How to Shave the Bikini Area Without Getting Ingrown Hair

If you get ingrown hairs along your bikini line, the cause may be the perfectly executed close shave that gave you a hair-free zone only a few days before. Ingrown hairs are likely to result after a method of hair removal such as shaving, which leaves the tip of the hair follicle with a sharp tip. Factor in the natural curl and coarse texture of hair in very personal part of your body, and ingrown hairs--those that grow back toward the follicle rather than straight out--can almost be expected. If you want to shave your bikini area without getting ingrown hairs, this means parting ways with close shaving techniques.

Step 1

Use the a single-blade razor to reduce your risk of getting ingrown hairs. While a razor with the double- or triple-bladed head or cartridge will no doubt give you a tight, close shave, these tools are also most irritating to your hair follicle.

Step 2

Exfoliate before you shave rather than after. Skincare expert Paula Begoun points out that flaking skin can prevent your razor from getting the right traction. She advises using a mild sugar scrub or an exfoliant that contains alpha or beta hydroxy acids before you pick up the razor.

Step 3

Make sure your skin is wet--but not barely damp or thoroughly saturated--before you shave the bikini line. Begoun notes that your skin should be wet for between two and three minutes before you begin shaving (Mayo Clinic experts advise using warm water). This makes hair more flexible and easier to shave.

Step 4

Apply a lubricating shaving gel or shaving cream along the bikini line. Begoun cautions against products that contain irritating ingredients, such as alcohol, menthol or peppermint. If you're in a pinch, use body wash or hair conditioner rather than a bar of soap, she advises.

Step 5

Shave in the direction of hair growth. Although shaving against the hair follicle will give you a closer shave and smoother skin, this is a primary cause of ingrown hairs, says the Mayo Clinic. Rinse the razor in water after each stroke.

Step 6

Apply an aspirin-based anti-inflammatory to the bikini line after you shave. The cosmetic scientists at The Beauty Brains recommend Tend Skin or Paula's Choice Skin Relief Treatment. If you can't find these products, you can make your own anti-inflammatory by crushing up a couple of aspirin in 1/4 cup of water and adding glycerin gel until you achieve the right consistency.

Step 7

Avoid wearing tight clothing, including jeans and athletic clothing, advises the Mayo Clinic. These can rub against your skin and exacerbate ingrown hairs.

Tips and Warnings

If the above methods don't work to effectively give you a hair-free bikini line or if you continue to experience ingrown hairs, consider another method of hair removal that's more permanent, such as laser hair removal or electrolysis. If you get ingrown hairs as a result of shaving the bikini line that don't resolve with anti-inflammatories, Begoun suggests applying an over-the-counter cortisone cream.
Don't squeeze or pick at ingrown hairs along your bikini line. According an article in "Cosmopolitan," this can cause infection and scarring. Cosmo advises exfoliating the bikini line with a product that contains salicylic acid or glycolic acid to get rid of the dead skin cells that are trapped by the ingrown hair.

Things You'll Need

Single-blade razor (recommended)
Lubricating shaving gel or shaving cream
Mild scrub or exfoliant
Aspirin-based anti-inflammatory

Friday, October 12, 2012