If ingrown hairs are causing you problems you’re not alone.
But don’t worry.
There’s ONE thing you can start doing today that will stop ingrown hairs from ruining your look.
Here’s why it works … and the best way to do it.
First let’s walk through what an ingrown hair is, and what causes them.
Because once you know the cause, you can see what needs to be done.
What is an ingrown hair?
Ingrown hairs are almost always the result of shaving.
Instead of growing back out of your skin normally, the shaved hair does a U-turn - curling back into your skin and growing beneath the surface.
This ingrowing hair creates a swollen, red bump on your skin.
What causes a shaved hair to grow back on itself?
If the hair follicle is clogged up by dead skin cells this blocks the hair from growing out normally - so it grows back into the skin instead.
Your body can then interpret the trapped hair as a ‘foreign intruder’, sending white blood cells to fight it off. That’s where the swelling comes from. This inflammation causes the bump to become red, tender and very painful!
Which is made even worse when you have to shave over the bump again the next day.
So, the Number One way to stop ingrown hairs?…
EXFOLIATION.
Because this gets rid of the dead skin cells that are blocking the hair follicle.
ACTION PLAN: Gently exfoliate every day
It seems so easy, because it is.
The best way of preventing ingrown hairs from appearing is exfoliating your skin regularly.
This minimizes the amount of dead skin cells clogging up your hair follicles and pores, which cause the hairs to grow back into the skin.
But a word of caution…
This doesn’t mean using a rough facial scrub!
In fact, please don’t do this. It will make your skin even drier, causing more dead skin cells to block your follicles… and make the problem worse!
No, the answer is ….
Choose a gently exfoliating face wash that includes a natural Alpha-Hydroxy Acid (an AHA), like Lactic Acid.
An AHA is so gentle that you can use it every day – even on sensitive skin.
So it’s constantly working to get rid of the dead cells that are clogging your hair follicles and causing ingrowns.
And, as a bonus, exfoliation makes your skin look smoother and brighter and healthier too.
Best Exfoliating Face Wash
Our Daily Face Wash combines two tasks into one – cleaning and exfoliating at the same time.
And like all of our products, Daily Face Wash has been designed specifically to address the things that affect a man’s skin – like ingrown hairs.
Washing with exfoliating Daily Face Wash keeps your face fresh and clean - and dead skin cells never have the chance to build up and block your hair follicles and pores.
Plus it's gentle enough to use twice a day (even if you have sensitive skin).
With hydrating Glycerin and soothing Aloe Vera it won’t leave your face feeling tight and dry.
And Daily Face Wash includes purifying Tea Tree Oil which helps to regulate sebum production, keeping oily skin under control.
We’ve got more about exfoliating your skin here: “A Man's Guide to Exfoliation: FAQ's"
And how it fits into your shaving routine here: "Is it best to exfoliate before or after shaving?"
And for more help in preventing ingrown hairs
Along with exfoliating, there’s steps in your shaving routine you can take to stop ingrown hairs and razor bumps from developing.
These will also reduce razor burn and irritation...
Improving your shaving routine
4 key shaving tips to help prevent ingrown hairs and razor burn.
#1: Prepare your skin
- Open your pores first – try to shave after your shower. The hot and humid atmosphere will open up your pores and leave your skin nice and relaxed. Alternatively apply a hot towel to your beard area first, like a professional barber would.
-
Massage in a protective shave cream – this will create a nourishing barrier between your skin and the blade, softening the hair so that the razor will cut on the first pass.
The cream protects your skin from razor burn. And provides lubrication for the shaving process itself, softening your beard and helping to maintain your skin's hydration level too.
Best Shaving Cream to Protect Against Ingrown Hairs
Our Protective Shave Cream is enriched with moisturizing Glycerin and Shea Butter to nourish and protect your face throughout your shave.
This unique formula also includes Apricot Stone Oil to soften your beard for easier shaving too.
And we've added Aloe Vera to soothe your skin, and purifying Tea Tree Oil to help reduce any redness and irritation.
Like all of our products, Protective Shave Cream is dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic and non-irritating.
It has also undergone and passed the rigorous European Cosmetic Regulations.
Plus it’s cruelty free.
So now with
- your pores relaxed and open
- your skin nourished and protected
- and the hairs standing up
your razor will glide easily over your face – with no irritation.
#2: Choose the right razor
Stop using multi-blade razors.
They cut too effectively and cut the hairs below the surface of the skin. As the hair grows back there’s more chance it will curl back on itself because the tip of the hairs can’t break through the surface.
Use a traditional single blade razor instead.
A single blade will cut the hair level with your skin’s surface – and not below it. So the hair can grow back normally.
It’s also easier to change the blade regularly on a single blade razor, and so make sure that it’s always super sharp.
#3: Shave Direction
Always shave WITH the grain.
Shaving against the grain not only aggravates your skin causing irritation, it also distorts the hair follicles making ingrown hairs more likely.
#4: Moisturize afterwards
It can take up to 48 hours for your freshly-shaved face to fully heal, and keeping your skin well hydrated during that time is the best defence against irritation and dryness.
In fact, do NOT use an astringent toner or alcohol based aftershave. Not only will these really sting - they’ll also make your skin feel unbearably dry and contribute to more dead skin cells clogging your pores!
While most creams will immediately hydrate your skin, you can up the ante by using a moisturizer that will soothe, relieve and repair your post-shave skin at the same time.
Best Moisturiser for Smoother, Firmer Skin
There are many healing ingredients to look for in a moisturizer, and we chose Aloe Vera, Allantoin and D-Panthenol for our Hydrating Daily Moisturizer.
These excellent natural ingredients will soothe your skin and restore the hydrolipidic protective barrier.
In fact, to nourish and repair your skin after shaving, our Hydrating Daily Moisturizer is one of the best moisturizers for men out there!
It's incredibly hydrating, but it's also very light. So it doesn’t create any shine.
And it's packed full of the best anti aging ingredients!
One of the keys to smooth, clear, younger-looking skin is to keep it well-hydrated.
So try to moisturize your face every morning and night. As well as after your shave.
Our Hydrating Daily Moisturizer is designed to lock in moisture and clinically proven to dramatically increase skin hydration levels for over 8 hours after application.
It contains Hyaluronic Acid (the gold standard of moisturizing agents) to keep your freshly-shaved skin smooth and supple.
At the same time it reduces fine lines and wrinkles, restores elasticity and improves skin texture.
Leaving you with a smooth, even-toned complexion.
Plus it’s super-light, absorbs instantly and won’t leave a greasy film on your face.
If ingrown hairs are already causing you problems, don’t worry.
There’s a lot you can do to speed up the healing process.
FAQ’S
What’s the best way to treat existing ingrown hairs?
AT HOME TREATMENTS
- Gently exfoliate the area around the ingrown hair using a mild exfoliating face wash: this will remove any dead skin cells that are blocking the hair from breaking through the skin’s surface.
- Apply a warm, damp compress: this will soften the skin and help to tease out the ingrown hair.
- Avoid shaving for a few days: just until your skin has had a chance to heal.
- Use a light, non-greasy moisturizer: this will soften your skin, soothe the inflamed area and improve the texture and tone of your skin.
- Tweeze out any visible hair: if you can see a hair near the surface try to gently pull it out with a pair of sterile tweezers.
What can I do if an ingrown hair is infected?
If a white pustule has developed around the hair then the hair follicle has probably become infected, and it’s better to deal with it now or it could get worse. If you don’t remove it the infected hair may continue to grow and cause further irritation and inflammation.
At this stage it’s best to treat the pustule first - and then remove the hair.
Treat the bump with acne medication or a topical hydrocortisone cream. This will reduce the swelling and expose the ingrowing hair so that you can easily extract it with a clean pair of tweezers.
What should I do if an ingrown hair won’t heal?
Not all ingrown hairs get this bad but if the bump won’t heal, and it’s becoming more and more painful, then it’s worth calling a dermatologist.
A medical professional can give you a cortisone injection to quieten down the redness and inflammation caused by the infected ingrown hair under your skin.
Why do I get ingrown hairs on my neck?
Ingrown hairs are usually caused by shaving so they can appear pretty much wherever you’ve shaved! But your neck is particularly susceptible because the hair tends to be coarser there and the skin less well exfoliated.
Which skin types are most affected by ingrown hairs?
Whilst anyone can get ingrown hairs black-skinned and Hispanic guys tend to have thicker, stronger, curlier hair. This is more likely to curl back on itself (making you guys more prone to ingrown hairs).
But exfoliation will make them much less likely.
The Takeaway
Gently exfoliating your face every day is the one thing that will stop ingrown hairs in their tracks.
Couple that with:
- Improving your shaving routine
- Keeping your skin hydrated
And you’ll never have to worry about them again!
SHOP THE ROUTINE.
All you need to stay looking handsome.
PRESTIGE SKINCARE FOR MEN.
MADE IN FRANCE.
