Ingrown hairs are usually the result of a hair shaft being forced back into the skin, puncturing it and resulting in an ugly, painful red bump. Usually the result of a hair removal attempt, ingrown hairs on the face can be especially embarrassing, and you likely want to remove it as soon as possible. The trick to removing ingrown hairs on the face is to be as gentle as possible, so you don't cause scarring or infection on the delicate skin tissue of the face.
Step 1
Prepare your work surface before you begin. The process of removing an ingrown hair on your face goes fairly quickly, so you'll need to be sure that you have all of your tools and materials handy. Lay a towel out, and place your tweezers, a washcloth and a bowl filled with ice on top for easy access throughout the process.
Step 2
Wet the washcloth under the hottest water that your face can stand. Saturate the cloth and then squeeze out the excess moisture. Apply the wash cloth to your face, over the ingrown hair site. This will help to soften the hair and open the pore so extraction is much less painful and easier to do.
Step 3
Remove the washcloth and use the tweezers to locate the end of the hair that is poking into the skin. Using a magnifying mirror, you should be able to detect where the skin is inflamed. Place the smallest part of the tweezers through the loop of hair, suggests the Mayo Clinic, and lift until the offending end of hair has been removed from the skin. Don't pluck the hair out entirely; you could cause infection.
Step 4
Apply an antibacterial ointment to the area immediately. Ingrown hairs on the face are especially prone to infection, and an antibacterial can help protect you. Don't touch the area more than you have to, so you can keep it clean.
Step 5
Wrap the ice cubes in another wash cloth and press to the area on your face where you've removed the ingrown hair. This will help to reduce inflammation and redness. To be on the safe side, choose another method of hair removal for your face next time, says KidsHealth. Shaving and waxing are both more likely to cause facial ingrown hairs. Try laser removal, tweezing or depilatories next time.
Things You'll Need
- Tweezers
- Washcloth
- Towel
- Mirror
- Ice cubes
- Bowl
- Antibacterial ointment
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