Waxing and shaving leaves your skin smooth, soft and supple until the emergence of the dreaded ingrown hair. Learn how to get rid of them now.
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But first, what exactly is an ingrown hair? Ingrown hairs, commonly known as razor bumps, are hairs that have curled around and grown back into the skin instead of rising up from it. It produces a raised, red bump that looks like a little pimple. They can be itchy and uncomfortable, especially if you have a lot of them. In women, ingrown hairs are common on the legs, as well as in the pubic area and armpits.
1. Reach for the aspirin. Aspirin can help reduce redness and inflammation, the two most common symptoms of ingrown hair. The salicylic acid in aspirin scrubs away dead skin to loosen the offending hair. Crush two aspirin tablets and mix with a tablespoon of honey to form a paste. Then apply to the affected area and leave on for 10 minutes. Thereafter, rinse the paste off with warm water and pat dry.
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2. Scrub up. Exfoliating is key to getting rid of ingrown hairs. Simply apply a body scrub to the area and gently exfoliate the skin. This will free the trapped hair and also help to remove dead skin cells.
3. Try some tea tree oil. Tea-tree oil is a potent natural oil which has many antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties. Applying tea tree oil to the affected area will help open your pores, loosen up the ingrown hair and reduce inflammation. Add 10 drops of tea tree oil to a cup of hot water and soak a facecloth in it. Wring out the washcloth and place on the affected area. Repeat this daily until the hair is freed and the bump disappears.
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4. Bring on the tea bags. Black tea contains tannic acid, which reduces redness and inflammation and helps soothe the skin. Moisten a black tea bag in warm water. Rub it over the affected area for two to three minutes. Repeat several times daily as needed.
