What Causes Ingrown Hairs and Which Hair Removal Products Help Prevent Them

September 06, 2017

Every woman and man who shaves or waxes regularly knows there is always a chance of an ingrown hair appearing a couple weeks after a session. Hair that grows back into the skin is one of the most embarrassing and uncomfortable side effects of hair removal, but unfortunately it is extremely common. Professional estheticians master the procedures and techniques to reduce their appearance, as well as which hair removal products to use to accomplish it. However, the probability of getting an ingrown hair relies mostly on the skincare treatments that customers follow at home to maintain healthy skin.

Ingrown hairs occur when hairs start to grow back into the skin instead of back on the surface, causing the hair follicle to swell, irritating the skin. It's a natural consequence of hair growth and since it can happen due to a wide variety of issues, there is really no way to avoid them forever—everyone has suffered from those pimple-like, painful red bumps at least once.
What causes ingrown hair?

• Curly hair
  Although everyone can suffer from an ingrown hair, people with naturally curly, thick hair are more prone to their hair folding back into the skin. There is also a greater chance of encountering ingrown hair in the areas where hair is the thickest—the beard and the intimate area for men, and the legs, the armpits, and the pubic area for women.


• Lack of exfoliation
  When dead skin cells clog the pores, it makes it impossible for the hair to continue to grow above the surface. As a consequence, the hair curls back into its roots, causing the so-called ingrown hair. Celebrity dermatologist, Harold Lancer, advised during an interview for The Cut that exfoliation should be performed every day to nourish the top layer of the skin and remove any skin debris. However, it is also admissible to exfoliate the area three or two times a week with a gentle loofah and a proper scrub based on your skin type.


• Lack of regular skincare
  Every day, our skin is exposed to sweat, sun, pollution, germs, and bacteria. All of these factors contribute to dead skin cell build-up and eventually ingrown hair. Skincare Magazine advises to clean the skin every night aside from regular exfoliation to ensure dead skin cells do not accumulate and provoke ingrown hairs.

• Tight clothing
  Staying in workout clothes long after a run or the gym won't aid in keeping the skin healthy. Estheticians advise not to overuse tight jeans or nylon leggings—they don't let the skin breathe properly, intensifying the appearance of ingrown hairs.

Which hair removal products will help prevent ingrown hair?
The following hair removal products are perfect for customers that tend to get a lot of ingrown hairs after a wax:

• Hard wax
  Hard wax does not stick to the skin when applied; it pulls out the hair in the direction of hair growth and is gentler on the skin than soft wax. How do these facts help prevent hair from growing backwards? Since hard wax only sticks to the hair, side effects such as redness or irritated skin lessen while still providing a gentle exfoliation to remove the excess of dead skin cells. On the same note, pulling the hair in the same direction that it grows greatly reduces the chances of hair re-growing into the skin because, unlike soft wax, it does not distort the hair follicle.


• Sugaring paste
  Sugaring works more or less in the same way as hard wax, hence its inclusion on this list. The paste is pressed against the direction of hair growth so that it can stick properly and grab the hair, then, it is pulled off with a quick, flicking motion. If any hair remains, the same paste can be reapplied—sugaring is a gentler procedure and won't cause irritation even if the esthetician needs to use it on the same area a couple times. The exfoliating effect from sugaring is very gentle, however it does removes a thin layer of dead skin cells and clients always notice their skin is softer after the procedure. Beauty Image's sugaring paste is a good option for your beauty business because it's made mostly of water and sugar and can be applied with the hands. It is designed to remove hair shorter than 3 mm.

Clients might wonder if the skin can still be waxed when ingrown hairs are all over their legs, back, or any other area. Ingrown hairs generally don't need medical attention to heal; they eventually disappear with at-home care. Nevertheless, if the pore becomes infected and pustules appear, professional estheticians should recommend not waxing the area until it's healthy again.

Although ingrown hairs cannot be completely avoided, if it comes to choosing a preferred method to reduce their appearance, waxing will always be the one to go to instead of shaving or hair removal creams. Shaving and creams hurt the skin and don't have the exfoliation effect waxing has. Hard waxes and sugaring paste actually do more than just remove hair—they work as a beauty treatment, leaving the skin smooth and healthier while also hair-free.

If you're a licensed esthetician and you're looking for professional sugaring paste or hard waxes for your spa? At Beauty Image, we have the best options for you—our Sugar Professional Forte and our wide line of hard body waxes. To learn more about our hair removal products and accessories, call us at TOLL FREE 888-513-8815 or fill out this contact form, we will be happy to answer all your questions.

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