Does Waxing Help With Ingrown Hairs?

February 8, 2023 by Mani Pandey

When the goal is to achieve smooth, soft, and flawless skin, ingrown hair can cause a huge nuisance. But the good news is managing them and handling the unwanted blemishes is easy, especially when you know the right way to do it.

Many people wonder if waxing causes ingrown hair. The answer is NO. In fact, waxing diminishes ingrown hair and reduces the frequency with which the hair grows back. In this article, we provide detailed know-how on everything you should know about ingrown hair. Keep reading!

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What Are Ingrown Hairs?

When a hair follicle erupts from the skin but fails to come out all the way, curls back, and embeds in the skin, it is called ingrown hair. Sometimes, you may also notice a red, inflamed, and bump area below which the hair is trapped. It could be painful and irritating.

Ingrown hair usually occurs in the areas where you have waxed, shaved, or tweezed. They can be found in the jawline, legs, bikini line, and armpits.

[ Read: Is Lotion Good For Your Hair ]

What Causes Ingrown Hair?

Generally, hair with a thicker texture is prone to in-growing. While many people think that shaving causes hair to become thicker, it is not true. Shaving doesn’t change the hair texture. Instead, it cuts the hair with a blunt end, making the growing hair look thicker than before. However, shaving blunts the end of the follicle, making it susceptible to piercing the skin after emerging from the surface, eventually leading it to grow back into the skin.

On the other hand, the hair comes out straight from the roots when you wax. Thus, the beveled edge of the hair follicle’s end remains, preventing ingrown hair. However, if waxing is not done properly, the hair rips below the skin’s surface and does not come out completely, leading to ingrown hair.

Waxing should be done properly, and hair should be pulled out in the right direction so that the entire follicle comes out and a healthier regrowth is observed.

[ Read: How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hairs on Legs ]

How To Get Rid Of Ingrown Hair?

Sometimes, no matter how you remove your hair and what method you apply, ingrown hair still becomes visible. Once you see the ingrown hair, there could be a high urge to pop or pick them, but stop before you do it. Scratching the area and irritating the skin with nails or fingers could do more harm than help.

So, put down your tweezers straight away because, in the effort to satisfy your urge, you may remove the skin that may lead to infection. Also, picking the ingrown hair could be painful and discomforting.

If you want to get rid of ingrown hair, follow the tips-

Apply a coat of an ingrown hair serum after waxing. These serums are made to exfoliate the skin and moisturize them to reduce post-waxing irritation.
Apply a warm compress to the area, and with the help of an exfoliating solution, remove the dead skin. You can also use products that have retinoids or alpha hydroxyl acid as ingredients, as they act as a catalyst in the skin’s regenerative process.

[ Read: Baking Soda for Ingrown Hair – Does it Work? ]

How To Take Care Of Your Skin After Waxing?

Waxing may come as a shock to the hair and skin. A sudden pulling after putting on warm wax could be an annoyance, but you can avoid it with a few basic steps. It will ensure that your skin will be happy and there will be no ingrown hair.

After waxing, let the skin breathe. Do not wear tight-fitting clothes that rub against the skin and encourage hair to grow back.
If you have waxed your face, do not forget to exfoliate and moisturize, remove the dead cells and keep the skin well-hydrated.

[ Read: How To Heal Ripped Skin From Waxing ]

Apart from these post-wax care tips, you can also prepare your skin before waxing. Ensure that the skin is clean and has no serums, lotions, or perfumes. Such products create a layer that prevents proper adherence of the wax to the skin, leading to poor hair extraction.

Waxing is one of the best ways to get rid of unwanted body hair. But, it is extremely important to perform waxing in the right ways to prevent pain, skin irritation, and ingrown hair. Pamper your skin with the help of quality skincare products. With the right way of hair removal, you can enjoy smooth, soft, and flawless skin with no ingrown hair.

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