How To Stop Ingrown Hairs And Razor Bumps

recommended by experts Updated Oct. 22, 2021

How to Prevent Razor and Waxing Bumps, According to Aestheticians

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Every bit if keeping upwardly with pilus removal weren't hassle plenty, waxing and shaving ofttimes lead to painful ingrowns and razor bumps. These spots aren't to be confused with razor burn down, which Lara Kaiser, an aesthetician at Brooklyn's Shen Beauty, says is a unlike affair. "Razor burn is caused by friction against the skin when the skin is not prepped well plenty or the person shaved too aggressively," she says. Razor bumps are basically ingrown hairs, which can pop up anywhere yous remove pilus, and often occur on more fragile areas where the hair is fibroid, like the bikini line.

And they can happen to anyone, no thing how you remove the pilus: "Razor bumps are very common," assures Ania Siemieniaka, the manager and owner of Freckle, a spa in Greenpoint. Uncle Nat from Uncle Nat'south Sugaring, an all-gender and trunk-positive spa in Flatbush, adds that people of all pilus types can experience these issues. "I have a various clientele, and we have just the entire scope and range of skin and hair moments," they explain. "I would say that just every bit many of our clients with straight hair go ingrowns every bit those with curled pilus." While many ingrowns are a consequence of hair breakage and full general waxing and shaving mishaps, some people will simply be dealing with them no matter what. "Peradventure you're genetically predisposed to it, or yous're generating too much sebum."

If you lot're dealing with ingrowns at home, it can exist tempting to visit a waxing or sugaring service immediately for a fix. Merely this tin actually do more impairment than adept. "If you're switching to pilus-removal services after shaving due to razor bumps, success in this surface area actually is a game of patience," explains Tina Lowitt, aesthetician and possessor of The Wild Kind Beauty. If you wax or carbohydrate an area that has recently been shaved, you're going to further entrench yourself in a wheel of breakage, irritation, and bumps. "Brand sure you're waiting enough time between sessions — waiting three to four weeks later on a shave for the waxing or sugaring, and and then closer to six weeks betwixt hair removal sessions."

While you await between sessions, practice at-home care by developing an exfoliating and moisturizing routine. Luckily, there are lots of products out there that y'all can employ before and subsequently waxing and shaving to help preclude or eliminate irritation — including some products that you might take assumed were but for the face just are more versatile than we thought. We talked to 12 aestheticians, waxing experts, and dermatologists to hear which creams, gels, and serums to reach for in the days after waxing or shaving, and other steps yous can take to stave off razor bumps in the get-go place.

Five of the waxing specialists named this culty product as key to combating razor bumps. The oil, which is specifically formulated to exist safe for the pubic area, blends several soothing antiseptic and antimicrobial ingredients, similar grape-seed, jojoba, and tea tree oil, which volition help keep the area clean and smooth. "A great way to prevent razor burn is past keeping the peel around the bikini line actually salubrious, like with Fur Oil," says Kaiser. "This is an oil you apply for a few days before or after hair removal that is antiseptic and helps soften hair and pilus regrowth. As far as I know, it's virtually the only product on the market specifically for pubic hair." Uncle Nat recommends fugitive messiness by applying oil in the shower. "Just one pump," they say. "If you're slipping, it'south as well much." The estrus of the water will loosen upward the oil, making it easier to use, thus avoiding product wastage. Samantha Garlow, waxing specialist at Daphne, agrees. She says that while Fur Oil does carry a specific spot handling for ingrowns, the original Fur Oil "can be used daily on clean, exfoliated skin, and is prophylactic for your almost sensitive areas." Audra Senkus, co-possessor of Oasis Spa, recommended the oil besides, telling u.s.a., "We dear Fur Oil." She too pointed to the brand's stubble cream as a useful product to keep in the medicine cabinet. The stubble cream "smooths the skin later on waxing, and information technology also softens any prickly stubble," she says, noting that information technology besides "prevents ingrowns and bumps."

Earth Therapeutics Charcoal Exfoliating Gloves

All of the aestheticians nosotros spoke to said that exfoliating a few days after waxing or shaving is an important step in preventing bumps every bit hair starts to grow in. There are many means to exfoliate — manually with a scrubbing mitt or cleansing scrub, or with a chemical exfoliant — and choosing one comes down to personal preference. Kaiser suggests using a "scrubby mitt" made from Korean spa "Italy" fabric, or dry brush. "That leaves less of a chance for the hairs to curl in on themselves, and exfoliates the area so there is nothing to clog pores, making them vulnerable to bacteria and inflammation," she says. "The scrubby mitt or dry brush tin be from anywhere, they're all about the same." Registered nurses Carla and Wendy Nelson, co-owners of Fleur de Lis Beauty, similar World Therapeutics' charcoal exfoliating gloves — especially because "you can become them at whatsoever local drugstore."

For those who want to exfoliate with a cleanser (or desire to combine one with their scrubbing hand), Mihoko Ninomiya, skin-care manager at Great Jones Spa, suggests using a gentle facial scrub. She likes Dr. Hauschka'southward Cleansing Cream, which has a "grittiness shut to that of a rice flour or an almond meal or pulverisation," the ideal texture for a scrub for more delicate areas, according to Ninomiya.

And for those who prefer bar soap, Stalina Glot, senior aesthetician at Haven, recommends Crystal Peel Microdermabrasion Exfoliating Soap Torso Bar. She says y'all can use it in the days leading up to shaving, but to "avoid doing that the aforementioned day as shaving."

Dissimilar the other concrete exfoliants on this list, Cure Aqua Gel is made with 91 percent hydrogen water, which Winnie Zhong at oo35mm says works on the surface to remove dead skin. She says information technology can be used on the confront and more sensitive parts of the trunk. "You would apply this after cleansing steps or on dry peel; rub the gel into the skin and it reacts to expressionless skin," Zhong told us.

A Natural Difference Glycolic Polymer Solution

"While Italy material is cute for surface scrubbing, ingrowns happen inside the follicle," says Uncle Nat. "Then we must exfoliate there, and that brings us to chemic exfoliants like acids." Nat recommends A Natural Difference's unique Glycolic Polymer Solution, which they say is "buffered for sensitive skin" and "uses the power of polymer chaining to deliver the acid into the pores and follicles." Think of information technology like draining a bathtub: the polymer chaining allows the solution to swirl down deep into the pores and follicles, sweeping out irritants and dissolving mucilaginous sebum that grips onto hair. Nat says that when their clients dutifully use this solution pre- and post-sugaring, they'll stop up with looser hair that requires less effort (and fewer appointments) to get rid of over time. Information technology's safety for "confront, pits, and bits."

Zhong also recommends Alpha Peel Care's Renewal Body Lotion, which she calls "a cult favorite." The lotion contains 12 percent glycolic acid, which makes it ideal for improving skin texture. "Many of our customers use information technology on keratosis pilaris and stubborn bumps," Zhong says. "Information technology tin can too be good for acne scars." (Nosotros imagine it would exist good for fading any scars left from past ingrowns as well.)

You've probably heard of Biologique Recherche's Balm P50, a favorite facial toner of celebrities, beauty editors, and your pare-care-obsessed friends. The exfoliating toner can exist used for more than than your face, though, according to Garlow. "P50 has a smart blend of proven clarifying ingredients like lactic acid, gluconolactone, salicylic acid, and sulfur, which moisturize, regulate oil, and preclude ingrown hairs," she says. Depending on sensitivity, you can dilute P50 with water. "Information technology's best used out of the shower by pressing, not rubbing," Garlow told usa. "Information technology's recommended to utilize once a day and 24 hours after hair removal, and you lot can follow it with Fur Oil."

Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant

Carla and Wendy Nelson are fans of the Reddit-beloved Paula's Choice skin-care line. The brand'southward toners "are really expert for getting rid of dead peel cells which happens with ingrown hairs," Carla says, noting that — equally with all of these chemical exfoliants — yous're going to want to consummate the razor-bump-fighting exfoliation routine by using a expert moisturizer afterwards.

Keeping your peel moisturized is primal to warding off ingrowns and irritation in general. For "intense breathable moisture and viscosity to fight pare friction," Uncle Nat recommends mixing an oil with this shea-based moisturizer from A Natural Divergence. "It's a wound salve, slap-up for chronic skin-pickers, and we really recommend information technology in the wintertime for chapping because information technology's such a breathable salve." Wendy Nelson adds that a buttery moisturizer like this one is a great way to prep your peel pre-shave.

If you're unable to go your hands on a specialized production, Lowitt says that when following up your exfoliant with a moisturizer, "whatever plain unscented lotion that isn't besides thick or creamy" will do. "You want a barrier, just not to trap rut or further any inflammation," she says, suggesting this cheap and reliable paraben-free drugstore staple from Amlactin.

All apologies to your lingerie drawer, but fancy undies are the enemy of already-irritated peel. "I discourage my clients who are dealing with ingrowns from wearing lace underwear," says Uncle Nat. Doing so just creates more than pare friction, which exacerbates razor bumps and leads to ongoing discomfort. As well as using a moisturizer like those recommended above, wearing simple cotton underwear can help keep things friction-complimentary downwardly there. This pair really comes recommended by Fur Oil co-founder Laura Schubert.

Ninomiya recommends Rosebud Woman's Refresh Cleansing Spray equally a pre- and post-waxing-and-shaving cleanser rather than harsh, alcohol-based wipes. "As the name suggests, there are refreshing ingredients such as aloe and lavander, and helpful antiseptic and anti-inflammatory naturals such as tea tree oil and witch hazel," she says. To use the spray, you lot just accept to spritz some on, pat information technology in, and permit it dry — no need to rinse off afterward using.

Another alternative to harsh wipes are Skyn Iceland'south Nordic Pare Peel pads, which Siemieniaka says were designed for acneic skin just "work wonders on your bikini bumps." She told us that she learned near the pads — the perfect application format for when you lot're feeling a fleck lazy or decorated — from Katie Jane Hughes, a British makeup artist. "I got hooked, and subsequently a while, I realized that it works really well on the bikini area, especially those sensitive types," says Siemieniaka, who also notes that they won't dry out out your pare.

Siemieniaka besides told us about PFB Vanish, which can be used with not-and so-sensitive skin. "Its powerful combo of glycolic, salicylic, and lactic acids will reduce inflammation, kill bacteria, and exfoliate the skin (yes, ingrown-hair prevention right there)," she says. "Our clients dearest it." It comes in a curl-on bottle, which makes information technology easy to employ.

Alchimie Forever Antioxidant Skin Repair Gel

Ninomiya says that this gel is designed to assistance prevent razor burn on the face up, merely that information technology's as well constructive for ingrowns anywhere else on the body. It's full of natural antioxidants like green tea and anti-inflammatory ingredients rosemary and turmeric, making it a useful product for keeping skin healthy overall.

Ultraluxe Women's Ingrown Hair & Razor Bump Treatment

If you'd rather use a formula specifically designed for women, Senkus suggests UltraLuxe'southward Women's Ingrown Hair treatment, which she says tin be used on the face and body to stave off ingrown hairs. "The engineering science actually cools and calms your pare mail-shaving, preventing the chance of irritation before it begins." The cooling factor comes from the ingredient allantoin, which is known for its anti-redness, anti-irritation properties.

Princereigns Ingrown Hair Eliminating Serum

This one is a favorite of both Glot and Senkus. Glot suggests using it twice a solar day and notes that "serums are designed with low molecules that penetrate to the pilus follicle and remove dead pare cells, pushing the hair up." Senkus told us that Princereigns also "removes night spots and softens and straightens curly hair while removing ingrown hairs and razor bumps."

"For natural-remedy lovers, I recommend a tea-tree-oil compress," says Siemieniaka. "Tea tree oil is extremely rich in antibacterial and anti-inflammatory backdrop that will help you get rid of redness and itchiness caused by razor bumps." She cautions against using tea tree oil in its pure class and suggests mixing a couple of drops of oil with a few tablespoons of warm water instead. "And then make a compress with a cotton ball and employ it to afflicted areas for nearly 10 minutes. For all-time results, I would practice this twice a twenty-four hours," she says.

Lowitt says these pads, with their "unique combo of citric acids, glycolics, and salicylic acids" will help in treating stubborn razor bumps and ingrown conditions "ranging from blackheads to pustules." The make'southward range is designed with darker pare tones in mind, and she says that carrying these pads is a not bad choice for people who are leading active lifestyles or working out a lot and need a treatment to throw in their bag.

Two of the experts we talked to named CBD as a useful ingredient in helping prevent razor bumps, largely cheers to its anti-inflammatory properties. This CBD-infused cleanser comes recommended by dermatologist Dendy Engelman, who told us that information technology's packed with "phytonutrient-rich CBD, essential fatty acids, and plant extracts," that make information technology especially calming and moisturizing. Engelman uses the cleanser as a shaving foam, and says that information technology leaves him with little to no post-shaving irritation.

Christine Marie Stonemason, founder of the feminine intendance line Rosebud, told us that she uses Foria's CBD lube both to foreclose ingrown hairs and to moisturize her skin. According to Mason, the consistency of the Foria lube is similar to that of Fur Oil — but has the added benefit of CBD, which helps soothe any existing irritation and redness. (And, of course, it can also be used every bit lube.)

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