How To Get Rid Of Ingrown Hairs And Stop Them From Coming Back

If you’ve ever waxed, shaved, or had any type of hair removal in your life, then you’re likely to have experienced ingrown hairs. And if so, you’ve also probably wondered how to get rid of ingrown hairs. Because let’s be honest, they’re not great.

Ingrown hairs can cause irritation, red, bumpy skin and even scarring if you pick at them. So while it can be tempting to attack them with your own two hands, it’s better to remove ingrown hairs with some knowledge on your side. And that’s where we come in.

Ready to kick those ingrown hairs to the curb? Let’s do it.

What is an ingrown hair?

Like most beauty problems, knowing what you’re dealing with is a good place to start. Ingrown hairs are exactly as they sound. It’s when a hair (or multiple hairs) grows back into your skin instead of rising up from it. This commonly happens after hair has been removed or cut, which is why ingrowns are closely associated with shaving and waxing. Once the hair tries to grow back, the hair follicle can sometimes be blocked from dead skin cells, forcing the hair to change direction and grow sideways under the skin instead of upwards.

How can I tell if I have one?

Ingrown hairs commonly appear as raised, red bumps. They can be quite similar in appearance to blind pimples. The bumps can be itchy, tender, and uncomfortable. You may be able to see the hair underneath the skin, and the bump can sometimes be filled with pus. For women, ingrown hairs are most commonly found on the underarms, legs, and pubic area (oh yeah, ingrown pubic hair is definitely a thing). For men, ingrown hairs can appear on the chin, cheeks or neck, usually wherever hair removal has taken place.   

How to get rid of ingrown hairs

Similar to a pimple, you shouldn’t scratch or pick at an ingrown hair bump. This can lead to infection and scarring. Instead, you should use an ingrown hair treatment to reduce the swelling and draw out the hair. Our top picks for ingrown hair treatments are:

• LYCON SKIN Ingrown-X-it Wipes, $29.95 at lyconretail.com
• Bump eRaiser Triple Action Lotion, $17.99 at Chemist Warehouse
• Nad’s Ingrow Solution, $11.99 at Chemist Warehouse
• Waxaway After Care Lotion with Mango & Witch Hazel, $7.99 at Chemist Warehouse

Can I tweeze an ingrown hair?

If you want to remove an ingrown hair from under the skin with tweezers, you should always draw it out first by exfoliating or using one of our product recommendations.

Once the hair is close to the surface or poking through, you can then use a clean and sterile pair of tweezers to pinch and pull the hair/s out. Be careful not to tear or irritate the surrounding skin further as you do so.

If it doesn’t come free easily, leave it for a few days and continue to monitor it until it’s possible to remove it without causing skin damage (ingrown hair scars are a real possibility). In some instances, you may need to seek a professional to help remove ingrown hairs.

How can I prevent getting them in the future?

Exfoliating your skin regularly can help to prevent ingrown hairs, as it will lessen the chance of dead skin cells blocking hair follicles. The treatments above can also be used as prevention methods, simply by applying them straight after hair removal.

For the best bump-free results, exfoliate the skin before hair removal. And if you’re shaving, make sure to use a prep and guard product like TriShave 3in1 Shave Crème For Women ($7.39 at Priceline) to soften the skin.

Do you suffer from ingrown hairs? How do you prefer to treat them?