Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs are a risk for most types of hair removal.
Ingrown hairs are formed when the hair is removed, and the new hair begins to grow under the skin. Sometimes they become infected, irritated and painful, other times the hair is simply visible under the skin with no irritation present.

Ingrown hairs can be caused by shaving, waxing, sugaring, using an epilator, and plucking. Generally, the curlier your hair is, the more likely you'll be to get ingrown hairs.

INGROWN HAIRS - HOW TO PREVENT
As with anything, the best way to treat ingrown hairs is to prevent them in the first place. If ingrown hairs are a problem for you, try these tips!

• Don't shave too closely. Shave with the direction of the hair rather than against it, and only use one or two strokes. If the hairs aren't cut too short they will be less likely to grow under the skin.
  
• Soften up the hair. Take a warm bath or shower beforehand, and apply shaving cream a few minutes beforehand.
  
• Don't shave too often. If you let your stubble grow out a bit longer between shaves, you'll have less irritation when you do.
  
• Stick to single-blade razors rather than multiple. The extra blades cut hair extra short, which can mean extra irritation for you. A single blade razor will give a slower, but gentler shave.
  
• Exfoliate. Use a loofah or bath puff on your skin while in the shower or tub. This will help slough off old skin, preventing hairs from being trapped beneath.(Do not exfoliate existing ingrown hairs, this will possibly irritate them further.)

INGROWN HAIRS - HOW TO TREAT
Once you have the little suckers, what do you do? Well, if you can see the hair beneath the skin, you can remove it. First, cover it with a warm damp washcloth for a minute or two to soften the skin. Then use a pair of clean sterilyzed tweezers to pluck it out. Needle tip tweezers work best.
However, if the hair is not visible beneath the skin you should not attempt to go in after it, as it may not be an ingrown hair at all. First put a warm compress on it for a few minutes to see if the hair surfaces.