Ever had an ingrown hair?
— Soft Services newsletter
weak, weak human fur
Soft Services weak, weak human fur INGROWN HAIR aka ‘pseudofolliculitis barbae’ An ingrown hair is a strand that fails to spring from the confines of its womb, curling back into skin and continuing to grow beneath the surface. In some cases, the hair never fully exits the follicle and inflammation ensues. Avoid the fool’s errand of picking them free, which can lead to infection and permanent scarring.
If you’re looking to point fingers, the cause can commonly be traced to various forms of hair removal, an unnatural process that disrupts the body’s natural hair growth, though even hair that sheds naturally can be followed by an ingrown in its place. Neck Ingrown hair is more common for people with curly hair, and in areas of the body where the hair is coarse and curly—public area, underarms, and beards.
When we “remove” hair from our skin, whether through shaving, waxing, plucking, or melting with depilatory creams, we’re really only removing part of the hair, and temporarily at that. Beneath the skin, hair continues to grow, and much like a gardener tends to his soil for the healthiest plans, a proper skincare routine can lessen your chances of ingrown hair. INGROWN HAIR: A PREVENTATIVE STRATEGY Exfoliate.
Dead skin creates a hardened barrier that traps hair beneath the surface—whether physical or chemical, find a way to incorporate regular exfoliation in your routine. Speaking of physical exfoliation, friction on skin causes mild swelling. For the closest shave with less irritation, avoid physical exfoliation on days when you shave. Sharper blades mean cleaner cuts.
Change your razor often so that hair strands have sharp ends after shaving, versus frayed and jagged which creates puny little stands that aren't set up for success to make their way back out of your skin. Consider a single-blade razor that you can swap often without creating plastic waste. Feeling spendy? Laser hair removal, which stops the hair follicle from creating new hairs completely, is an expensive, though effective option to ending ingrown hairs.
Did we mention it’s also more painful? Serve softness. Soft, moisturized skin is like moist, plush potting soil—the perfect environment from which your thousands of little hairs can more easily sprout. Look for formulas with keratolytic agents like urea. Still curious about ingrown hairs? See our deep-dive into potential causes, treatments, and more expert body skin advice on Mass Index . Start treating ingrown hairs today with our Smoothing Set .
The three-step routine exists to exfoliate, calm, and keep skin soft. Buffing Bar Microcrystal Exfoliant $28 Smoothing Solution Calming Gel Exfoliant $34 Carea Cream Daily Toning Lotion $40 Smoothing Set Three-step routine $102 "I purchased this set around the holidays, a time of year when my dark, dry, eczema and erythema riddled skin tends to suffer even more than usual. I'm also prone to ingrown hairs after shaving and rough patches on my elbows and knees.
My favorite has to be the Carea Cream, it is literally the best body lotion I've ever used … As a Black person who hates being ashy, I tend to use products generously, but there was no need with this cream. I went back to Eucerin just to see if my mind was playing tricks on me, but it wasn't, and I never want to be without this lotion again. The Buffing Bar is the perfect gritty texture for tougher areas, but not too rough once wet.
The Smoothing Solution is a nice gel that also allows you to use less than you'd think, and it has reduced the amount of ingrowns in my bikini area and helped soften patches of skin near my elbows and knees that tend to be extra rough and dark! " Esra, 23, After 6 months with Smoothing Set
Tags: Deep Dives, Dry Skin, Eczema, Ingrown Hair, Buffing Bar — Original, Smoothing Solution, Carea Cream