I am a 24-year-old woman and have unwanted hair on my body. I have tried waxing but it is painful so I want to shave the hair with a razor. But I am scared as I have heard that it can lead to ingrowth. Is this true? How can I avoid it? Please help.
Yes, shaving can lead to ingrown hair, especially if you have thick hair growth, say most dermatologists. But if you shave the right way, you can avoid it. According to Dr Shefali Trasi Nerurkar, shaving in the opposite direction of hair growth can cause ingrown hair, as the hair grows inside the follicle and looks like a bump on the skin.
If you want to start shaving, you should follow the right tips such as using a good razor, shaving in the direction of hair growth and also using a gel or foam to soften the hair. Here are some more tips. Apart from these, also follow these tips recommended by her.
- Exfoliate your skin from time to time.
- Keep your skin moisturised.
- If you have existing ingrowth, don’t shave the area repeatedly.
- Make sure you wear loose, comfortable clothing post shaving, as tight clothes can irritate your skin.
- You can also opt for other hair removal methods such as laser hair reduction, epilation, etc.
You can also opt for waxes like chocolate or aloe vera that cause less friction and keep your skin smooth post the waxing session. They also hurt less than normal honey wax.
Image source: Shutterstock
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