First aid for ingrown hairs

One of the most annoying things on earth, I find, is the maintenance of your, uh, down under. It may be a gift from Mother Nature; all that hair is just a hassle for me. Shaving works fine and gives a nice smooth result, but give it two days and you can start all over again. Waxing? Okay, just bite your teeth, everything is pulled out with root and all, but then you're left (if not done properly) with a field of red bumps. And I haven't even mentioned the terror called ingrown hairs. Still, there are a few tricks to prevent or make ingrown specimens disappear once the damage is done.

1. Never shave dry

Wet hair is easier to glide with the razor. Dry hairs are stiffer, increasing the chance of them growing in.

2. Loose clothing

Attached to your tight skinny? If you often suffer from ingrown hairs, it's wise to leave those in the closet more often. Tight clothing causes friction and puts pressure on your hair follicles. This means they can't go anywhere and crawl back into your skin. Yuck.

3. The right direction

Shaving with the hair may not give the smoothest results, but it's better for the skin. Shaving against the hair direction damages the skin, causing it to become inflamed and irritated.

4. Scrubbing

The thicker your skin is, the harder it is for a hair to grow properly and correctly. Dead skin cells lead to thicker skin, which only increases the chance of ingrown hairs. Scrub your skin regularly to get rid of dead and dry skin cells.

5. Dull

Dull and heavily used razors are the biggest culprits. If your hairs are not properly ‘broken off’, a thin tip often remains under the skin that has difficulty growing out.

6. Aftercare

After shaving, hold a warm washcloth or towel on your bikini line. This calms and soothes the hair follicles and prevents red bumps.

7. Zwitsal

Who would have thought you would bring out the bottle of Zwitsal talcum powder again? Yes, girlfriend, it really works. Talcum powder soothes the skin, and not just for red baby bottoms...