How can I get rid of ingrown hairs?

Itchy and uncomfortable, ingrown hairs can be annoying, especially if you keep getting them and you don’t know why…

So, what’s the deal?

There are two main reasons why you keep developing ingrown hairs:

(1) dead skin cells are clogging up your hair follicles preventing them from growing properly and

(2) your hairs are coarse, curly or blunt – because of shaving – and are therefore more likely to curl back in on themselves and grow sideways and downwards instead of up and out like they’re supposed to do.

Here’s how to get rid of them:

• Ditch the razor and invest in waxing — shaved hairs are coarser and have a sharper edge, which makes them more susceptible to doubling back into the skin. Switch to waxing and your hairs will grow back finer and be tapered at the tip, making it less likely they’ll curl back..
• Exfoliate as often as you can to release trapped hairs and encourage them to grow up and out. A gentle scrub used in the shower will unclog dead skin cells in the hair follicle and cause enough movement to dislodge ingrown hairs so they can grow towards the surface. Scrubs made of sugar or exfoliators with fine pumice are better for delicate areas, like the bikini line, because they are gentler and won’t aggravate existing irritation.
• Use a body brush once a week in the shower to improve circulation, rejuvenate your skin and release ingrown hairs. The circular motion coupled with gentle pressure will help to shift them so they come out on their own.