Blog Layout
Ingrown Hairs! What Do I Do?
Tami O'Dwyer • Jul 16, 2019
Ingrown Hair Prevention
Ingrown hairs can be unsightly, painful, itchy and embarrassing. The best way to tackle ingrown hairs is prevention, this is far better than waiting to cure them.
The main reason ingrown hairs occur is due to lack of aftercare post waxing - but by adding a couple of steps to your bath time routine will work wonders and keep those pesky ingrowns away.
Ok.. so what do i need to do?
An ingrown hair is a hair that has been unable to penetrate the skin whilst growing, this will be due to dead skin on the skin surface blocking it's exit.. by removing that dead skin you allow the hair to grow out as normal.
You can use the following methods to do this:
- Dry Brush
- Exfoliating Mitts
- Wash Cloth
- Body Scrub
- Konjac Sponges
- Body Puff
- Specialised Topical products
Whichever exfoliation method you choose is fine but you need to be consistent with it! once you exfoliate you need to moisturise - one does not work without the other. You should be exfoliating at least 3 times per week and moisturising every day to get good results. There's no point in exfoliating 'extra hard' once a week - in fact this can damage your skin and even exacerbate the issue.
How do I exfoliate?
Let's use dry brushing as an example.. Dry brushing is just that - a dry brush. You can pick these up in most chemists or online for anything up to £20. I sell a dry brush in store for £6
https://www.bikiniwaxshack.com/shop
Using slight pressure gently stroke the brush against the skin in upward movements towards the heart.. you may see as you are brushing a dust appear on the surface.. this is good, this is the dry skin being removed. You don't want to be applying too much pressure as you don't want to cause irritation or damage the skin - you're not scrubbing a dirty pan! Once you have finished dry brushing bathe or shower as normal - don't forget to moisturise afterwards.
You'll notice straight away a difference in your skin and this will only get better with regular skin maintenance. Your skin will feel soft, supple and have a healthy glow. Regular skin maintenance will also help for your next wax, the hairs will be free to be pulled out by the wax without being attached to those dead skin cells.. this means the wax will be more effective and less painful.
My Ingrown Hair is infected
If you get an infected ingrown hair it can be painful! but
DON'T pick, squeeze or poke at it with tweezers - you risk scarring and hyperpigmentation. You also run the risk of spreading the infection. You want to use an antiseptic cream or lotion to fight the infection and calm the irritation. nappy creams like Sudocrem or Bepanthen work really well. I retail a Tea Tree and Witch Hazel antiseptic cream Teangi for £3.99
https://www.bikiniwaxshack.com/shop in most cases this will resolve the issue for you. If you find it hasn't cleared or the area has become more inflamed you need to visit your GP as antibiotics may be required.
If you suffer recurrent outbreaks and you are following a skin maintenance routine you are one of the unlucky ones.. But there are specialised products out there that can help. These work by drying/moisturising the skin so it can be removed easier when exfoliating, thus releasing that trapped hair. I retail a couple of products to suit every budget - Fur Ingrown Concentrate for £28 is an intensive moisturising oil packed full of essential oils that penetrate the pores to eradicate dryness, speed up skin healing, soften the hair and calm the irritation, it is suited to even the most sensitive skin. This stuff is great but pricey!
The other is GiGi No Bump for £4.99 this one works slightly differently but will give you the same effect. It contains Salicylic and Glycolic Acids which will penetrate the pore and eat away at the dead skin to unclog it. You can then exfoliate to release the trapped hair. Don't worry although it contain acids they are very small amounts and safe to use.
Hopefully the above has been informative and you now have a better understanding on how to deal with the dreaded ingrown hairs!
That Just Waxed Feeling!
It's a Perfectly, Natural, Normal Thing!
Baby Boom!
Selfcare!
Leg Waxing!
Intimate Wax!
Booking is Easy!
Reopening Monday 12th April @bikiniwaxshack OMG! I literally thought this day would never come! Finally, I can reopen Monday 12th April!! I am so excited to get back to work, out of my pyjamas and catch up with all my lovely clients! #bikiniwaxshack #professionalwaxer #waxexpert #postlockdown #northampton #nn5 #northants #waxingonlysalon #northamptonblogger #appointmentonly #NN #waxing #intimatewaxspecialist #covidsecure #hollywoodwax #brazilianwaxspecialist #malewaxing #onlinebooking #imsoexcited #backtowork
Ready to be Waxing All Day Every Day! @bikiniwaxshack You have a wealth of choice out there when it comes to booking your waxing appointments. Salons up and down the country will provide basic waxing services alongside all their other beauty treatments, you can get your hair, nails and waxing done all in one place. #convenience When it comes to intimate waxing should you be booking in at any salon, or should you be seeking out a specialist in this area? The choice is always yours, but did you know there are waxing only salons out there too! Salons with advanced knowledge, experience and training in just waxing. Bikini Wax Shack is a dedicated waxing only salon and provides an expert and professional full body waxing service for male and female clients. Located in the district of Upton, a few minutes outside of Northampton town centre. Appointments are on a one-to-one basis and by appointment only. Our in-home salon is bright, airy, immaculately clean, and hygienic, you will feel safe, comfortable, and relaxed for your treatments. We are open 7 days a week and to 9pm weekdays. We use the latest advanced hybrid waxes which are the highest quality, vegan friendly and kind to sensitive skin. Waxing is our absolute passion and the ONLY service we provide. We have trained with the industry experts in advanced intimate waxing, this is our specialism and most requested treatment. #amillionbrazilians So, if you had to choose, would you rather be waxed by a jack of all trades or by a master of one? #bikiniwaxshack #professionalwaxing #intimatewaxingspecialist #hollywoodwax #brazilianwax #malewaxing #maleintimatewaxing #northampton #firsttimewax #waxingvirgin #dedicatedwaxing #veganwax #homesalon
Reopening on the horizon @bikiniwaxshack The Government announcement last night confirmed that close contact services (me!) will potentially be able to reopen from Monday 12th April, this date, however, will be confirmed the week before, so it is still speculative and not 100% guaranteed. I choose to be positive and that we can go ahead! so online booking is open from Monday 12th April. If you have been shaving or using hair removal creams during lockdown this is totally fine, absolutely no judgement from me! Just remember that I need a minimum of 3 weeks hair growth to wax you effectively. If you let it grow, that’s fine too! Please don’t worry about the length of your hair or be embarrassed about having hair, I will trim the hair to the correct length if I need to – if you are going to do this yourself the hair needs to be a minimum of 1cm, a good guide is the length of a grain of rice. As always, skin preparation and maintenance are going to be the key to great results! Get buffing, scrubbing and moisturising now.. scrub 2-3 times a week and moisturise daily. I am a big fan of using body oil on wet skin after bathing, it really is the quickest, easiest, and most effective way. Get in touch if you wish to purchase any of my retail items. I can arrange delivery or contactless collection. Government guidance and my booking conditions regarding Covid-19 remain unchanged. I will continue to provide a ‘Covid Secure’ environment for your protection and mine. I will of course notify you of any changes as and when they become known. Tami x
