Makeup 101: Say Goodbye To Ingrown Hairs!

So I realize it is mid-August, and that means that it’s taken me pretty much all summer to get my bikini shaving to a level of perfection. As someone with sensitive skin, I am often prone to razor burn and the dreaded ingrown hairs. If you have ever had an ingrown hair you know that they are painful, unattractive, and pretty tricky to get rid of. But even with these risks we ladies have to keep a clean-cut bikini line!

Luckily, I have (finally) figured out exactly which products will prevent these problems, and what to do if you do have to deal with evil ingrown hairs. Yes, ladies, there is a solution. Now, stay with me:

- You should always shave your bikini line last in the shower when skin is softest. And don’t lather on the same shaving gel you use on your legs; use this gel from BikiniZone instead. It moisturizes skin as it sits there and is clear so you can see what you’re doing. At only $4.99, this gel is a necessity and I have found it to be proven to prevent unwanted bumps.

- When it’s time to actually begin the shaving process, you want to switch up your razor, too. The Noxzema mini bikini razor is made just for this area – small and delicate – so it’s much better suited to the job than whatever you’re using on those legs. It also comes in a three-pack, which makes it much easier to grab a new one often. And you should! It is important to keep the razor sharp and prevent buildup; a dull, used blade will create more problems down there than a new one.

- After you shave and towel off, apply a light, unscented lotion, like this one from Cetaphil. Lotions with more chemicals will create problems for newly shaved, sensitive skin. After applying lotion liberally , you can apply baby powder to prevent itching (yet another purpose for baby powder!). However, you want to pay attention: make sure you are using baby powder made of 100% cornstarch, as other kinds will cause build-up, burning and bumps.

If you follow these steps you should be able to avoid razor burns and ingrown hairs, but if one pops up there is a way to get rid of it:

Ichthammol Ointment can be bought at a drug store for pretty cheap. This ointment looks and smells…gross. Pretty much like tar, to be honest. But trust me, it’s much better than having a painful ingrown hair, which can escalate into more problems if left untreated. Squeeze a bit of this ointment onto a Q-Tip before you hop into bed and apply to the ingrown hair. Cover it up with a Band-aid so it doesn’t get anywhere else and the hair should be gone in the morning. If it’s not, repeat until that sucker is gone.

So now you should be able to take care of your hair removal at home safely (and cheaply!), with a couple of helpful products. Luckily I know all of this now and will be prepared the second summer heat rolls around next year (which, judging by this year, could be mid-July).