How to Prevent Ingrown Facial Hairs

Ingrown hairs are a nuisance which can cause blemishes and razor bumps on your skin. Though not dangerous, they prevent you from looking your best and can keep coming back. Ingrown hairs are a nuisance for people with curly hair because the hair has a natural tendency to curve back on itself before breaking the surface of the skin. You can prevent ingrown hairs, or at least reduce their prominence, with just a few modest changes in grooming habits.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Electric razor
• Skin lotion
• Loofah sponge
• Tweezers

How to Prevent Ingrown Facial Hairs

1. Exfoliate the area before you shave. Wash it with a loofah or soft-bristle scrub brush and warm water, or use a skin lotion with exfoliating properties. It removes dead skin cells which helps the hairs to grow out straight and also softens your skin to allow the hairs to emerge more easily.

2. Use an electric razor when you shave. Though they don't shave as closely as straight razors, that actually works to your benefit when you are trying to prevent ingrown hairs. The hairs are less likely to be cut below the skin. The downside is that you might have to put up with more of a 5 o'clock shadow.

3. Shave in the direction of the hair growth. Go down the cheeks and chin on your face, and upward on your neck. If you do this every time, then the hairs will be trained to emerge directly out of the skin, rather than curling back into the skin.

4. Apply a hot, wet towel to your skin after you shave, and perhaps another treatment of lotion. It softens your skin and prevents the irritation of ingrown hairs.

5. Consider surgical procedures to get rid of your ingrown hair. If they are a serious problem--causing infection or scarring--then you can speak to a dermatologist about options. Laser hair removal gets rid of the hair at the root, as does electrolysis.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider shaving every other day rather than every day. It helps ingrown hairs grow out and can prevent inflammation as well. Men may wish to think about growing a beard. Not everyone can grow an elegant-looking beard, and workplace dress codes may prevent you from wearing one on the job, but if it works for you, it's a simple and direct way to solve the problem.
• Stay away from high collars or fabrics that rub against the area prone to ingrown hairs. They can aggravate the skin and increase the inflammation if an ingrown hair appears.