Ingrown hairs: why they happen and how to stop them
Ingrowns are a skin problem, not a hair-removal problem — which is why the fix is a routine, not a product.
An ingrown hair is simply a hair that could not get out. It either grew sideways under the surface or curled back into the follicle, and your skin responded the way it responds to anything trapped: redness, a small firm bump, sometimes a spot.
Why they form
- A layer of dead skin over the follicle. The most common cause by far. New hair is fine and soft and simply cannot push through.
- Dry skin. Dehydrated skin is thicker and less flexible at the surface.
- Curly or coarse hair. More likely to curl back on itself. Nothing you can do about the hair type — everything you can do about the skin.
- Friction. Tight jeans, synthetic underwear, leggings worn all day, gym kit you didn't change out of.
- Shaving between appointments. A razor leaves a blunt, angled tip that snags on the way out.
The routine that actually prevents them
There is no product that fixes ingrowns on its own. What works is unremarkable and consistent.
- Wait 48 hours after any hair removal, then start.
- Exfoliate two or three times a week. A mitt, a soft brush or a gentle scrub in the shower. Firm enough to feel it, not hard enough to redden the skin. Chemical exfoliants — a lotion with salicylic or glycolic acid — suit sensitive skin better than scrubbing.
- Moisturise daily. Every day, not just after showering. Supple skin lets hair through.
- Wear cotton, and loosen up. Especially for the first days after waxing and overnight.
- Stop shaving between appointments. This undoes most of the rest.
What not to do
Do not dig one out with tweezers or a needle. You will almost certainly break the skin, and an ingrown hair plus an open wound is how you get an infection and a mark that lasts far longer than the bump would have.
If a hair is genuinely visible above the surface and looped over, you can very gently lift the loop free with clean tweezers — no digging. Otherwise, leave it alone. Warm compresses and gentle exfoliation will usually resolve it within a few days.
When it isn't just an ingrown
See a pharmacist or GP if a bump is hot, spreading, filling with pus, painful out of proportion, or if you are getting them in crops across an area. That can be folliculitis, which is a bacterial issue and needs treating rather than exfoliating.
If you're prone to them
Tell us when you book. Sensitive skin that inflames easily and grows hair inward is something we train specifically for, and the approach changes — the wax used, the direction we work in, the aftercare we send you home with. Regular waxing on a proper schedule also weakens the hair over time, which helps on its own.
A note on all of this: everything here is general guidance based on standard practice, not medical advice. If something is painful, spreading, or simply not settling, please see a GP or pharmacist rather than waiting for your next appointment.
