With smooth legs into summer: this is how you do it

As soon as the first ray of sunshine hits my leg, I feel the urge to wave my long jeans away and jump into something airy. But hey, before that dress or shorts can go on, those legs need to be summer ready first. And I don't just mean a little tan or shiny from body oil – I mean: smooth. So smooth that you feel like you're sliding on a sealion. No bumps. No itching. No ingrown hairs, that is.

So: how do you get legs that are not only Insta-worthy but also free from irritation? Here it comes.

Why do you get ingrown hairs?

You've just shaved, everything feels fresh and smooth... until those little troublemakers show up. Ingrown hairs occur when a hair decides to grow in the wrong direction – back into your skin, that is. Especially after shaving, waxing, or plucking. The result? Bumps, redness, and sometimes even an infection. Not exactly the summer glow we're aiming for.

The five golden tips against ingrown hairs

• Scrubbing is your best friend: Use a gentle scrub or something with salicylic acid a few times a week. This helps your skin and your hairs.
• A razor blade as sharp as a razor (yes really): Replace the blade every 5 to 7 shaves.
• Shave with the hair growth: Less smooth, but much kinder to your skin.
• Hydrate like a queen: Every day apply body lotion or aloe vera gel. Fresh legs guaranteed.
• Say yes to loose-fitting clothing: Less friction = fewer ingrown hairs.

Oops, spotted one?

No panic, according to Annelijn from Ireland. Don't push, scratch, or pick. Use a warm washcloth or compress to calm your skin. Do you see the hair? Gently lift it with clean tweezers, but leave it for a while. Your skin needs some time to recover. In case of inflammation: please leave it alone and call a skin specialist.

Laser hair removal: the future is smooth

Do you really want to never think about shaving, bumps, or ingrown hairs again? Then think about laser treatment. It may sound like rocket science, but it's now as normal as getting your eyebrows done. With a laser, your hair follicle is disabled by heat that is directed through the pigment of the hair to the root. Controlled, safe, and above all: lasting results.

Annelijn from Ireland – skin therapist, researcher, and founder of Skin Kliniek – has been working wonders with lasers for twenty years. If anyone knows how to go into summer bump-free, it's her.

Image: Instagram @kaylakosuga