Explainer / Ingrown hairs 101: everything you need to know, from prevention to treatment: choose the right razor, embrace exfoliation and prioritise post-shave care – plus what not to do
- Ingrown hairs are an annoying problem that can disrupt many a beauty routine – and anyone who has used a razor or waxed has likely faced a few in their lives
- But where do they come from, how do we prevent them, and how do we treat them when they do appear to avoid inflammation or scarring? Here’s everything you need to know
But have you ever wondered why ingrown hairs rear their heads, what to do when they do, and most importantly, how to prevent their formation altogether?
Here’s everything you need to know.
How do ingrown hairs happen?
According to multiple sources, your body features about five million hair follicles spread all over your skin, and each of them nurtures a strand of hair that ventures through your skin’s surface.
But here’s the twist: an ingrown hair makes its sneaky entrance when a hair that’s supposed to grow away from your skin curls and grows back into the skin instead, like a loop-the-loop.
Sounds innocent, but this simple incident triggers inflammation, leading to the infamous bumps, pain, itching and even potential bacterial infection, hyperpigmentation and scarring that can develop once the strand loops back.
So what can we do about them – and how do we prevent them from happening to begin with?
Tips to prevent ingrown hairs:
While there are some strategies to get rid of ingrown hairs once they show up, the best way to keep them at bay is to take measures to prevent them altogether.