Ingrown hairs are one of the most common and frustrating side effects of shaving. The risk of getting an ingrown hair is highest when you shave against the grain. Ingrown hairs are when your hair grows back into the skin. Instead of exiting the skin, it becomes trapped and can cause pain, redness, and itchiness.
It can also become infected. If you’ve ever had a pimple, you’ll know what it’s like for your skin to react to an ingrown hair. Preventing and treating ingrown hairs isn’t easy, but with these tips you’ll get the most out of your razor and your skin at the same time.
What Are Ingrown Hairs?
An ingrown hair is when your hair grows back into the skin instead of exiting it. It’s a common side effect of shaving, and the risk of getting an ingrown hair is highest when you shave against the grain. The ingrown hairs can cause pain, redness, and itchiness.
Tips for Preventing Ingrown Hairs
If you have a razor which you use to shave your skin, try switching out the blade before you shave. Blades are usually made of metal and will eventually dull when they’re used too many times. By replacing the blade before every shave, you can reduce the risk of ingrown hairs by getting a close hair removal without irritating your skin.
Also, be sure to apply some sort of shaving cream before shaving. If you don’t have access to shaving cream, try using soap instead. When it comes to ingrown hairs, prevention is key. You can prevent an ingrown hair from happening by taking care of your skin before and after you shave.
Some people may experience more ingrown hairs than others because their skin is more prone to them, or they have sensitive skin that’s easily irritated and irritated by shaving products or razors. If this is the case for you, try changing blades or shaving creams as often as needed-you might find that this makes a big difference in how often ingrown hairs happen for you!
3 Best Ways to Treat Ingrown Hairs
1. Exfoliate regularly: To prevent ingrown hairs, it’s important to exfoliate your skin before shaving. It’s best not to shave without first exfoliating because the razor will catch on any dead skin cells on your skin and cause an ingrown hair. Use a product like St. Ives Apricot Scrub or a scrubby wash cloth to remove dirt and dead skin cells from the surface of your skin.
2. Lather up with shaving cream: In order to avoid an ingrown hair, you should always lather up before shaving. This includes wetting your stubble and applying plenty of shaving cream before you shave, even if you’re going against the grain.
3. Shave in the direction of hair growth: Shaving against the grain is how you get ingrown hairs in the first place, so make sure that you shave in the direction of hair growth instead! Doing this will help prevent razor burn, scrapes, and cuts while also reducing ingrown hairs.
Ingrown hairs are a common issue for many people, but they’re especially prevalent in those with curly hair, who may also have coarse hair that grows in many directions. If you’re someone who has a lot of ingrown hairs, it may seem like there’s no way to prevent them. But that is not the case. By ensuring you exfoliate regularly, use a fresh razor, and shaving in the direction of the hair growth, it’ll help you to avoid pesky ingrown hairs.