Most ingrown hairs after waxing come from three things: rubbing on the skin in the first day or two, dead skin that traps new hair, and an irregular waxing schedule. Take care of those and most of the bumps go away. This is the routine we give every client who leaves our waxing room in Bedford, NH.
Why ingrown hairs happen
When hair is pulled out at the root, a new, finer hair grows in. If dead skin builds up over the follicle, that new hair can curl back or grow sideways under the skin instead of breaking through. You end up with a small red bump, sometimes with the hair visible inside it.
Hairs that snap off at the surface during removal are more likely to grow back this way. So is skin that tight clothes rub against while it’s still sensitive.
The first 48 hours
Freshly waxed skin has open follicles, so give it a little room.
- For 24 hours, avoid heat, heavy sweating, hot tubs and tight clothing.
- For 24 to 48 hours, keep the area out of the sun, and skip tanning and swimming.
- Don’t exfoliate yet. The skin is still settling down.
- Try not to touch the area. Your hands carry bacteria onto open follicles.
Start exfoliating on day three
After 48 hours, exfoliate two to three times a week. Of everything here, this habit does the most to prevent ingrown hairs, because it stops dead skin from sealing over the new hair.
Be gentle about it. A soft washcloth or a mild exfoliating product used in light circles is enough. Scrubbing hard irritates the skin and can make the bumps worse.
Moisturize every day
New hair breaks through soft, hydrated skin more easily. Use a light, fragrance-free lotion once or twice a day, especially after you shower.
Keep to your schedule
Book every four to six weeks and try not to shave in between. Shaving cuts the hair off at the surface and leaves a blunt tip that’s more likely to grow back under the skin. A regular schedule also keeps your hair growing in sync, so regrowth gets finer and easier to remove each time.
Why sugaring helps
Sugaring takes hair out in the direction it grows. Fewer hairs break off at the surface that way, and fewer broken hairs means fewer ingrowns. The paste also holds the hair rather than the skin, so there’s less irritation to start with.
If you tend to get ingrown hairs, especially on the bikini area or underarms, ask us about switching to sugaring.
If you already have an ingrown hair
- Don’t pick at it, squeeze it or try to dig it out. That can leave marks and irritate the skin.
- Keep exfoliating gently and moisturizing. Most ingrown hairs work their way out on their own.
- Tell us at your next visit. We’ll look at the area and change how we work there.
If a bump gets painful, swollen or warm, or doesn’t settle down, please see your doctor.
Waxing and sugaring in Bedford, NH
Every client leaves our room with these aftercare steps, and we’re always happy to answer questions between visits. We welcome clients from Bedford, Goffstown, Manchester and nearby towns.
See our menu and book waxing and sugaring in Bedford, NH.