Ingrown hair sucks, and we’ve all suffered from it and continue to suffer from it every now and then. For some, it’s an occasional nuisance when they shave against the grain or pluck a hair, but for the unfortunate others, it’s a constant problem and you may be looking for a solution.
Everyone associated ingrown hairs with shaving or hair removal in general, so perhaps you’re fed up with your traditional method of shaving and thinking about trying Nair, or any other hair removal cream, to see if it will lessen this problem. So, how does Nair fair with ingrown hair (Totally intentional rhyme)? Let’s see!
WHAT IS INGROWN HAIR?
In simple terms, an ingrown hair is a hair that got stuck on its way out. Usually, individual hairs grow straight out of their pores or follicles.
However, sometimes a hair gets lost on the way out and doesn’t properly exit the skin, causing it to bend in on itself into the skin.
The result of this is a tiny puss-filled bump and some pain. Ingrown hairs are common and not a big health concern, but they do sometimes cause inflammation, pain, itching, and they just mess up your skin.
Ingrown hairs usually break out in the areas you’re more likely to shave such as your:
- Beard
- Neck
- Legs
- Armpits
- Chest
- Pubic area
Some of the symptoms of ingrown hairs include redness, itching, irritation, puss coming out, razor burns, painful bumps, or even rashes.
WHY AM I BREAKING OUT WITH INGROWN HAIRS?
The biggest offender causing ingrown hairs is hair removal. Shaving and plucking are the no. 1 causes of ingrown hairs. Some people are genetically more prone to getting ingrown hairs, regardless of the method of shaving.
Usually, if you have curly or thick, coarse hair, you’re more likely to suffer from ingrown hairs. Because of this reason, a lot of black men suffer from ingrown hairs after shaving because of the coarse nature of black hair.
Why Am I Getting So Many Ingrown Hairs All of A Sudden?
Perhaps you were always fine or you dealt with an ingrown hair or two every once in a while, but recently you’ve suddenly been getting more and more so what gives? Well, there are several reasons for ingrown hairs suddenly popping up including:
- Your Shaving Technique: Bad shaving techniques are the biggest reason for ingrown hairs, perhaps you’re cutting too close to the skin, making the top of the hairs sharper and sharper. If you’re thinking “Okay, then I’ll just pluck or wax then” you’d be sorely mistaken my friend, as those too can lead to ingrown hairs because they’re simply too rough on the hair itself.
- Your Skin Is Dirty: Yes, dirty skin can lead to ingrown hairs but clogging up the follicles. If you’ve got too much dead skin, dirt, or debris in there, you’re going to have puss-filled follicles that will prevent the hair from growing out, causing it to be stuck under there.
- It’s Your Clothes: It’s the hard truth, clothes, especially tight ones, rubbing off against your skin can cause ingrown hairs by pushing them inwards for long periods of time. Time to bring back baggy boot-cut jeans!
CAN HAIR REMOVAL CAUSE INGROWN HAIRS?
Hair removal creams like Nair, called depilatories, work differently from shaving or waxing, or plucking. The chemicals in depilatories seep into the hairs, breaking up the proteins called keratins, dissolving them, and making the hair just fall out.
Because of this, hair removal creams don’t cut the hair and keep the tops blunt. Now does this mean it doesn’t cause ingrown hairs? Well, they do reduce the possibility of them significantly.
Companies like Veet claim that their hair removal creams reduce ingrown hairs by up to 80%. Now keep in mind that Nair and other hair removal creams might have other side effects like irritation or itching if you’re allergic, but they should do the trick when it comes to ingrown hairs.
CAN YOU USE NAIR ON YOUR FACE?
“Okay, so hair removal creams like Nair are better for ingrown hairs, but I get ingrown hairs after shaving my beard, can they be used on my face?” The short answer is yes.
However, because facial hair is much more delicate than body hair, there are specific facial hair-only hair removal products like Nair Face Cream, that have different components and are more suitable for your face.
Because the face is the most likely area to get ingrown hairs on, it’s worth a shot. It’s important to note that Nair and hair removers don’t completely remove the hair from the root, like waxing or plucking.
Like shaving, they just dissolve it as close as possible to the skin. For more long-term hair removal, you could check our laser treatments or electrolysis.
HOW TO PREVENT INGROWN HAIRS?
In general, there are several ways to prevent or lessen ingrown hairs when shaving or in general such as:
- Wetting Your Skin With Warm Water Before Shaving: This helps soften the hairs, making them easier to shave and providing less resistance that may lead to ingrown hairs and bumps later.
- Shave With The Grain: Shaving against the grain is simply too harsh on the skin if it’s sensitive. Shaving with the grain doesn’t mess up the structure of the individual hairs too much, making them easier to grow back properly.
- Use Good Razors: Blunt razors will lead to ingrown hairs, so you need to choose the sharpest, high-quality razors you could find. Some people will even head towards safety razors or straight razors to get the smoothest, cleanest shaves.
- Use Good Shaving Cream: Shaving cream is a must for shaving and preventing bumps and ingrown hairs. Good shaving cream means smooth razor strokes and prevents any bumps or tugging on the hairs.
- Use Hair Removal Cream: As we’ve mentioned, hair removal creams are much more forgiving for ingrown hairs than shaving, so you might want to give them a try. Test them out on a small area first, and if it does the job, go for a bigger patch.
HOW DO YOU PREVENT INGROWN HAIRS AFTER USING HAIR REMOVAL CREAM?
Even with hair removal cream like Nair, there are steps you can take to make sure your skin is healthy and clear of any bumps, such as:
- Exfoliating: Exfoliating your skin will keep it free of dead skills or dirt or debris, preventing the clogging of pores that leads to ingrown hairs. You can exfoliate once a week for good results, using over-the-counter products or even natural home exfoliation techniques such as sugar, coffee, or baking soda.
- Avoiding Friction: Friction irritates the skin and pushes the hairs around too much, wearing baggier clothes on the areas where you break out in ingrown hairs could help. Scratching is also a big no-no, because it can make the ingrown hair bump even worse.
- Use A Warm Washcloth: Gently caring for your skin using a warm washcloth soothes the follicles and pores, which can help ease the hair back in its original position if it’s already ingrown. Do you see why barbers use warm washcloths on faces and bald heads now? It works, and it feels great.
- Use Moisturizing Creams: Some moisturizing steroid creams are good for swelling or irritation caused by ingrown hairs.
- Gently Pull The Hair Out: In case of ingrown hair, you can use sterile needles or tweezers to gently pull the hair out only if it’s outside the surface of the skin, don’t go digging in there!
Verdict
Hair removal creams like Nair are a great alternative to shaving if you suffer from ingrown hairs, and can completely alter your grooming routine in the future.
Make sure you’re taking good care of your skin, and don’t go too crazy if you do get ingrown hair, it happens to all of us. Calm down, try to get it out gently, or if you can’t, just let it be and use some creams or warm water and you’ll be good to go.
Recommended: Does Nair Last Longer Than Shaving?