How to Prevent Ingrown Hair

The act of shaving removes the tip of the hair shaft that pokes out of the skin, but it’ll grow back. An ingrown hair can happen when the shaved or plucked hair grows back under the skin instead of the hair follicle. To help you prevent that from happening, 5-Minute Crafts gathered 5 tips and tricks.

1. Prepare your skin before shaving.

Before starting, it’s a good idea to prep the skin you’re going to shave appropriately. Wash the area with a gentle cleanser and exfoliate. For the body, try a scrub or even your shower loofah. Exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells and keeps them from otherwise clogging up your razor and leading to ingrown hairs.

2. Don’t dry shave.

Shaving the skin without using any kind of lubrication, like shaving foams or creams, can cause some major irritation and lead to ingrown hairs and razor rash. A trick for even smoother legs is using hair conditioner as a shaving product, as they usually have moisturizing ingredients.

3. Shave in the direction of hair growth.

Always try to shave in the direction the hair naturally grows. This is especially important if you’re prone to ingrown hairs, as shaving against the grain causes the hair to be cut at a sharper angle and the chance for it to grow inward is much higher.

4. Avoid dull blades.

Using old, dull blades can contribute to razor burn, irritation, and ingrown hairs — it’s recommended to change your razor blades often to avoid this and to get a smoother shave. If you feel your razor pulling at the hair, it’s time to switch to a new one.

5. Try other methods of hair removal.

If all else fails and you’re still getting ingrown hairs, look into other ways of removing unwanted hair. Electric razors, depilatory creams, and laser hair removal are all good and effective options.