Preventing and Treating Ingrown Hairs: The Complete Guide

Even people with top-notch shaving skills can experience ingrown hairs at one point in time. It can be uncomfortable and frustrating because you’d have to struggle with painful, itchy bumps after shaving or waxing.

This guide covers everything you need to know, from what causes ingrown hairs and how to avoid them on different body parts to treatment tips and when to see a dermatologist.

Key Takeaways From This Article

1. Ingrown hairs occur when a hair grows back into the skin rather than emerging from it normally.

2. They are often referred to as razor bumps, shave bumps, ingrown hair bumps, or barber bumps.

3. They tend to be more frequent in individuals with curly or coarse hair, especially those with darker skin tones.

4. Outside of using a scrub, a proper sharp razor, and a quality shaving cream, using a specifically formulated post-shave product can really help to outgrow your ingrowns.

5. Consult a dermatologist when the situation aggravates into painful lumps under the skin or severe, deep pain.

There are many ways to treat and prevent ingrown hairs, including using a specific treatment product or making some adjustments to your shaving routine. If you’re new to the experience, let’s begin from the foundation where it all starts. 

Understanding Ingrown Hairs: What Actually Goes On In The Skin?

An ingrown hair happens when a hair curls back or grows sideways into the skin instead of rising up and out. This can cause redness, bumps, pain, or even pus.

There are two types:

• Extrafollicular penetration: The hair exits the follicle normally but curls and reenters the nearby skin.

• Transfollicular penetration: The hair never leaves the follicle and grows sideways beneath the skin surface.

This usually occurs after shaving, waxing, or friction. Dead skin can also clog follicles, trapping the hair inside.

The body reacts as if it's a threat, causing inflammation and irritation in the area.

Why Certain People Are More Susceptible

Some people get ingrown hairs more easily because of genetics.

• Those with curly or coarse hair are more at risk (curly hairs tend to bend back into the skin after shaving). 

• People with thick or dry skin may also get ingrown hairs because dead skin can block hair follicles. 

• Meanwhile, oily skin can clog pores, trapping hairs underneath.

It’s not only about the type of hair. You may have wondered why people in their peak puberty experience more ingrown hairs. 

Higher hormone levels (like testosterone) can cause faster, thicker hair growth, increasing the chance of hair growing in the wrong direction. This happens especially in men during puberty.

Where the hair grows matters too; ingrown hairs are more common in areas with frequent shaving or friction. Coarse facial hair in men and tight clothing over body hair can raise the risk. 

High-Risk Areas For Ingrown Hairs

• The neck and facial area for men who shave

• Legs and thighs

• Back and chest for men who regularly remove body hair

• Bikini area and underarms

How To Prevent Ingrown Hairs: Best Ways to Keep Ingrowns Away

When it comes to prevention, there are three standpoints to consider: what you do before and during shaving, what you do after shaving, and your hair removal method. 

This prevention guide is particularly for men. 

1. Prepare Your Skin The Right Way

Always start by softening your skin and hair with warm water. Shower first or use a warm towel for 2–3 minutes. This opens pores and softens hair, making shaving smoother.

Next, exfoliate using a gentle scrub or exfoliating glove. This removes dead skin cells that trap hairs under the surface. The goal is to prevent any chances of the razor tugging. So, apply a good shaving lubricant. 

2. Single-blade razors are best for avoiding ingrown hairs

Single blades cut cleanly without pulling the hair under the skin. Also, keep your blades sharp and clean. A dull blade tugs hair instead of cutting it. That’s awful because it irritates skin and can lead to bumps. 

Change razors after 5–7 uses, or earlier if you notice any pulling.

3. Shaving with the grain

Always start by shaving with the grain (the direction your hair grows). This reduces irritation.

Let the razor do the work. Literally, on areas like the face or neck, going against the grain may give a closer shave but increases the risk of ingrown hairs.

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• If you must go against the grain, do it gently and only after a first pass with the grain.

4. Prioritize Post-shave care routines

In addition to using a scrub, a sharp razor, and a quality shaving cream, using a specifically formulated post-shave product can really help you outgrow your ingrown hairs.

For example, the Menscience Post-Shave Repair is a fine-mist spray that immediately calms redness and razor burn with anti-inflammatory ingredients. 

You should use a post-shave product that helps stressed skin recover and heal after shaving. Alternatively, you can use soothing gel. The botanical extracts in Shaveworks The Cool Fix help relieve razor burn or waxing woes.

5. Consider alternative hair removal methods

If you absolutely want to shut all doors that expose you to the risk of ingrown hairs, you’d have to rethink the shaving method, especially for other parts of your body prone to ingrown hairs. 

Hair removal creams

There’s the option of using depilatory creams, also known as hair removal creams. These creams work by dissolving hair at or just below the skin’s surface. They’re painless and fast, making them a convenient option for people with a low tolerance for shaving cuts. 

Because they don’t cut hair with a blade, they reduce the risk of sharp regrowth that curls back into the skin. However, their downside includes a strong chemical smell, potential irritation, and short-lasting results

Waxing

Waxing removes hair directly from the root, providing longer-lasting results (about 3–6 weeks) and causing hair to grow back finer over time.

While it offers a smooth finish, it can also lead to ingrown hairs if proper skin prep is skipped, especially when dead skin cells block the hair follicle.

Sugaring

Sugaring is a natural alternative to waxing that uses a sugar, lemon, and water paste to remove hair. 

It’s gentler on the skin and removes hair in the natural growth direction, which greatly reduces the chance of ingrown hairs.

Though less painful and more skin-friendly, it may require practice or professional help to do it correctly.

Laser hair removal

Laser hair removal offers the most long-term solution and is particularly effective at preventing ingrown hairs altogether.

This method targets the hair follicle. So it drastically reduces or permanently removes hair growth. Though expensive, it’s still worth the investment if that’s what you need. 

Post-treatment care involves using aloe vera to calm the skin and applying SPF 30+ sunscreen to protect treated areas.

Laser hair removal offers several benefits, including long-lasting hair reduction, smoother skin, reduced risk of ingrown hairs, and time savings compared to other hair removal methods. It is also considered a safe and effective procedure, according to Skin MD. 

How To Treat Ingrown Hairs (Here’s What Actually Works)

Treating ingrown hairs is not a one-size-fits-all situation. It depends on how serious the condition is and how you’re able to handle hair treatments on your own. 

That’s why it’s important to further categorize the options into at-home solutions, topical natural remedies, and some of the best ingrown hair treatment products available. 

Step-by-Step Safe Removal

NOTE: We do not recommend digging into the skin to remove ingrown hair. These steps are only recommended if the hair is clearly visible. 

• Wash your hands and the area with warm water and mild soap.

• Apply a warm compress (a clean towel soaked in hot water) for 5–10 minutes to soften the skin.

• Gently exfoliate with a soft brush or scrub to help the hair surface.

• Use sterilized tweezers (cleaned with alcohol) to lift the hair if it’s clearly visible. 

If it’s not accessible, stop. Let it resolve naturally.

Natural Remedies for Ingrown Hair

There are natural ways to go about ingrown hairs. This is especially useful when you’re in the middle of a rigid skin routine that doesn’t allow for any additional solutions. The following natural items have been proven to work: 

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• Always apply to clean, dry skin. Avoid using all three at once so you can get the best result. 

Use Anthony Ingrown Hair Treatment (Most Recommended)

Anthony Ingrown Hair Treatment is a gel complex of glycolic, salicylic, and phytic acids. It works by gently removing dead skin. It helps fight bacteria and frees the hair. The 90ml bottle also contains willowherb and lavender that soothe and calm the skin.

Together, these ingredients help prevent ingrown hairs. Many men swear by this product, and it’s truly living up to its hype. 

When to Leave It Alone

Trying to force it out can cause scarring, dark spots, or infection. Instead, be patient. 

Generally, you don’t have to do anything to your ingrown hair if: 

• The area is very red, swollen, painful, or filled with pus

• The hair isn’t clearly visible on the surface

• The skin is broken or bleeding

In such situations, patience is part of the treatment process. You can apply aloe vera or witch hazel to reduce its appearance while healing.

When to Seek Professional Help

Ingrown hairs may be a symptom of a more serious skin condition. So there are some signs that it is a telltale. 

When you notice the following, no matter the skin area, it’s best to see a dermatologist: 

1. The same spot keeps getting ingrown hairs

2. Increasing redness, warmth, swelling, or pus

3. You develop cysts (painful lumps under the skin) or firm nodules that won’t go away.

4. Hair thinning or bald patches in areas with frequent ingrown hairs

5. Severe or deep pain

Wrapping Up

Now that there’s more clarity on how ingrown hair works and its treatment, let’s mention it clear cut: you shouldn’t pop ingrown hairs. 

It does more harm than good because the exposure to infection becomes higher. Also, if the appearance isn’t obvious, it’s best to leave it to heal itself. Trying to remove them can sometimes interfere with the healing process and cause them to last longer. 

The same thing goes for a few other skin issues. That’s why at MASC, we dedicate our newsletter to sharing grooming tips and product recommendations on skin issues that you may not even know you have.