave the sharp tip of other methods.
If you have the budget for professional treatment you could opt for laser hair removal for a more permanent solution, or even electrolysis.
