How to Prevent Ingrown Hair

Ingrown hair can rarely represent a big issue, but it can be annoying, boring and irritable, especially if frequently appears. It causes redness and little bumps on the skin that resemble hives, provoking itching and scratching. Although every man can occasionally have a problem with ingrown hair, the men with curled and coarse hair can experience this annoying phenomenon more often. In those men, cutting hair too close to the skin can cause the curly hair to bend inside or coarse hair to dig inward. For these two hair types, dermatologists suggest using a single blade razor without making too much pressure when shaving and trying not to cut hair too closely. To prevent ingrown hair, experts also suggest frequent shaving, but only if the skin is not too sensitive. For many men, especially the ones with sensitive skin, gel and cream with extract of witch hazel can make miracles. In that sense, dermatologists do not recommend using foam, because it is aggressive and can dry up the skin, thus causing further inconvenience. To prevent ingrown hair, an excerpt from the article “Ingrown Hair” gives us the following tips.

• Wash your skin with warm water and a mild facial cleanser before shaving.
• Apply lubricating shaving cream or gel a few minutes before shaving to soften the hair.
• Use a sharp razor every time you shave. Further study is needed to determine whether a single- or multiple-blade razor is best for preventing ingrown
hair. See what works best for you.
• Avoid close shaves.
• Don’t pull your skin taut while shaving.
• Figure out which direction to shave in. Generally, men with razor bumps have been advised to shave in the direction of hair growth. But a study found
that men who shaved against the grain saw their rashes improve. Experiment to see what works for you.
• Rinse the blade after each stroke.
• Rinse your skin and apply lotion after you shave.

Apart from these tips, dermatologists point out at the deadly skin as one of the biggest factors that lead to ingrown hair. Deadly skin often closes tiny channels and prevents the hairs to grow straight in their natural direction. To avoid this uncomfortable phenomenon and prevent hairs from growing inward or sideways, experts recommend exfoliating before shaving. By exfoliating, dead skin will be removed, thus enabling hairs to move freely. Shaving products are an integral part of a good skincare, and men who are prone to ingrown hair should use sensitive creme with a lot of lubricating agents in a thick layer. Many men try to find a good solution by using organic cosmetics, but dermatologists advise to pay attention, whether these products contain alcohol; it additionally can irritate the skin. In any case, knowing well men’s skin type and observing the effects of various products can help men better cope with ingrown hair.