Those two little words can make anyone cringe: ingrown hair. Ingrown hairs are unsightly, red, and painful! They can range in discomfort from mild to severe and can even lead to infections.
But why do they happen?
When we wax, the goal is to remove the entire hair from the follicle. However, sometimes the hair breaks off just above or below the skin's surface. This leaves the hair with a blunt edge instead of its natural, tapered edge, making it difficult for it to break through the skin during regrowth. Hair that curls back into the follicle or grows sideways is treated by the body as a foreign object, leading to inflammation and potential bacterial infection.
So, what can you do post-waxing to avoid these pesky red bumps?
- Avoid the sun: Stay out of direct sunlight for at least 48 hours or until any redness has subsided. Your skin is more sensitive to the sun after waxing and exposure can lead to dark spots, especially if you're on certain medications.
- Let your skin breathe: It's crucial to allow your skin to breathe. Avoid tight clothing, which can irritate the skin and potentially cause ingrown hairs. Also, resist the urge to touch the freshly waxed area. Our hands carry germs that can transfer to the waxed skin, leading to irritation, pimples, or infection.
- Avoid soaking and steam: After waxing, the empty follicles are more susceptible to bacteria. While showering is fine, avoid baths, pools, and any type of soaking for the rest of the day to prevent exposure to bacteria or chlorine that can irritate the skin. Stay away from saunas and steam rooms for at least two days, as extreme heat can also disturb your skin.
- Exfoliate: The bikini area is particularly prone to ingrown hairs after waxing. Prevent dead skin from clogging pores and causing ingrown hairs by exfoliating regularly. This keeps the skin healthy and encourages hair to grow in the correct direction. However, make sure you choose a scrub that is suitable for intimate areas and not too harsh or abrasive.
With so many hairs and only one of us, we're bound to encounter ingrown hairs from time to time. But don't worry—here at nkd ( ), we've got your back, your legs, your brows, your bikini line, and any other area you need waxed.
