How to Avoid Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs are ugly and often painful. Some are more prone to getting them than others, but there are things that you can do to help prevent ingrown hairs

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Exfoliating cloth
• Salicylic acid

1. ~Understand the Cause~
   
   Before you can prevent and avoid ingrown hairs, you need to understand exactly what they are and what causes them.
   
   When the end of a hair gets caught in the hair follicle rather than growing out of it, it becomes red and swollen, and can even become infected. Sometimes you can even see the hair under the surface of the skin. Often this is caused by hair that is naturally curly, by skin that is not exfoliated enough, or by hair that is shaved incorrectly.

2. ~Exfoliate often~
   
   When skin is not shed properly, hair can become trapped in the follicle and grow back into the skin. The simple way to solve this is by exfoliating during every shower (or when you wash your face, if facial ingrown hairs are your problem). Use a washcloth or special exfoliating mitts with moisturizing body wash. Be sure to gently but thoroughly scrub the skin all over your body, which will help to shed these dead skin cells and promote new growth. It will free the ends of hairs that may have been starting to become trapped, and prevent more trouble.

3. ~ Shave Correctly~
   
   Using an electric shaver can help to prevent ingrown hairs as well. While it won't provide quite as close of a shave, it will help the hair from being cut too sharply, which often causes it to become ingrown.
   
   Another option is to shave in the same direction as the hair growth, instead of opposite.

4. 
   Tend Skin

   ~Use a Product with Salicylic Acid~
   
   After you shave, using a product with salicylic acid helps to clear the follicles and prevent ingrowth. A product like Tend Skin works well. That is available at pharmacies and online.

Tips & Warnings

• Shave with plenty of shaving cream
• Rinse between strokes with very hot water
• Don't scrub razor burned skin. Ouch!
• Don't pick at ingrown hairs. This can lead to infection and even scarring

Resources

• Tend Skin

[Summersile]

on 6/27/2009 I'm the worlds worst for picking at ingrown hairs, I have an obsession. I'd love to be able to eliminate them. I'm going to try the Tend. Thanks for the tip!