Ingrown hair occurs when the hair strand breaks and grows underneath the skin, instead of over it. You’re most likely to notice this a few days after you shave or get waxed, when the skin gets marked by painful bumps.
If ingrown hair has become a continuous problem for you, here’s what you might be doing wrong.
You’re Shaving Too Frequently
We know; it’s extremely tempting to remove the hair growing down your legs as soon as you see it growing back. However, if you resort to shaving when the hair is still short, you’re setting the ground for ingrown hair.
If you try to shave hair that’s even shorter than 1/3rd of an inch, the hair may not come off right. It’s too short to be caught in the razor blades or even wax strips, and will stubbornly stay put. If you persist, you can end up breaking the hair in half instead of pulling it out. This will lead to avoidable pain, futile attempts at hair removal, and of course, ingrown hair.
You’re Not Shaving Properly
It doesn’t matter if you’re shaving your legs or your underarms. Using the wrong technique will result in ingrown hair. Before you begin, make sure you exfoliate your skin well to get rid of dead cells. Once you’ve done this, it’s time to start the actual shaving process.
There are a couple of things to keep in mind for this seemingly simple procedure. Firstly, make sure that the shaving cream you use is alcohol-free and has moisturizing properties. Having applied this on your skin, it’s time to carefully move the razor blade in the direction of the hair growth. Often, individuals confuse this with waxing where you need to pull hair against their natural direction. For shaving, the opposite applies. If you move the razor against the direction, the shorter strands will get bent and trapped, causing ingrown hair.
You Aren’t Following Up
If you want to keep your skin free of ingrown hair, it’s imperative that you moisturize your skin with the right products. After you’ve shaved, massage your skin to remove dead skin cells. Using a peppermint scrub can help you unclog your pores, and avoids the strands from getting trapped under the skin. Also incorporate products containing Vitamin E to soothe your skin.
It’s important for you to keep your skin hydrated. Use a body lotion that nourishes your skin and keeps it soft and smooth. Finally, don’t forget to exfoliate at least once a week to ensure that hair grows in the right direction!
While these tips will help you reduce the chances of getting ingrown hair, for an ultimate solution you should do opt for better hair removal procedures. Shaving is a good fix for emergencies, but hot wax should be used for regular hair removal. You can also get laser hair removal done and say goodbye to ingrown hair forever!
At Simply Clinics, we have an array of hair removal services performed by trained specialists. Get in touch with our team to make an appointment now! Our clinics are located in Uxbridge, Southgate, and Hammersmith.
Back
