How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs on Your Bikini Line

Contrary to popular belief, women don't only think about their bikini lines during the hot summer months. Grooming is popular year-round. 

If you shave or wax your bikini line it is likely that you have suffered through painful, itchy, unattractive ingrown hairs. 

Ingrown hairs can lead to an infection of the follicle known as Folliculitis. 

They are caused when hair gets trapped beneath skin and becomes infected with bacteria. Luckily there are several ways to prevent ingrown hairs on your bikini line.

 

Prep first

I'm a fan of preparation in all aspects of life. Prepare the area to be shaved beforehand. Soak your skin in hot water to open the pores. Any bacteria and oils trapped inside will be flushed. 

You can soak your skin by using a hot washcloth, soaking in a tub or standing that a lovely hot shower. Whatever you decide let the hot water remain on the skin for at least 15 minutes. This will also hydrate the hair and the skin before shaving.

Exfoliate

Another pre-shave / pre-wax treatment that helps to prevent ingrown hairs is to exfoliate your skin. Some natural mild exfoliators, sea salt, baking soda and sugar can be massaged into the skin. 

If you will wax your skin, rinse after a few minutes and your skin is prepped. If you are shaving, combine the exfoliator with a moisturizing shaving cream. 

This produced a very close shave and the exfoliator works with the razor to whisk away the dead skin that cause ingrown hairs. It is great to exfoliate your skin after you have been soaking in hot water for 15 minutes.

Use shaving cream

Using a shaving cream that moisturizes also prevents ingrown hairs. Avoid shaving with soap or shampoo. They work well to clean your skin and hair, but they lack the added moisturizing need for shaving. 

Sufficiently moisturizing your skin will prevent it from becoming damaged and inflamed. Inflamed and damaged skin often leads to ingrown hairs.

Shave properly

When you shave, you can prevent ingrown hairs by always shaving with the grain of the hair growth. 

Shaving properly will go along way to prevent and decrease the number of ingrown hairs that you will have. Shave in the direction that your hair naturally grows. This will ensure that the hair grows back correctly, and doesn't get caught under the skin.

Use depilatory creams or wax

Although they occur, ingrown hairs are significantly less likely if you use depilatory creams or waxes. 

The hair is chemically removed below the skin with the use of depilatory creams, and waxing removes the entire hair, root and all. 

These two allow the hairs in your bikini line to grow back normally and from the root, and cuts down on the abnormal patterns that can cause the hair shaft to turn inward.

Using an organic, natural hair removal cream has great benefits. Using a natural product will go far to prevent problems that can occur from using chemical creams. 

It combines the benefits of sugaring and waxing without damaging your skin, or potentially causing bacterial problems such as BV (bacterial vaginitis). 

When choosing a natural hair removal cream, avoid ingredients such as petro-based mineral oils. They are harmful to the earth and can be harmful to the body.

In closing

Ingrown hairs on your bikini are unsightly and painful. They are common, but with the tips above you can make sure that they are a little less common for you.

(Guest Post by Carol)