Let’s be honest, the worst part of shaving is probably getting ingrown hairs. Not only are they a sore sight to behold, but they can sometimes be incredibly painful when they appear in sensitive areas. (IYKYK, am I right?)
As annoying as they are, though, ingrown hairs are generally harmless. If you want to know how to get rid of an ingrown hair, you've come to the right place. We've rounded up nine expert tips that will help the ingrown hair heal quickly, and five more tips for getting a proper shave (which can help reduce ingrown hairs).
But first things first: We need to know what causes these pesky bumps to determine how to best treat them.
Meet the experts
- Kunal Malik, MD, FAAD, New York-based board-certified dermatologist
- Neil Sadick, MD, New York-based board-certified dermatologist
- Jody Levine, MD, New York-based board-certified dermatologist
What is an ingrown hair?
According to board-certified dermatologist Kunal Malik, MD, FAAD, an ingrown hair is a hair that grows back into the skin instead of rising up from the follicle, this creating a bump that can become inflamed, red, and sometimes painful. “This happens when the hair follicle becomes clogged with dead skin cells, forcing the growing hair to curl back or grow sideways under the skin's surface,” Dr. Malik explains.
Thick and/or curly hair is more likely to become ingrown, which is why ingrown hairs commonly form in the pubic area. In fact, ingrown hairs can sometimes look like genital or vaginal pimples because they are often covered by a red bump, and there can be white pus visible below the surface.
Dr. Malik also notes that improper shaving techniques, such as shaving too closely, against the grain of hair growth, and wearing tight clothing that rubs against freshly shaved skin—can also contribute to the formation of ingrown hairs.
Now, on to tips for how best to deal with them!
9 tips for dealing with ingrown hairs:
First things first: Avoid wearing undies that are lace or embellished—which can irritate ingrown hairs or even push the hair farther under the skin—and opt for plain cotton underwear until the area has healed.
If your ingrown hair is on your bikini line or elsewhere on your legs, it's best to avoid tight pants or hosiery. Let your skin breathe and give the ingrown a chance to heal; constant rubbing from skin-tight pants is not going to help the situation. The looser the clothes on a fresh shave, the better.
If the hair is above the skin and reachable, sterilize a tweezer (use a cotton ball covered in rubbing alcohol), and pluck the hair. If it isn’t pluckable, though, do not force it! Jamming tweezers into your skin will only worsen the situation.
If the hair is right under the surface, you can apply a warm compress to soften the skin, then gently prick it with a sterile needle, and proceed to tweeze. When we say gentle, we mean it—the hair should be so close to the surface that the prick is as light as a feather, and shouldn't be deep enough to draw blood. If the prick exposes the hair, you can then proceed to pluck it out with your sterile needle. If the gentle prick doesn't expose the hair, hands off!
After plucking or pricking the ingrown hair, treat the area with a chemical exfoliant like salicylic acid or alpha hydroxy acid. Ingrown hair wipes are a great fix since you don’t have to touch the ingrown with your fingers, which can lead to infection. Follow up with a dab of Polysporin and then leave it alone!
.png)
If you remember one thing about how to get rid of an ingrown hair, it's this: No matter how tempting, resist the urge to squeeze an ingrown hair. Squeezing an ingrown anywhere on your body is a no-no (since it can worsen or infect them), and if you get post-inflammatory pigmentation, you may end up with a scar, says Dr. Neil Sadick. Dr. Malik recommends using a warm compress on the area for 10-15 minutes to soften the skin and reduce inflammation.
If the thought of tweezing the hair is too painful (especially if it's in a sensitive spot, like your underarm), you can also shave the area. Dr. Sadick suggests carefully shaving over the ingrown with a fresh razor, moving in the direction of your hair growth to get the pesky hair out of the way. And it bears repeating: Never use a dull razor—it will only irritate the skin more. Always use a shaving cream made for sensitive skin when dealing with skin prone that's prone to ingrown hairs.
Stay on top of your exfoliation routine, even when you have ingrown hairs present. Dead skin is one of the causes of ingrown hairs, so regularly exfoliating your skin can help heal the area. A gentle scrub or glycolic cleanser will do the trick. Exfoliate once a week for the best results.
Try to apply deodorant around—not on—the affected area as the chemicals that keep your pits dry may irritate the ingrown. If you absolutely can't forgo deodorant, you can place a pimple patch over the ingrown hair to avoid getting any chemicals on it.
If you have an ingrown hair on your scalp, we recommend gently washing your hair—and making sure to massage your scalp—with tea tree shampoo. Tea tree oil is nature’s salicylic acid and has antiseptic properties, so it will gently exfoliate the ingrown and prevent it from getting infected.
But be careful not to brush or apply product to the ingrown. If ingrown hairs on your scalp don't clear up in about a week, Dr. Sadick suggests seeing a dermatologist.
Of all the hair removal methods, shaving is the most likely to cause ingrown hairs. For that reason, switching to waxing or using depilatory creams can be a good solution for preventing future ingrown hairs. Waxing can be especially effective, since the new hair follicle will come in finer, which is less likely to turn into an ingrown hair.
How to prevent ingrown hairs and shave properly
Now that you know how to get rid of an ingrown hair, how can you keep them from forming to begin with? There are two key things you can do to help prevent an ingrown: exfoliating regularly and practicing proper shaving techniques.
"Regular, gentle exfoliation will help remove and reduce flaky skin around the opening of the hair follicle and can begin to release any ingrowing hair," says board-certified dermatologist Jody Levine, MD. Without exfoliating, you risk trapping oil, dirt, and debris between hairs, which can lead to infection. Use an all-over body exfoliator.
Adds Dr. Malik, if you’re dealing with persistent ingrown hairs or the ingrown hairs are frequently getting infected, it’s best to see a dermatologist to extract the hair and prescribe antibiotics, if needed. He notes, too, that topicals like salicylic acid or glycolic acid can help exfoliate dead skin cells to help reduce the likelihood of ingrown hairs.
As for shaving the proper way? Here are our experts’ best tips:
The steam from warm water softens hair and helps it stand up. This means that the blade has an easier time shaving off the hair. Dr. Levine recommends waiting to shave until after you've been in the shower for a few minutes, which allows for optimum softening of the hair.
Although everyone's hair grows at a different rate, the best way to get the most from your shave is to use a non-foaming cream or gel. Foams are filled with air, and air is a barrier between the razor and your skin. If you have a rich, dense cream or gel, it allows the razor to get as close to the bottom of the hair as possible. Plus, you can see any easy-to-miss spots if you're using a gel.
Also, stay away from regular body wash or hair conditioner, warns Dr. Levine. "These are not as effective as shave gel and are sometimes too slippery, causing the razor to fall out of one's hand or slip," she explains.
If you're not a shaving gel kind of girl, opt for an oil, which allows for a close shave and also aids with hydration.
When it comes to picking out a razor, the more blades, the better (with the notable exception of the pubic area). "With multiple blades, the cutting efficiency can be greatly improved; additional blades ensure that the razor captures virtually every hair on the first shaving pass, providing a higher-quality shave with reduced irritation," says Dr. Levine. She recommends the Venus Swirl razor—it features a swivel ball that enables the blades to fit into every contour—even the most hard to reach.
Dr. Malik adds that it’s essential to use a clean razor, so swapping out older blades is a must after a few uses. Even if you've found the perfect razor, it's important to change up the blades on a regular basis. "Razor burn, irritation, and ingrown hairs can all be caused by a low-quality or dull razor, along with bad shaving habits like pressing too hard or going over the same area multiple times," explains Dr. Levine.
If you like getting mail (and who doesn't?), Dollar Shave Club has the perfect solution: The site allows you to pick out your favorite razor design and then sends new blades to your doorstep each month—meaning smooth skin year-round.
When you start gliding the razor along your skin, there is a right way to do it: You should always shave in the direction of hair growth first. This might seem counterintuitive, but it prevents razor burn and allows you to pick up more of the hair. Then, you can go back and swipe the other direction.
After you're done with your shave, always moisturize with a soothing hydrator. When you're shaving, you're removing good skin cells and dead skin cells. You should hydrate with a moisturizer that will help rejuvenate the cells when you're finished. This last step in the process also helps the skin stay soft and flake-free, explains Dr. Levine, which in turn can prevent ingrown hairs.
The best products for ingrown hairs
According to Dr. Malik, you should be looking for products that contain chemical exfoliants like salicylic acid (BHA) or glycolic acid (AHA), which can help dissolve dead skin cells and unclog follicles. “Salicylic acid is particularly effective as it's oil-soluble and can penetrate into the hair follicle,” he explains. “Products with benzoyl peroxide can help if there's bacterial involvement, while retinoids (like adapalene) can prevent dead skin-cell buildup.
