Men’s Skincare: How To Avoid Ingrown Hairs

Ingrown hairs after shaving are very common, especially amongst men of African descent because of the thickness of our hair. No matter how well-refined your shaving technique is, it’s likely that you’ve experienced an ingrown beard or body hair at one time. Generally, genetics play a big part in whether you are likely to experience ingrown hairs but following soothing steps can manage the discomfort they can cause you. For many men, ingrown hairs seem like an unavoidable part of shaving, but they can come as an unpleasant and unwelcome surprise for others.

What Are Ingrown Hairs?

When ingrown hairs occur after shaving, these can also be known as razor bumps, which can feel itchy, uncomfortable, or even painful. And although they are often encountered by men with curly and coily hair, they can happen to anyone.

Ingrown hairs can occur pretty much anywhere hair grows – from your beard and moustache area to your armpits, legs, and even pubic hair. You can also get ingrown hairs without shaving. This happens when excess dead skin or dirt clogs up a follicle, stunting the growth of new hair. Taking a handful of precautions can help you find out that you can reduce the likelihood of encountering an ingrown hair.

What Ingrown Hairs Look Like

These damaged or ingrown hairs look like small, red bumps on the skin. Some men experience ingrown hairs due to their physiology, which lifestyle choices like shaving can exacerbate. This uncomfortable issue occurs when hair grows into the side of the hair follicle rather than exiting fully. Other signs and symptoms of ingrown hair include:

• Tiny, swollen bumps where you shave, tweeze or wax,
• Small bumps that look like blisters or are filled with pus,
• Small bumps that are darker than the surrounding skin (hyperpigmentation),
• Burning or stinging,
• Itching,
• Hair that is in the shape of a loop because the tip of the hair curves and grows into the skin.

How To Prevent Ingrown Hairs

The best way to prevent ingrown hair is to avoid shaving, tweezing and waxing. If this is not an option for you, then use these tips to make ingrown hair less likely:

• Before shaving wash your skin with warm water and a mild facial cleanser.
• Apply a hydrating shaving product like the Kanda Beard and Shave Oil for 1 – 2 minutes before shaving to soften the hair. Or apply a warm, damp cloth.
• Use a sharp, single-blade razor. This helps avoid a too-close shave.
• Don’t pull your skin while shaving.
• Shave in the direction of hair growth.
• Rinse the blade after each stroke.
• Rinse your skin and apply a cool, wet cloth for about five minutes. Then use a soothing after-shave product or the Kanda Beard and Shave Oil to help remove dead skin cells (exfoliate).

Shave Prep Routine

Your journey towards avoiding ingrown hairs should begin in the shower. Exposing your face to plenty of warm water can open the pores and soften the skin – two vital preconditions for achieving a smooth and effective shave. Soft, open skin allows the blade to travel with minimal interference, reducing the risk of shaving irritation, while ensuring that even the toughest hairs can be extracted.

For men with particularly sensitive skin, moisturising before shaving can be a good way to avoid unnecessary irritation. When shaving, each swipe of the blade deprives your skin of necessary moisture, so it’s important to make sure that your skin is properly hydrated before you begin your shave.

Exfoliate

Most men can go a long way toward stopping ingrown hairs by simply switching up their pre-shave routine. Exfoliating before shaving can help to soften your facial hair while lifting it further above the skin. What’s more, exfoliation is an effective way to remove dead skin that can clog pores and block hair follicles.

It’s important to remember that facial hair is especially sensitive, and requires a delicate exfoliation technique. For the best results, simply create a lather in your palms from a gentle cleansing product like the Kanda Cold Press Soaps and massage your face in circular motions for around 30 seconds before rinsing clean.

Shave with the grain

Shaving against the grain might result in a closer shave, but it can often lead to unnecessary irritation – and even the formation of ingrown hairs. Always try to follow the direction of the hair growth (if possible), and use the minimum number of strokes necessary to achieve a clean shave.

It’s also important to go easy on your skin. Steer clear of applying too much pressure to the face when shaving. You should try to let the razor do all the work, and you can protect your skin even further by using a single-blade razor.

Use fresh blades

Nothing invites irritation quite like an old, dull blade. Regularly replacing your blades will make sure you continue to get a cleaner shave while keeping your face clean and healthy.

Moisturise after shaving

Even after you’ve finished shaving, your skincare routine continues. Dry skin and razor burn can both be common after shaving, so it’s important to make sure your skin is receiving all the moisture it needs. Apply 3 – 4 drops of the Kanda Beard and Shave Oil to help push much-needed moisture back into the skin.

How To Care For Ingrown Hairs

What do you do if you already have ingrown hair and/or razor burns? The best way to treat ingrown hairs, in the long run, is through a great shaving and aftercare routine. But sometimes, pesky ingrown hairs can still crop up, despite our best efforts and it can be difficult to know exactly what to do for an ingrown hair. If you already have ingrown hair, don’t try to shave or pluck the hair in that area until it has healed, as it can aggravate the inflammation even more and make the hair harder to remove.

Here are some tips for dealing with ingrown hair that can speed up the healing process.

• Apply a warm compress to the ingrown hair. This will help to open up the follicle and bring the hair up to the surface.
• Gently exfoliate the area using a gentle exfoliating product like the Kanda Charcoal Soap. This will help to remove excess dead skin that may be blocking the follicle.
• Once the hair has grown out of the skin, use sterilised tweezers to gently straighten it out – without plucking. Removing the hair now before the area has healed risks another ingrown hair growing in its place. After a few days, the ingrown hair should begin to heal itself. Once the swelling is down, you can remove the ingrown hair using tweezers.
• If the ingrown hair hasn’t healed in a month, see your GP, who might be able to prescribe anti-inflammatory creams or other treatment options.

An occasional ingrown hair isn’t necessarily a cause for alarm. You may need to seek medical care if your condition doesn’t clear up or if it causes problems regularly.