Most of us have dealt with ingrown hairs at some point in time and we know how frustrating they can be. Ingrown hairs can show up anywhere on the skin but they typically form around areas of the body where hair is frequently removed. If you’ve recently shaved and didn’t take extra care to prevent problems, you may notice after a couple days that a pesky ingrown hair shows up. Luckily, it’s not that complicated to prevent or get rid of ingrown hairs. We’re here to share the best tips for taking care of ingrown hairs once and for all.
First, Exfoliate
Exfoliation is an important part of any skincare routine, but it’s especially important when it comes to prevention of ingrown hairs. Not only does regular, consistent exfoliation help reveal smoother skin but it also works to prevent ingrown hairs. Over time, dead skin cells will build up and can potentially clog hair follicles on your skin’s surface. When these follicles get clogged, this is when ingrown hairs might start showing up. Using an exfoliator like the MUTHA™ Nudist Body Scrub is a great preventative measure to keep your hair follicles clean and free of any extra dirt buildup.
Don’t Skimp on a Razor Blade
It might be easy to reach for the cheap razors at the store, but even though you might save a little money the few dollars aren’t worth what might happen to your skin. On the other hand, let’s say you opt for the better quality, more expensive razor – it’s still disposable at the end of the day, meaning it shouldn’t be used forever. If you’re hanging onto your month-old razor and using it frequently to get every penny out of it, you’re probably doing more harm than good to your skin. Bottom line is to use a quality razor with more than one blade and don’t use dull or damaged razors as they can easily irritate your skin’s barrier and cause ingrowns, or worse.
Use a Shaving Oil
Shaving oils and creams are very beneficial to use when shaving. Using a cream or oil helps protect your skin and also helps the blade glide along easily. If you have sensitive skin, you should choose an alcohol-free formula so it doesn’t irritate and dry out your skin.
Shave in the Right Direction
Did you know that there’s a correct direction for how you shave? You should always shave in the same direction that your hair grows – not against it. If you shave in the wrong direction of hair growth, you can run the risk of getting ingrown hairs. This causes the hair to be cut at an angle which can cause new hair growth to be trapped under your skin.
Use an After-Shave Treatment
Once you’re done shaving – you’re not quite finished! Use an after-shave treatment that contains glycolic acid which can help remove any extra dead skin cells left behind. This step is extra prevention to ensure those hair follicles are clean and don’t have any extra buildup which can create those ingrown hairs. Bonus tip – body butter is also a great product to use after shaving to lock in extra moisture to your skin.
Hope loves taking part in self-care activities and using MUTHA™ products to achieve glowing skin. Stay up to date by following her on Twitter.