Dry Brushing to Treat and Prevent Ingrown Hairs

If you've read anything about how to treat and prevent ingrown hair, it ultimately comes down to exfoliating the skin. This helps release the trapped hair. Of course some methods are stronger and work better than others. There's using chemicals (think bump-fighting products) and the more mechanical route (like exfoliating salt or sugar scrubs).

Another mechanical means to exfoliating is dry brushing. It's just like it sounds. A dry soft-bristle brush is gently rubbed against skin, most often right before you shower. Not only does it help remove dead skin cells that block the hair follicle, but the force of the brush may physically prevent the hair from turning into skin or remove it.

Even if you don't have issues with ingrown hair, along with a cheap easy way to exfoliate, dry brushing helps improve circulation, aids the lymphatic system and may be a lending hand to combating cellulite. Get the instructions from Skincare Guide, Jen Adkins: How to Dry Brush.

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Preventing Ingrown Hairs

Preventing ingrown hair can be done by applying products but also by choosing a hair removal method that will lower your chances. Read more about these methods and say good-bye to redness, bumps and inflammation. Who needs that?

1. Electrolysis

The only method FDA approved for permanent hair removal using a needle to destroy the hair follicle. Results aren’t 100% guaranteed for everyone, but does have the best track record over any other hair ridding method. So if the hair isn’t growing, then you won’t have to deal with the redness, bumps and inflammation.

2. Laser Hair Removal

While it doesn’t have as wonderful of a performance record as electrolysis, it is FDA approved for permanent hair reduction. Although results vary, permanent hair reduction means that it can make hair less noticeable by a combination of reducing the amount and making it hair lighter and finer for long periods of time with multiple treatments.

I haven’t had any ingrown hairs in my bikini line, famous for getting bumps because of the coarse hair, after using Tria laser hair removal at home. About 90% of the hair is presently gone, and some hair is much finer.

3. Sugaring

Waxing often breaks hair above or below the the skin's surface instead of removing the entire hair follicle because it's taken in the opposite direction of growth. Instead of a new follicle growing with the natural beveled edge, the broken hair creates a sharper edge, making it easier for hair to grow back into skin.

The real sugaring technique (using a paste) lifts hair out in the same direction it grows, allowing the entire hair folllicle to be removed easier over breaking. So not only do you have longer lasting results, you have made of world of difference in preventing ingrown hair.

4. Waxing

While waxing can cause ingrown hairs because of the tendency to break hair, it’s still a much better option over shaving. You can be hair-free not dealing with the bumps for weeks at a time, versus a mere day or so for shaving. And if you go to a professional that knows what they’re doing, or wax properly at home, you’ll be on your way to preventing ingrown hairs.

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