Ingrown hairs, mares!
You’ve got your waxing routine all sorted out and you’re feeling smooth and all aerodynamic; the last thing you want now are unsightly ingrown hairs ruining your hair free look. Well worry not because I am going to give you some great aftercare advice and recommendations for products that will keep you feeling smooth and ingrown hair free (if you are good and follow aftercare advice that is!).
What are ingrown hairs?
They are hairs that have grown out of the skin, curled back around and re-entered underneath the skin. Some curl back into the hair follicle without even exiting the skin. They often occur when the hair follicle becomes clogged with dead, dry skin cells or oil, forcing the hair to grow sideways and not up and out of the skin. Those with curly or coarse hair are more prone to ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs create irritating raised red spots which can become infected and turn into painful pus-filled sores. Sometimes you can also see the hair underneath the skin. Aftercare is important for those who get waxed because regular waxing means the hair grows back finer and softer and if you’re not looking after your skin and there are dry, dead skin cells and oil clogging the follicle then the hair has little chance of breaking through the skin and your ingrown hairs happen.
How do I treat/prevent ingrown hairs?
The key here is prevention rather than treating. If you take care of your skin on a regular basis and make it part of your daily routine, it will be more unlikely you will suffer with ingrown hairs. Unfortunately those with curly or coarse hair or having certain sex hormones at high levels are more prone to ingrown hairs.
Product recommendations
I stock fantastic, tried and tested aftercare products at reasonable prices in my salon; I’m happy to talk you through them if you would like to know more.
Exfoliating gloves/cloth (I stock them and the gloves can be bought from most supermarkets) do a good job of sloughing off dead skin cells to leave you feeling smooth. Simply apply your usual body wash using these gloves but be GENTLE. Don’t scrub too harshly as this can actually damage skin. Also ensure you change them regularly as they harbour bacteria over time.
Body polishes are great for exfoliating the skin. I recommend Cocoa Brown’s Tough Stuff scrub (can be bought from Superdrug or online).
I recommend gentle exfoliation 3-4 times a week but I can’t stress enough, be gentle with it!
Moisturising daily will help in the prevention of ingrown hairs and keep your skin in great condition. Keeping the skin soft and hydrated enables new hair growth to push through the skin surface with ease. If you have dry skin, the hair will struggle to grow through and then you get your ingrown.
I recommend using a basic lotion & non-heavy scented such as E45, Simple, supermarkets own brand body moisturiser or something similar.
