Tweezing hairs can result in ugly and painful tiny red bumps called papules. Papules are actually tiny ingrown hairs that cause an infection underneath the surface of the skin. They are similar to acne, but can be avoided with a few simple precautions.
Step 1
Choose quality tweezers with tips that press firmly together. Avoid pointed tips that can dig into the skin and cause scarring.
Step 2
Prepare the area where you are going to remove the hair by exfoliating gently with a warm wash cloth. The heat will open your pores and make tweezing easier. Tweezing is best suited for small areas such as eyebrows or bikini lines.
Step 3
Pull one hair at a time, in the direction of the hair growth. Pull smoothly and try to remove the entire hair including the follicle. If the hair breaks or the follicle isn't removed, you run the risk of the hair growing back at an angle which can become an ingrown hair or papule.
Step 4
Allow the hair to grow longer, well above the skin's surface, before plucking. Keep your skin as clean as possible and don't use a moisturizer that will clog your pores.
Step 5
Ice your skin after tweezing to control redness and close your pores. You shouldn't need to tweeze again for six to eight weeks.
Step 6
Apply a hot compress three times a day if you do have an ingrown hair and do not try to dig out the hair yourself, as this could easily lead to a bigger infection. Just like acne, picking at an ingrown hair could leave a scar.
Tips and Warnings
- Clean your tweezers with hydrogen peroxide in between uses.
- If you get ingrown hairs on a part of your body normally covered by clothing, make sure to wear loose fitting garments, as tight clothing will rub and further irritate the area. Tweezing can be painful.
Things You'll Need
- Good quality tweezers
- Warm washcloth
- Ice
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