A Complete Guide to Ingrown Hair Self-Care

Ingrown hairs happen when a piece of hair grows back into the skin rather than growing normally. After hair removal, ingrown hairs can occur when hair curves and grows back into the skin instead of growing straight. This then causes a small bump below the skin’s surface, which can eventually become irritated or inflamed. An ingrown hair can look like a tiny, flesh-colored bump, or sometimes a black spot just under your skin. If it becomes irritated, the bump can become bigger and turn pink or red, resembling a pimple. At this point, it can also feel itchy or painful to the touch. 

Some hair types, including coarse or curly hair, can be more prone to ingrown hairs. This is because the hair naturally curls as soon as it comes out of the follicle, making it more likely to grow back into the skin. Other causes of ingrown hairs for all hair types include shaving, tweezing, or improper waxing.

One of the most common causes of ingrown hairs is improper or DIY hair removal. When hair is shaved, or improperly removed in a way that causes breakage, it creates sharp tips that are more likely to grow back into your skin and become ingrown. This is one of the reasons it’s so important to always see a trained professional for waxing!

 The following habits and behaviors increase the likelihood of developing ingrown hairs:

- Pulling your skin when you shave

- Shaving without shaving cream

- Shaving too closely

- Shaving against the grain of the hair

- Shaving too often

- Exposing a newly shaved or waxed area to tight clothes

- Hair breaking during removal due to dryness or improper technique

- Plucking hair against the grain 

- Not keeping shaved or waxed areas clean, as clogged pores can also cause ingrown hairs

Most of these methods result from DIY or at-home hair removal procedures. You’re much less likely to experience ingrown hairs when having hair removed by a trained professional who uses techniques that reduce the potential for ingrown hairs. 

Ingrown hairs can appear anywhere you remove hair, but they’re most likely to pop up on your face (especially the chin), armpits, and bikini area. If you shave your legs or wax your eyebrows improperly, you may also see ingrown hairs in those areas.

Ingrown hair infections are caused by exposure to bacteria, typically when you touch or scratch the area. If the ingrown hair comes into contact with a contaminated surface, such as gym equipment or a shared towel, bacteria can infect it.

If you have an ingrown hair that hurts to the touch, feels warm, or looks red, contact a dermatologist or other medical professional.

Now you know what ingrown hairs are and how they form. But how can you deal with them without causing more?

We’ve got the best options to help clear up ingrown hairs ASAP while helping to prevent them from coming back in the future (hint: don’t pop them).