Ingrown hairs on the legs are hairs that have coiled back and grown into the skin. Often referred to as razor bumps, they are usually caused by some form of hair removal, such as shaving or waxing. When the hair breaches the surface of the skin, the body initiates an inflammatory response, causing a papule or pustule to form. The way in which you stop ingrown hairs from developing on the legs relies heavily on adjustments to hair-removal techniques.
Step 1
Shower or bathe prior to shaving the legs. The heat and moisture from a shower or bath softens the hair on the legs, making them much easier to shave.
Step 2
Apply a shaving gel or cream to the legs. Before drying the skin, apply a shaving gel or cream and allow it to set in for a few minutes to further soften the hair on your legs, advises the American Academy of Dermatology.
Step 3
Make sure the razor isn't dull. The duller the blade, the more jagged the tip of the hair after shaving, making it that much easier for the hair to penetrate the skin and cause an ingrown hair. Color strips on the actual blade can indicate when it's time to swap it out for a new one.
Step 4
Switch to a single-blade razor. According to the Mayo Clinic, you can stop ingrown hairs by using a single-blade razor. Single blades don't cut the hair as closely to the legs as double- or triple-blade razors, which can minimize the development of ingrown hairs.
Step 5
Guide the razor in the direction of leg hair growth, suggests the American Academy of Dermatology. If the hair on your legs grows in a downward direction, always shave from the groin to the ankle.
Step 6
Use a single pass of the blade to remove hair. The American Osteopathic College of Dermatology states that repeated blade strokes along a single area of skin can initiate curl-back, causing ingrown hairs.
Step 7
Rinse the blade after each pass. The Mayo Clinic advises you to rinse the blade after each razor stroke. This ensures a clean shave that doesn't cause jagged tips on the shorn hairs.
Step 8
Switch to a depilatory. Depilatories contain a chemical agent that dissolves the shaft of the hair, leaving it with a dull tip, which is less likely to penetrate the skin and cause an ingrown hair, according to the American Osteopathic College of Dermatology.
Step 9
Consider permanent hair removal. Though electrolysis and laser hair removal can be costly, your legs remain hair-free permanently or at least for a prolonged period of time. This stops ingrown hairs from forming on the legs, according to the American Academy of Dermatology.
Things You'll Need
- Shaving gel
- Sharp blade
- Depilatory (optional)
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