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Shaving, a daily ritual that can quickly take an essential place: define your own style, refine the contours, take care of the growth … Unfortunately it also comes with its share of small inconveniences, and the one I’m talking about today ‘ hui is the obsession of many of us: ingrown hairs.
If you’ve been shaving for a while, you’ve had to deal with it before and know that ingrown hair can quickly lead to unsightly inflammation. However, there are some simple solutions to counter their occurrence, and this article will be devoted to them.
What is ingrown hair?
Theoretically, growing hair is supposed to follow a path that will pierce the skin to appear in the open. However, some hairs do as they see fit … Indeed, after leaving their follicle, they do not follow the usual path. They will then grow under the skin. And they are not made for that!
This, therefore, causes symptoms that are not always beautiful to see, because if the hair grows under the skin, it is still clearly visible on the surface of the latter: redness and inflammation are present. Sometimes pus accompanies this redness.
If we are not careful with hair regret, we can quickly end up with a multitude of small shaving buttons on the face … To top it off; this redness may involve the development of an infection. This will be the case with the appearance of swelling in the affected area, an increase in the size of the pimple as well as pain. In some cases, an abscess or even a cyst may even appear…
What are the causes of their appearance?
Ingrown hairs can appear because of waxing, curly hair, lifestyle … but also shaving!
- Normal hair growth
- Ingrown hair caused by curled hair
- Ingrown hair caused by shaving and poor hair regret
Indeed, when shaving with a double or triple blade razor, the first blade will pull the hair and the second will cut the hair closely. But after this cut, the hair can retract and go inside the skin. It is then that it will present a risk of development under the skin: in this case, it will become ingrown hair.
What are the causes of their appearance?
Often it is easy to get rid of ingrown hairs just by paying attention to the risk factors that facilitate their appearance.
Thus, it will be necessary to take into account that the curly or frizzy hairs are more inclined to become ingrown hairs (not much to do here, but if this is your case, be extra careful). Shaving against the grain, double/triple blades, and dry/sensitive skin are also risk factors.
5 tips to prevent ingrown hairs:
- Use the right tools and the right shaving products for men. Favor quality tools, and avoid using multi-blades, which are not necessarily recommended.
- And the right shaving products. Favor quality tools, and avoid using multi-blades, which are not necessarily recommended.
- Take care of your skin before shaving. One of the most important points: less risk of ingrown hairs if the skin is prepared for the passage of the razor! Thus, shave after having passed your face in hot water (or after the shower), and after having used a soft exfoliant: the skin will be softened and the hairs ready to shave.
- Observe the implantation of the hair and shave in the direction of the hair. This rule should be engraved on all razors in the world: shaving is done in the direction of hair growth. The opposite is obviously possible, but it is dangerous: shaving against the direction of hair growth inevitably causes ingrown hairs, as a punishment for not having respected this basic rule.
- Take care of your shaving tools. A sharp blade is a barber’s most trusted tool. As soon as your blade stops cutting on the first try, change it! A well-sharpened blade will prevent you from going over the hair several times, limiting the risk of one slipping under your skin to avoid your attacks.
- Take care of your skin after shaving. In order to tighten the pores of your skin after shaving, spray your face with cold water. Then apply a soothing aftershave to hydrate your skin and prevent irritation. A few days after shaving, using a gentle exfoliant will help ensure that your hair is coming out properly. Exfoliation not only gets rid of dead cells, but also brings out any stubborn hairs.
How to treat and care for ingrown hair?
The best is to do nothing: do not touch the ingrown hair and especially do not try to extract it with tweezers because there is more risk of inserting germs causing its infection and creating scars. Likewise, the area should not be shaved or waxed. It may then be that the hair manages to “find the exit” spontaneously.
If you can clearly see an ingrown hair near the surface of the skin (it then grows under the epidermis), you can try to gently extract it using a sterile needle by disinfecting the skin well before and after However, always make sure to keep the area clean and disinfected (disinfectant or tea tree oil), and you can apply hot compresses to help the hair get closer to the surface of the skin.
Even if ingrown hairs are a real ordeal, a few simple actions should reduce or even eliminate their appearance. The keywords are cleanliness, exfoliation, respect for shaving tools, and hair! And don’t panic, a few small razor spots from time to time, it’s completely normal: it’s up to you to manage the rest so that an unsightly infection does not develop!
