An ingrown hair is a hair that has grown back into the skin after it has been removed through shaving or the use of tweezers. Ingrown hairs can be painful, as well as embarrassing when they occur on prominent areas of the skin, such as the neck or eyebrows. If ingrown hairs are a common problem for your skin, there are several ways to help prevent them from forming.
Step 1
Prepare the skin before you shave it. Properly preparing your skin with a lubricating shave gel, cream or lotion--instead of soap, plain water or dry shaving--can help prevent ingrown hairs. Using a face scrub before you shave can also help prepare the skin by lifting the hairs away from the face for a proper shave.
Step 2
Avoid using razors with too many blades. According to the Mayo Clinic, if you are prone to ingrown hairs you should stick to a razor with only one blade. The more blades a razor has, the closer shave you will get. The closer the shave, the greater the possibility that you will irritate or damage the follicle, and the more opportunity a hair has to become ingrown.
Step 3
Place a warm, moist towel on your skin for three to five minutes before shaving. The warmth and moisture of the towel will help open the hair follicle and soften the hair. The open follicle and soft hair help prevent follicle irritation while shaving, and also helps prevent the hair from retreating into the follicle after shaving.
Step 4
Follow the natural flow of your hair when you shave to prevent ingrown hairs. The hair on your skin has a tendency to grow in one direction.When shaving your skin, always shave with the grain of your hair, never against it. Shaving against the grain trains your hair to grow opposite the natural direction of the hair follicle, causing the hair to grow back into the follicle.
Step 5
Consider alternative hair removal techniques. Shaving, waxing and tweezing can result in ingrown hairs. If you have chronic ingrown hair issues, consider alternative temporary hair removal options, such as depilatories, or permanent hair reduction or removal techniques, such as laser hair removal or electrolysis.
Things You'll Need
- Lubricating shave gel, lotion or cream
- Face scrub
- Single blade razor
- Towel
Member Comments