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If you rely on waxing, shaving, threading or tweezing to remove unwanted hair on your body, you may have encountered the ugly side effect that is ingrown hairs. These painful bumps can pop up on your otherwise smooth skin and put a major crimp in your hair removal routine. The good news is you don’t have to grin and bear it when it comes to ingrown hairs because various products can help treat them and reduce the chances of them returning the next time you wax or shave. We’ll walk through everything you need to know, including:
Ingrown hairs show up on your skin as tiny, discolored bumps that—depending on the tone of your skin—can look red, purple or brown in color. When you shave or wax, you’re removing each strand of hair from its respective hair follicle. When that strand of hair regrows from the follicle, it can curl and grow back into the skin rather than sprouting straight out of it. Also called razor bumps, ingrown hairs can happen anywhere on the body that you tweeze, shave or wax the hair—the face, armpits, legs or bikini line are common spots for ingrown hairs.
“Ingrown hairs can feel itchy or painful, and they can even become infected and develop into pustules,” says LovelySkin CEO Dr. Joel Schlessinger, who is a board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon. The recurring pattern of ingrown hairs in the chin, beard, and neck area is called pseudofolliculitis barbae.
“It’s not a good idea to pick at ingrown hairs because that can cause infection or scarring,” says LovelySkin Medical Director Dr. Daniel Schlessinger, who is board-certified dermatologist, Mohs surgeon and cosmetic surgeon. Instead, you can try a warm compress to help soften the skin around ingrown hairs so they can come to the surface, or use a topical treatment with exfoliants (see below for some of our favorites) to help the hairs eventually release on their own as they grow.
“If you have a particularly stubborn ingrown hair, you may need to make an appointment with your dermatologist. They may prescribe antibiotics if it is actually infected or surgically release the contents if it has become a larger cyst unde the skin,” Dr. Daniel Schlessinger says.
The best ingrown hair products can help treat existing ingrown hairs and, if used regularly leading up to and after hair removal, can even help stop them before they start. Read on for our recommendations for the best exfoliator for ingrown hair on legs, the best body wash for ingrown hairs, the best shampoo for ingrown hairs and more.
This convenient roll-on is one of the best ingrown hair products because it does double-duty for both treatment and prevention. “This product helps treat existing ingrown hairs, and you can also use it preemptively after shaving to help prevent ingrown hairs from popping up again in the future,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger says.
Salicylic acid (a beta hydroxy acid) and glycolic acid (an alpha hydroxy acid) work together to exfoliate away dead skin cells on the surface of your skin, so ingrown hairs can release on their own. Willow bark extract and camphor oil help prevent infected hair follicles. It also helps relieve irritation from razor burn as well.
If you struggle with razor bumps on your face and neck, consider incorporating this ingrown hair serum into your post-shaving routine. The fast-absorbing clear gel formula absorbs quickly into skin to help reduce redness from ingrown hairs with soothing allantoin and prevent future ingrowns from forming with mandelic acid, an exfoliating alpha hydroxy acid. It also contains licorice extract to help diminish dark spots and scarring from healed ingrown hairs you may have had in the past.
If you shave your face often, making these aftershave pads part of your regular skin care routine can help keep ingrown hairs in check and also prevent acne as well. Each pre-soaked pad contains lactic acid to help aid exfoliation while allantoin reduces inflammation and witch hazel helps balance oil production to help keep acne breakouts at bay. Aloe leaf juice also adds a dose of hydration to keep your face feeling soft and smooth.
“If you have ingrown hairs causing redness, itching or pain, a hydrocortisone balm can help ease inflammation,” Dr. Daniel Schlessinger says. Dr. Daniel Schlessinger created this healing balm with his father Dr. Joel Schlessinger to soothe a variety of skin ailments, from insect bites and eczema to rashes from allergic reactions. The balm formulation is easy to apply, and it stays put wherever you apply it, making it one of the best ingrown hair products to soothe irritated skin.
One of the best exfoliators for ingrown hair on legs or elsewhere on the body, this scrub will make a great addition to your shower or bath routine. It has a double-action formula that combines physical and chemical exfoliation. Its grainy texture manually smooths skin while glycolic acid helps dissolve dead skin to clear pores and keep ingrown hairs from forming. Because glycolic acid also helps treat and prevent acne, this is also a great scrub for those who struggle with acne on the back, chest or elsewhere on the body.
From the makers of PFB Vanish, this body scrub gets its name from its loofah-like ability to gently lift ingrown hairs. It’s one of the best exfoliators for ingrown hair on legs thanks to its combination of glycolic acid and papaya fruit extract smoother, softer skin.
Skin care brand CLn specializes in cleansing products for scalp and skin issues such as razor bumps, ingrown hair, body acne and shaving irritation. CLn Sport Wash is a gel body wash for ingrown hairs and razor burn as well as body acne. It was formulated specifically for athletes to use after sweaty workout sessions to help eliminate bacteria that can lead to acne and folliculitis.
If inflamed ingrown hairs on your face or scalp are an issue for you, you’ll want to try the CLn 2-in-1 Gentle Wash & Shampoo. This mild shampoo for ingrown hairs also helps eliminate bacteria with a mild, hydrating cleanser base that you can use on your hair, scalp and skin without risk of dryness.
Many of the products above help prevent ingrown hairs as well as treat them. However, there are also other things you tweak in your daily routine to help prevent ingrown hairs if your chosen method of hair removal is shaving.
“Shaving in the direction your hair naturally grows can help minimize the chance of ingrown hairs, but the most important thing is to not shave too close, as that actually cuts the hairs below the surface of the skin and leads to more challenges allowing the hairs to get out of the skin when they regrow,” Dr. Joel Schlessinger says. “So the triple and quadruple blades you see on TV are not really the best for ingrown hairs and can lead to more woes. You are better off shaving with an electric razor and leaving a small amount of hair on the skin so that they don’t curl back into ingrown hairs. Shaving with warm water and shaving gel with a fresh razor can also help, as shaving dry or with a dull razor can increase the chance of ingrown hairs and other irritations such as razor burn.”
Now that you’re set with the best products for ingrown hairs, you can round out your shaving routine with the best men’s shaving products for sensitive skin and the best products to treat razor burn.
Aaron serves as Editor at LovelySkin. Since graduating from the University of Nebraska at Omaha in 2016 with degrees in Creative Writing and English, he has immersed himself in the beauty industry. When he’s not writing about the latest beauty trends, he spends time cuddling his dogs, scouring antique stores, playing tennis and hiking.
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