Ingrown hairs are common amongst both Women and Men, particularly as a result of shaving or waxing errors.  When a shortened hair becomes sharp, it may force itself sideways and create a painful poke in skin.  Ingrown hairs also occur when dead skin cells block follicle openings.  It can be painful, but careful hair removal and daily exfoliation can prevent legs, underarms and bikini area from ingrown suffering.

What does an ingrown hair look like?
There are several stages of an ingrown, as well as varying severities. Generally an ingrown hair looks a little like a pimple. It will begin as a raised slightly tender reddened bump. As the issue progresses it may develop a white puss head, or you may see the hair beneath the skin as it grows and doesn’t come to the surface.

Preventing ingrown hairs
Shaving is the most common form of hair removal, and for good reason. It is quick, effortless and painless. Ingrown hairs are most commonly seen from the shavers of the world. Follow a few simple tips and techniques, if you are not already to lessen the possibility of developing ingrown hairs.

Shave in the direction of hair growth.
When you shave, you are simply removing the hair, as close to the skin as possible with a blade. Shaving against the grain will give a closer shave, as you are cutting from beneath the hair and the shorter hair, the more chance of it ingrowing. The thicker the hair, also the greater the change of ingrown hairs developing, so if you are shaving a thick, coarse or curly area, then always shave with the grain, or in the direction of hair growth to minimise your chances.

There are a range of products that you can introduce to your shaving routine to help with preventing ingrown hairs.

Dermalogica Pre Shave Guard
This pre shave product is fantastic for anyone shaving a coarse area. It is a thick prepping cream that contains camphor; this helps to lift the hair from the skin. It also softens the stubble to give a better shave.
Dermalogica Post Shave Balm
This is great for men’s after a shave. It is designed to specifically help fight ingrowns. This cooling balm contains Salicylic Acid, which is an AHA that exfoliates dead skin cells, gentle. This ingredient clears accumulated dead skin cells to help prevent and correct ingrown and bumps.

Don’t be afraid of waxing – now we know that there are some areas that you cant wax, and we don’t expect you men to attempt at waxing your beard, but it is a option for other areas. The obvious difference between shaving and waxing is that waxing is removing the hair from the root rather than cutting it at the surface. Removing the hair from the room doesn’t prevent you from developing ingrown hairs as when the hair regrows, it can deviate course before reaching the surface, and grow into the skin. This is more common when the hair is thicker or curly, like on the bikini area, or men. The key with waxing, be it an at home wax, or a salon visit, is exfoliation and post wax care.
Exfoliating with a mild AHA scrub, such as ASAP Revitalising Body Scrub will ensure that you have ridded any skin cell build up which will result in a better and easier wax. It is important to continue to exfoliate a couple of times a week after the wax too, maintaining a clear follicle with no build up will mean the regrowing hair has more chance of pointing I the right direction and coming through the surface as desired.

Whatever hair removal technique you opt for moisturisation is highly important. I like to recommend an AHA based one, and love the ASAP Revitalising Body Moist. It contains Green tea and essential oils, as well as Glycolic Acid to both moisturise, protect, and gently resurface the skin, which most importantly prevents ingrown hairs returning.

Ingrown Hairs Treatments
If you have developed an ingrown, then you can take a couple of steps to ensure that it’s under control as quickly as possible. Although recommended as a pimple treatment, Payot Pate Gris , is perfect for ingrown hair treatment. It contains shale extract, which is highly soothing, anti-bacterial and powerful drawing properties. When applied it draws the hair to the surface.
Try not to pick at and try and push the hair to the surface if you cant see it. This will most likely result in a scabbed area that is still ingrown.
If your symptoms persist for a prolonged time, then it might be an idea to take a trip to the doctor to have it lanced.

Silky Smooth, hair free skin is simple, all it takes are a few simple products and a bit of technique know how’s and you can be ingrown free.

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This shave system revolutionizes men’s skincare as we all know it. For the first time, skin can meet razor with no fear of the top three shaving concerns. Razor bumps and Ingrown hairs, razor burn and tough heavy beards.

The exclusive three step program is the first in the beauty industry to take into account beard type, hair growth pattern as well as skin condition for a shave that actually delivers the healthiest skin possible. Dermalogica Shave liberates men from damaged skin!

Razor bumps result from a curly hair growing out of the skin, curling around and then growing back in.  Ingrown hairs result from simply cutting the hair too short, and the hair penetrates the inside of the follicle instead of following its normal path to the skin’s surface.

To prevent ingrown hairs, you need to start exfoliating with physical and/or chemical exfoliants before shaving. Physical exfoliants will help exfoliate and prep the skins surface, and lift hairs. Chemical exfoliants will help lift dead skin cells, lift ingrown above the hair line and soften and smooth skin.

Razor burn can occur numerous ways when the skin is shaved incorrectly:

• When the skin is shaved too closely and quickly
• When shaving with a blunt blade
• Shaving with build up in the blade (not rinsing in between strokes)
• When dry shaving, or not using enough lubricant between razor and skin
• When shaving against the grain
• And shaving over the same area multiple times

Razor burn is simply inflammation of the skin, that includes burning, stinging, redness and itching as symptoms. It can give discomfort for several hours to several days and in severe cases can manifest into infected breakouts and blisters.

Depending on many factors such as hormones, genetics etc, many men have heavy, tough beards. Heavier beards are more challenging as the coarse hair blunt and clog the blade quicker causing scraping and tugging, which in turn makes people with tough beards more susceptible to itching, stinging redness and cuts. The simplest and most logical solution is to soften the beard prior to shaving.

DERMAGOLGICA SHAVE 3 STEP PROGRAM

PRE SHAVE

The cleansing portion helps remove bacteria, surface oils and debris to ensure a close and even shave. The protect portion helps soften the beard whilst providing additional protection from the razor without effecting the closeness of the shave.

Dermalogica Clean Bar
Dermalogica Daily Clean Scrub
Dermalogica Pre-Shave Guard

SHAVE

Choose from a gel, cream or water soluble oil. It must protect the skin from the razor assisting in a smooth shave.
Dermalogica Soothing Shave Cream
Dermalogica Invigorating Shave Gel
Dermalogica Close Shave Oil

POST SHAVE

Application of after shave products will cool and sooth the skin, whilst providing moisture and alleviating the three main concerns of shaving.
Dermalogica Post Shave Balm
Dermalogica Daily Defense Block

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