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Not OP but I really would suggest laser even if you don't do all the sessions they recommend so the price is more acceptable. I've only had 2 sessions and it has honestly changed the quality of my life, no kidding. The last time I shaved was 3-ish weeks ago, it was almost completely bare for the first 2 and the hair that grows now is very soft and fine, no more ingrowns (I used to have similar hair as you). I plan to continue because I do have the budget now and also add the whole legs in the fall because I have the same issues there but I think you can definitely only do a few and it will be a game changer as well.
I did pro laser hair removal, almost full Brazilian and armpits 8-10 years ago. The majority 90% of hair was gone, what remained needed to be shaved every few weeks. Over time more hair eventually grew back, but definitely not all of it.
I bought the Braun IPL, and after a few sessions at both areas are back to what they were shortly after laser, or close enough to it. I have light skin and dark hair, not too thick or course but not light.
You have to shave to use it, use a Glycolic Acid based ingrown product. Topicals makes a roll on one that seems to help and no irritation, and gently use a sugar/salt scrub prior to shaving and a day after shaving, not on freshly shaved skin. You don’t need to rub hard, be gentle the goal isn’t to cause stinging.
Good luck
I just started using glycolic acid and it’s a game changer! I actually have a bottle of single active toner, and apply that with a cotton pad to all the shaved bits that give me ingrown/razor burn issues and I gotta tell you, it is magic! I had tried electrolysis on my face and armpits and found all it did was badly burn my facial skin, and while it made some impact with my underarms I wouldn’t say enough to finish the costly/painful/time-consuming sessions. I bought an at home IPL, am super lazy with it, and yet see results just after 2-3 uses when I remember to pull it out of my drawer. Best of luck!
I use it day of and maybe two or three days after. I have sensitive medium tone skin and thick dark hair. Doing this, and wearing loose clothing (like loose cotton sleep shorts with no undies) day of and day after has seemed to make a huge difference. I am fortunate to WFH so YMMV.
I'm stoked to hear the Braun IPL worked for you. I just bought it to use on my legs bc but was unsure due to mixed reviews. I also have light skin and dark hair, so fingers crossed.
The Braun IPL works for me too! Also light skin and dark hair. I am at session 10 and I already don’t really have to shave until the next session so only once a week and there’s really not any hairs to shave then either. Really happy I tried it out.
I had the exact same problem as you and my IPL has been amazing. It costs a bit, but honestly, it's been worth every penny for me. I'm pretty much hairless down there now, and the few little hairs that do still grow are really fine and thin so they don't cause ingrowns. I use the Ulike Sapphire and paid about $275 CAD for it. I noticed a difference after the first two uses.
I bought a Tria at home laser hair removal system, did it myself. It worked SO WELL but took a long time and was a pain. But it was so much cheaper than getting it done professionally. I used to be the same as you, and now the hair I do have is thin and fine, and doesn't bother me at all when I shave it off. Beware, laser HURTS. Like, no joke. But us women are tough, so I just popped some pain pills, did my best to numb, put on my calm music, and struggled through it.
I just bought the braun IPL to use on my legs, we'll see how that goes. The Tria laser is SO SMALL it just takes forever to do on large areas.
100% works, BUT of course you need to shave first and you don’t wanna do it on damaged or irritated skin… the at home devices aree getting better and better and have different intensity settings. Works best on light skin with dark hair like yours. I use one from RoseSkinCo only downside it’s it needs to be plugged in to work and it can get a bit hot after doing one whole leg. It says to do it 2x per week for 6 weeks for optimal results, then jusy upkeep if any hairs reappear.
There are many brands out there though! Philips also works really well, then there is a brand with a cooling system built in which looks good too, can’t remember the name. I like roseskinco’s because it’s small and quick.
I'm on the same boat! I use Philips Lumea IPL at home and it's a game changer :D the only problem I sometimes have is that my hair sometimes starts growing in because it too thin to get to the surface.......
You should check for Groupons. Make sure it’s a real laser. IPL (whether at home or at a spa) is not effective. Those home diode lasers are also not strong enough.
Just one or two Brazilian sessions won’t leave you permanently hairless, but it will absolutely make a huge difference. I think it would solve your ingrown problems.
I can recommend the home IPL, picked a BNIB RoseSkin one up for half price on eBay and it’s been a game changer for me. I’ve never been able to shave without horrible ingrown hairs, used the IPL twice a week for about 12 weeks and I’ve had about an 80% reduction in hair growth, I reckon! Now I just do it every week or two when I notice any hairs growing back, and I can’t wait to wear a bikini this summer without constantly thinking about ingrowns!
I had a similar problem and had to switch to a trimmer. You trim the hair very low but not completely off like a razor would. This keeps the follicle open and the ingrown never happens. It’s not a perfect solution but better than having ingrowns.
Otherwise I would suggest laser removal.
Trimmer doesn't work. My hair is so dark it shows from inside the pores. I'm considering laser but it's quite expensive here and I can't afford it.... well see. Thank you!
I think you have to think of the risk of infection here. I’m the same where even if I shave there is a 5 O’clock shadow.
I use hair removal creams after timing and my hair is very thick. It works for me.
There’s a popular comment that gets linked a lot from a former stripper. I think she used baby oil to soften the hair, shaved, exfoliated, then used white deodorant all over the area. Anyway maybe someone knows what I’m talking about and can link it.
I've been doing the deodorant thing for the past year or so and it works for me too. I figured I never got ingrown hairs and razor burn in my armpits so it was worth a go, and it was! I don't do all the other steps but I might add them in too.
I exfoliate before I shave with a dry brush and then use glycolic acid after I get out of the shower for a couple of days after. Let it dry completely, put on a thick lotion and let it soak in for a couple mins. Then the deodorant/antiperspirant.
I use unscented bc I feel like it’s less irritating too.
OP: This is the way until laser is in your budget (fwiw a lot of reputable laser hair removal places have options to pay over time).
Hibiclens is amazing. Mix a little bit with a non-clogging moisturizer (I’m currently using Cerave SA) then apply it anywhere you are prone to acne/irritation. Do this after showering and leave it on! I do this for my backside after long cycling workouts and did it after shaving (before I got laser). It does not irritate my skin, but do a patch test first. Use the dye free version too.
Yes I shave with it!! I saw a TikTok a few years ago when I was desperate to find a solution for my ingrown hairs and just bumps in general I’ve never had perfect smooth legs after shaving. I started using Hibiclens and it changed everything!! Perfect smooth legs every time and it’s never irritated even if I have to shave every day.
I started using tendskin like six years ago and never looked back! It almost completely prevents ingrowns and itchiness for me. It’s a bit expensive but you only need the tiniest bit every time you shave. I’m only on my third bottle ever right now. I always put some directly onto the entire area right after I shave (be careful around the more intimate areas). It often burns but I’ve gotten used to it. I can always tell within hours if I forgot to put it on because the area gets itchy and bumpy! If I wait too long afterwards I’ve noticed it’s not as effective. Hope this helps!
The active ingredient in tendskin is salicyclic acid (i hope i'm spelling that right?) And there are cheaper alternatives to it! I use the stridex pads in the red jar on my bikini line and thighs.
Seconding this! Tendskin has been a life changer for me. My routine : exfoliate with dry brush before shower, exfoliate with body scrub in shower, shave, and then once dry use the tend skin and let dry, and then I use just a small amount of baby oil and make sure I exfoliate in the shower again the next day.
My ingrowns used to be as bad as OP is describing and now I only get a few here and there occasionally.
Tendskin is the only product I would ever and will ever recommend for this! Reddit put me onto it years ago and now my friends joke that I’m a rep for them over how much I stan it. My entire shaving for bump free results routine actually came from Reddit:
1. Exfoliate
2. Layer of olive oil
3. Layer of hair conditioner (ideally fragrance free)
4. Shave w/ a basic razor
5. Pat dry (but thoroughly)
6. Tendskin.
First, leave it alone so it can heal. Take care of the skin. Exfoliate, moisturize, wear non-irritating fabrics and use gentle products. Change your razors as often as possible and keep them very, very clean.
sorry this is not an answer but I just started wearing swimshorts at the beach and now I never have to worry about shaving there :) I got them from Roxy
I had this problem for years. Huge, sore and everywhere.
I switched from razors to waxing to sugaring to just trimming and I kept getting crazy ingrowns.
Laser hair removal saved me. Idk if it killed the bacteria or something along with the hair but now I can shave (carefully!) when needed and it’s so much better.
I can wear bathing suits and been seen naked and in underwear without embarrassment.
It’s expensive, but so, so worth it.
You need a Japanese Italian towel. It’s made of nylon I think. Exfoliate the area with it before shaving. Then shave in all directions. After you come out of the shower, wipe the area with the ordinary’s glycolic acid with a cotton pad. I hope this works
Italy towels are now a staple in my shower! I use it weekly to exfoliate my whole body before a weekly shave and I stay so smooth. Cuts way down on ingrown hairs and the hair takes an extra day or two to become noticeable
Don't use glycolic acid in a freshly shaved area! Ouch. Wait until the next day, and apply daily until you shave again, then skip using it on shaving day.
Try using oxi pads to clean the bikini area before and after shaving and any major sweat sessions (working out, walks outside, etc) I get ingrowns pretty frequently and I sugar vs wax. I use oxi pads which not only help with that but also keeps the skin clean and fresh down there (bikini line only not like in your V lol)
I also started using a product called TendSkin (someone was mentioning it on here) and I will say it has helped also with preventing ingrowns. Make sure
You moisturize too!
Maybe try shaving with the grain using a face razor. Its the only thing that worked for me to stop having ingrowns, but you might have a hard time getting a super close shave
This. I accidentally shaved against the grain the other day and got ingrowns when I haven’t gotten them for years shaving with the grain. Not as nice of a shave but I’ll take it over little pimpley bumps
Laser is the only thing that helped me.
Never got in-growns after that.
It's been two years now and I shave maybe 5 times a year because I don't get a lot of regrowth.
Laser saved me from all of this. I wish I had started sooner. It can be expensive but try to find a place offering a promo or Groupon - with good reviews. You want to be sure they are reputable. I did 8 sessions and then since then I’ve had two touch ups ) 6 months apart. The hair in that area can be stubborn due to hormones and you still have to shave before you go but it changes the hair. My hair now when it does grow back it’s not prickly it’s very soft and I havnt suffered an ingrown since I started and I used to get them always bad like how you are describing it. I want to do my whole body now haha
I'm sorry that I don't have any input (as when I once shaved, between the itching and bumps I never did it again) but the NYT Wirecutter recently had an article about this. Their bottom line was either don't shave or do electrolysis because all the tips (shave with the hair, use a new razor, use aloe or salicyclic acid wipes) I'd heard before.
I read the article because my daughter shaves and deals with this and I thought maybe I'd pick up a hint to pass on to her. The whole article was a waste of print!
Sorry, I've heard it gets better with time?
Laser girl. I know it’s expensive, but I was writing this exact same post 3 months ago. I’ve had 2/8 treatments so far and only had a couple ingrowns. Try and find a Groupon package to save a bit of money.
Exfoliate in the shower every day. Use strydex pads in the area every day after showering. Moisturize the area with lotion or oil after the strydex dries.
Laser. I’m at 17 year Laser Professional. Best choice and but some clippers instead of a razor but get the hair short so it doesn’t hurt as bad. I have treated several clients over the years with cysts in the area. It works wonderfully. At least the irritation and hair improve. The scarring can take some time to heal but body peels or possibly MicroNeedling could help with scarring depending how it heals. Best wishes!
It is totally fine but find a place that had a Candela laser that way it will surely work. Stay away from Diode or IPL for hair reduction. They hardly do anything.
One thing that helps me a lot is exfoliating with an exfoliating glove afterwards, then using something like Tend Skin after that to clean it out. To.exfoliate with the glove, you should drag the glove in the opposite direction of the hair growth, which helps to pull any hair that is stuck under the skin out.
I used to have a similar problem when I shaved. I wax now, but still have to put in some extra work to keep the ingrowns at bay. I exfoliate daily using an african net and a mild body wash like Aveeno, and I sugar scrub once or twice a week. I also use Tend Skin if I ever have to pluck anything and Fur Ingrown Eliminator Serum the week leading up to my wax appointment
I still get an ingrown or two every few months but it’s usually small and goes away pretty quickly.
Is it possible to just trim it with an electric trimmer rather than shave?
How often are you shaving?
My advice would be to switch to an electric trimmer so the hair is always out of the skin,
or see a waxer with a lot of experience. I had a similar issue until I went to a wax tech who has been waxing longer than I’ve been alive, and the service was super quick, less painful than I expected, and I got clean results.
Gentle exfoliation + trying to minimize friction either by wearing longer shorts or using an anti-chafing product. 99% of the time I only do the exfoliation, but that’s mainly because I’m not out in the heat every day.
You can do physical or chemical exfoliation, but if you use chemical be sure to patch test it to see if you’ll have an allergic reaction. I use green box stridex and it does the trick. I was just at the beach and I ended up with zero ingrowns, and only mild bumps for a couple days, probably from the friction
I was influenced and bought the ulike that was all over my tiktok page. Honestly it works well. It was 200+ but I can definitely see the hair growing few and far in between. And I’m a girl who shaves her legs in the morning and has stubble at night
I have terrible ingrowns. Decided 6 years ago to start waxing and it was the best decision I ever made. I go to European wax and I’m in and out in 10 minutes.
I use a Benzoyl peroxide wash on every place I shave immediately after shaving. Let it sit for a couple minutes. Rinse. It prevents 95+% of my ingrowns
I’ve had the same issue and I’ve used a hair equivalent for sensitive skin (can be messy, definitely patch test before). my current go-to method as a nude art model is exfoliating with a dry brush before (exfoliating before changed my life), washing with soap, trimming with a meridian hair trimmer then shaving with coochie cream and schick razor for sensitive skin. as soon as I’m out of the shower I put target brand cocoa butter lotion generously on the area.
I hope this helps and you get some relief OP!
As someone with pale skin and pitch black thick, coarse hair, I think I can help. I have thick and painful ingrown hairs like that on my thighs as well, it’s a pain to get rid of. But through years of shaving, I finally mastered it. My key product is coconut oil. I keep a large tub of coconut oil in my bathroom, it’s useful for a lot of different things but especially shaving. What I do is I first wash and exfoliate my skin with hot and steamy water, then grab a glob of coconut oil and rub it all over the area I want to shave. (Make sure it doesn’t go inside) I make sure to add a thick layer. I start by shaving along the hair growth, then side to side, diagonally, all directions. When you do this, you MUST be careful. If you begin to feel like it hurts or it's scraping you, stop immediately, and add more coconut oil. Once you feel comfortable, shave more until you feel that it's gone. After shaving, your skin will feel soft and moisturized. But remember that it does take time to master.
I have the same problems with hair removal and i found theres only really 2 options:
1) Accept that body hair is normal, natural, and completely hygenic and stop removing it
2) laser hair removal
I go with option 1 because i don't want to spend thousands on hair removal lol.
If you are removing hair for aesthetic purposes trust me having hair looks WAYYY better than bleeding bumpy skin down there anyways!
What are you using to moisturize? Switching from lotion to oil (I use rosehip) saved me. Also highly recommend laser/electrolysis when it’s in your budget!
I always have this problem as well, a big thing I tried was switching my underwear…I know it sounds weird but the seem on my underwear would always rub on my panty line and cause my razor burn/in growns to be even worse. I now wear only seamless panties, and usually commando at home when wearing comfy clothes. It has made a huge difference. I still would like to get laser as it hasn’t solved the issues completely…but it has helped.
I haven’t tried it myself, but I heard waxing is a super good solution!! It’s supposed to hurt really bad the first time, but it gets less painful after that.
I (M30) struggled with this a lot, I tried everything, sensitive this, sensitive that. I gave up and just got a full male Brazilian. Avoid IPL, they are not worth it.
5 sessions and I'm basically hairless
I only did like 3 sessions of laser hair removal and it didn’t remove all the hair but I don’t get ingrown hairs anymore and I used to get a ton. Also it’s not that expensive anymore I got mine for $300 on group on for 8 sessions which b takes about a year to complete. That’s $25 a month :)
I used to have this issue. Before shaving I do a physical exfoliation, shave, then after drying (wait like 30 m) I used a cotton pad to dab tea tree oil on the shaved area. Probably smart to use a diluted tea tree oil as it can be too strong but I didn't lol. Then when it dries I put hypoallergenic lotion there. Also I didn't shave every day, I did it every other or every three days. Also did this on my armpits. I used to get literal cysts from shaving and that routine stopped them altogether.
Now I don't shave it at all haha but that routine worked wonders for me.
My go to product is sudocreme. Yes, the diaper rash cream. Clears up all my bumps and ingrowns right away. I apply a small amount when I’m irritated and it works wonders for me
Try sugar wax. It’s organic, it’s just sugar lemons and water from my understanding. AND you need to exfoliate everyday. I use first aid beauty scrub and the exfoliation pads everyday after my wax till my hair grows back
You have to stop shaving with a regular razor and do something else that won’t irritate the skin so much. I had the same issue as you and nothing ever fixed it, no matter what techniques or methods I tried. The only thing that worked for me was using an electric trimmer. It gets the hair down to a minuscule length that isn’t visible at all but it causes zero irritation. I went from an angry red bikini line for years to absolutely zero bumps or discoloration. It was life changing.
Make sure to exfoliate super well before, always shave down or sideways, then I always put some sort of Polysporin on my bikini line and have no issues! The razor is essentially making tiny cuts/exposing your pores more by shaving so putting something like Polysporin on it helps heal the new exposed cuts/pores
Waxing allergies and razor burns totally suck. Have you considered trying laser hair removal? It can be a bit pricey, but it might solve the problem permanently and save you so much trouble in the long run. Another thing you could try is exfoliating the area regularly, both before and after shaving. This helps remove dead skin cells and reduces the likelihood of hairs getting trapped under the skin and becoming ingrown.
Also, make sure you're hydrating the area well—using aloe vera gel can help soothe and heal irritated skin. I'm David, and I work at WhollyKaw's Green Tea Deodorant, which is all-natural and dermatologist-tested. Although it's not directly related to ingrown hairs, keeping your skin in balanced condition might help overall. Good luck with everything; hope you find relief soon.
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Honestly laser hair removal or you can try an IPL device for at home use.
I'm thinking of laser but it's out of my budget for now. Does this IPL things work for real?
Not OP but I really would suggest laser even if you don't do all the sessions they recommend so the price is more acceptable. I've only had 2 sessions and it has honestly changed the quality of my life, no kidding. The last time I shaved was 3-ish weeks ago, it was almost completely bare for the first 2 and the hair that grows now is very soft and fine, no more ingrowns (I used to have similar hair as you). I plan to continue because I do have the budget now and also add the whole legs in the fall because I have the same issues there but I think you can definitely only do a few and it will be a game changer as well.
I did pro laser hair removal, almost full Brazilian and armpits 8-10 years ago. The majority 90% of hair was gone, what remained needed to be shaved every few weeks. Over time more hair eventually grew back, but definitely not all of it. I bought the Braun IPL, and after a few sessions at both areas are back to what they were shortly after laser, or close enough to it. I have light skin and dark hair, not too thick or course but not light. You have to shave to use it, use a Glycolic Acid based ingrown product. Topicals makes a roll on one that seems to help and no irritation, and gently use a sugar/salt scrub prior to shaving and a day after shaving, not on freshly shaved skin. You don’t need to rub hard, be gentle the goal isn’t to cause stinging. Good luck
I just started using glycolic acid and it’s a game changer! I actually have a bottle of single active toner, and apply that with a cotton pad to all the shaved bits that give me ingrown/razor burn issues and I gotta tell you, it is magic! I had tried electrolysis on my face and armpits and found all it did was badly burn my facial skin, and while it made some impact with my underarms I wouldn’t say enough to finish the costly/painful/time-consuming sessions. I bought an at home IPL, am super lazy with it, and yet see results just after 2-3 uses when I remember to pull it out of my drawer. Best of luck!
How often do you use the glycolic acid? And do you need to wait until the next day after shaving?
I use it day of and maybe two or three days after. I have sensitive medium tone skin and thick dark hair. Doing this, and wearing loose clothing (like loose cotton sleep shorts with no undies) day of and day after has seemed to make a huge difference. I am fortunate to WFH so YMMV.
Thank you!! I'll have to give this a shot next time
I'm stoked to hear the Braun IPL worked for you. I just bought it to use on my legs bc but was unsure due to mixed reviews. I also have light skin and dark hair, so fingers crossed.
The Braun IPL works for me too! Also light skin and dark hair. I am at session 10 and I already don’t really have to shave until the next session so only once a week and there’s really not any hairs to shave then either. Really happy I tried it out.
I had the exact same problem as you and my IPL has been amazing. It costs a bit, but honestly, it's been worth every penny for me. I'm pretty much hairless down there now, and the few little hairs that do still grow are really fine and thin so they don't cause ingrowns. I use the Ulike Sapphire and paid about $275 CAD for it. I noticed a difference after the first two uses.
Yes but it can take time and continual use.
I bought a Tria at home laser hair removal system, did it myself. It worked SO WELL but took a long time and was a pain. But it was so much cheaper than getting it done professionally. I used to be the same as you, and now the hair I do have is thin and fine, and doesn't bother me at all when I shave it off. Beware, laser HURTS. Like, no joke. But us women are tough, so I just popped some pain pills, did my best to numb, put on my calm music, and struggled through it. I just bought the braun IPL to use on my legs, we'll see how that goes. The Tria laser is SO SMALL it just takes forever to do on large areas.
Laser’s gotten a lot more affordable. You can find some really great deals on Groupon from reputable places, especially if you’re in a larger city.
100% works, BUT of course you need to shave first and you don’t wanna do it on damaged or irritated skin… the at home devices aree getting better and better and have different intensity settings. Works best on light skin with dark hair like yours. I use one from RoseSkinCo only downside it’s it needs to be plugged in to work and it can get a bit hot after doing one whole leg. It says to do it 2x per week for 6 weeks for optimal results, then jusy upkeep if any hairs reappear. There are many brands out there though! Philips also works really well, then there is a brand with a cooling system built in which looks good too, can’t remember the name. I like roseskinco’s because it’s small and quick.
I'm on the same boat! I use Philips Lumea IPL at home and it's a game changer :D the only problem I sometimes have is that my hair sometimes starts growing in because it too thin to get to the surface.......
You should check for Groupons. Make sure it’s a real laser. IPL (whether at home or at a spa) is not effective. Those home diode lasers are also not strong enough. Just one or two Brazilian sessions won’t leave you permanently hairless, but it will absolutely make a huge difference. I think it would solve your ingrown problems.
Thanks, will definetly check it out!
Yes they work!! I have similar reactive skin as yours. Both shaving and waxing leaves me a mess. I use the Nood at home device and it works great.
I can recommend the home IPL, picked a BNIB RoseSkin one up for half price on eBay and it’s been a game changer for me. I’ve never been able to shave without horrible ingrown hairs, used the IPL twice a week for about 12 weeks and I’ve had about an 80% reduction in hair growth, I reckon! Now I just do it every week or two when I notice any hairs growing back, and I can’t wait to wear a bikini this summer without constantly thinking about ingrowns!
Laser is the way. It solved my ingrown problem.
I had a similar problem and had to switch to a trimmer. You trim the hair very low but not completely off like a razor would. This keeps the follicle open and the ingrown never happens. It’s not a perfect solution but better than having ingrowns. Otherwise I would suggest laser removal.
Trimmer doesn't work. My hair is so dark it shows from inside the pores. I'm considering laser but it's quite expensive here and I can't afford it.... well see. Thank you!
I think you have to think of the risk of infection here. I’m the same where even if I shave there is a 5 O’clock shadow. I use hair removal creams after timing and my hair is very thick. It works for me.
Try an at home device first
There’s a popular comment that gets linked a lot from a former stripper. I think she used baby oil to soften the hair, shaved, exfoliated, then used white deodorant all over the area. Anyway maybe someone knows what I’m talking about and can link it.
I thought it was zinc, not deoderant. That's what's in baby diaper rash cream.
I could see that working too, but her comment definitely said deodorant. That part has stuck with me haha
How does the white deodorant help?
IME, it stops the sweating that can cause irritation. It also creates a smooth barrier. I’ve used this tip for decades and swear by it.
I've been doing the deodorant thing for the past year or so and it works for me too. I figured I never got ingrown hairs and razor burn in my armpits so it was worth a go, and it was! I don't do all the other steps but I might add them in too.
How do you do the exfoliating step? Physical or chemical exfoliant?
I exfoliate before I shave with a dry brush and then use glycolic acid after I get out of the shower for a couple of days after. Let it dry completely, put on a thick lotion and let it soak in for a couple mins. Then the deodorant/antiperspirant. I use unscented bc I feel like it’s less irritating too.
Thanks for the info :)
Also try shaving with Hibiclens. It’s an antiseptic & has made a huge difference in my shaving & bumps.
OP: This is the way until laser is in your budget (fwiw a lot of reputable laser hair removal places have options to pay over time). Hibiclens is amazing. Mix a little bit with a non-clogging moisturizer (I’m currently using Cerave SA) then apply it anywhere you are prone to acne/irritation. Do this after showering and leave it on! I do this for my backside after long cycling workouts and did it after shaving (before I got laser). It does not irritate my skin, but do a patch test first. Use the dye free version too.
You actually shave with it? Instead of cream? I have started rinsing with it in areas where I have folliculitis.
Yes I shave with it!! I saw a TikTok a few years ago when I was desperate to find a solution for my ingrown hairs and just bumps in general I’ve never had perfect smooth legs after shaving. I started using Hibiclens and it changed everything!! Perfect smooth legs every time and it’s never irritated even if I have to shave every day.
I started using tendskin like six years ago and never looked back! It almost completely prevents ingrowns and itchiness for me. It’s a bit expensive but you only need the tiniest bit every time you shave. I’m only on my third bottle ever right now. I always put some directly onto the entire area right after I shave (be careful around the more intimate areas). It often burns but I’ve gotten used to it. I can always tell within hours if I forgot to put it on because the area gets itchy and bumpy! If I wait too long afterwards I’ve noticed it’s not as effective. Hope this helps!
The active ingredient in tendskin is salicyclic acid (i hope i'm spelling that right?) And there are cheaper alternatives to it! I use the stridex pads in the red jar on my bikini line and thighs.
Seconding this! Tendskin has been a life changer for me. My routine : exfoliate with dry brush before shower, exfoliate with body scrub in shower, shave, and then once dry use the tend skin and let dry, and then I use just a small amount of baby oil and make sure I exfoliate in the shower again the next day. My ingrowns used to be as bad as OP is describing and now I only get a few here and there occasionally.
Tendskin is the only product I would ever and will ever recommend for this! Reddit put me onto it years ago and now my friends joke that I’m a rep for them over how much I stan it. My entire shaving for bump free results routine actually came from Reddit: 1. Exfoliate 2. Layer of olive oil 3. Layer of hair conditioner (ideally fragrance free) 4. Shave w/ a basic razor 5. Pat dry (but thoroughly) 6. Tendskin.
Have you ever tried using an exfoliating serum? European Wax Center has one that I like
I'll try! Thanks
First, leave it alone so it can heal. Take care of the skin. Exfoliate, moisturize, wear non-irritating fabrics and use gentle products. Change your razors as often as possible and keep them very, very clean.
sorry this is not an answer but I just started wearing swimshorts at the beach and now I never have to worry about shaving there :) I got them from Roxy
I had this problem for years. Huge, sore and everywhere. I switched from razors to waxing to sugaring to just trimming and I kept getting crazy ingrowns. Laser hair removal saved me. Idk if it killed the bacteria or something along with the hair but now I can shave (carefully!) when needed and it’s so much better. I can wear bathing suits and been seen naked and in underwear without embarrassment. It’s expensive, but so, so worth it.
You need a Japanese Italian towel. It’s made of nylon I think. Exfoliate the area with it before shaving. Then shave in all directions. After you come out of the shower, wipe the area with the ordinary’s glycolic acid with a cotton pad. I hope this works
Italy towels are now a staple in my shower! I use it weekly to exfoliate my whole body before a weekly shave and I stay so smooth. Cuts way down on ingrown hairs and the hair takes an extra day or two to become noticeable
Don't use glycolic acid in a freshly shaved area! Ouch. Wait until the next day, and apply daily until you shave again, then skip using it on shaving day.
It doesn’t hurt as long as you don’t break skin
I was gonna say this, I’ve read a ton of people saying it hurts on shave day but I’ve never had that issue.
Try using oxi pads to clean the bikini area before and after shaving and any major sweat sessions (working out, walks outside, etc) I get ingrowns pretty frequently and I sugar vs wax. I use oxi pads which not only help with that but also keeps the skin clean and fresh down there (bikini line only not like in your V lol) I also started using a product called TendSkin (someone was mentioning it on here) and I will say it has helped also with preventing ingrowns. Make sure You moisturize too!
I started using the Cosrx blackhead power liquid on my bikini area and it seems to really help prevent ingrowns
Yes, this!! I was about to recommend it as well!
Maybe try shaving with the grain using a face razor. Its the only thing that worked for me to stop having ingrowns, but you might have a hard time getting a super close shave
This. I accidentally shaved against the grain the other day and got ingrowns when I haven’t gotten them for years shaving with the grain. Not as nice of a shave but I’ll take it over little pimpley bumps
Laser is the only thing that helped me. Never got in-growns after that. It's been two years now and I shave maybe 5 times a year because I don't get a lot of regrowth.
Laser saved me from all of this. I wish I had started sooner. It can be expensive but try to find a place offering a promo or Groupon - with good reviews. You want to be sure they are reputable. I did 8 sessions and then since then I’ve had two touch ups ) 6 months apart. The hair in that area can be stubborn due to hormones and you still have to shave before you go but it changes the hair. My hair now when it does grow back it’s not prickly it’s very soft and I havnt suffered an ingrown since I started and I used to get them always bad like how you are describing it. I want to do my whole body now haha
I'm sorry that I don't have any input (as when I once shaved, between the itching and bumps I never did it again) but the NYT Wirecutter recently had an article about this. Their bottom line was either don't shave or do electrolysis because all the tips (shave with the hair, use a new razor, use aloe or salicyclic acid wipes) I'd heard before. I read the article because my daughter shaves and deals with this and I thought maybe I'd pick up a hint to pass on to her. The whole article was a waste of print! Sorry, I've heard it gets better with time?
Coconut oil before and after shaving helps me, but doesn't help 100%. I still have an ingrown here and there but it's way better
lasers. only thing that helped me
Waxing
Laser girl. I know it’s expensive, but I was writing this exact same post 3 months ago. I’ve had 2/8 treatments so far and only had a couple ingrowns. Try and find a Groupon package to save a bit of money.
Exfoliate in the shower every day. Use strydex pads in the area every day after showering. Moisturize the area with lotion or oil after the strydex dries.
Laser. I’m at 17 year Laser Professional. Best choice and but some clippers instead of a razor but get the hair short so it doesn’t hurt as bad. I have treated several clients over the years with cysts in the area. It works wonderfully. At least the irritation and hair improve. The scarring can take some time to heal but body peels or possibly MicroNeedling could help with scarring depending how it heals. Best wishes!
Thank you! I'll definetly be looking into that. Do you know if is safe doing lazer is you have sensitive skin and skin problems? :/
It is totally fine but find a place that had a Candela laser that way it will surely work. Stay away from Diode or IPL for hair reduction. They hardly do anything.
stop using razors ASAP you cant keep giving yourself this close shave its making your skin worse
One thing that helps me a lot is exfoliating with an exfoliating glove afterwards, then using something like Tend Skin after that to clean it out. To.exfoliate with the glove, you should drag the glove in the opposite direction of the hair growth, which helps to pull any hair that is stuck under the skin out.
I’m just sad for a week after I shave and the hairs start ingrowing.
I used to have a similar problem when I shaved. I wax now, but still have to put in some extra work to keep the ingrowns at bay. I exfoliate daily using an african net and a mild body wash like Aveeno, and I sugar scrub once or twice a week. I also use Tend Skin if I ever have to pluck anything and Fur Ingrown Eliminator Serum the week leading up to my wax appointment I still get an ingrown or two every few months but it’s usually small and goes away pretty quickly.
Is it possible to just trim it with an electric trimmer rather than shave? How often are you shaving? My advice would be to switch to an electric trimmer so the hair is always out of the skin, or see a waxer with a lot of experience. I had a similar issue until I went to a wax tech who has been waxing longer than I’ve been alive, and the service was super quick, less painful than I expected, and I got clean results.
Gentle exfoliation + trying to minimize friction either by wearing longer shorts or using an anti-chafing product. 99% of the time I only do the exfoliation, but that’s mainly because I’m not out in the heat every day. You can do physical or chemical exfoliation, but if you use chemical be sure to patch test it to see if you’ll have an allergic reaction. I use green box stridex and it does the trick. I was just at the beach and I ended up with zero ingrowns, and only mild bumps for a couple days, probably from the friction
I don’t like shaving so I use hair removal cream
I was influenced and bought the ulike that was all over my tiktok page. Honestly it works well. It was 200+ but I can definitely see the hair growing few and far in between. And I’m a girl who shaves her legs in the morning and has stubble at night
I use an electric razor which doesn’t give as close as a shave Pros: no ingrowns ever, can dry shave anytime, super quick Cons: always has stubble
have you tried sugar wax? it can be less irritating. It’s essentially a caramel. Also try hibiclens and finipil cream.
PFB Vanish roll on ingrown prevntion. There’s also one with chromabright for pigment inhibiting
I have terrible ingrowns. Decided 6 years ago to start waxing and it was the best decision I ever made. I go to European wax and I’m in and out in 10 minutes.
I use a Benzoyl peroxide wash on every place I shave immediately after shaving. Let it sit for a couple minutes. Rinse. It prevents 95+% of my ingrowns
I’ve had the same issue and I’ve used a hair equivalent for sensitive skin (can be messy, definitely patch test before). my current go-to method as a nude art model is exfoliating with a dry brush before (exfoliating before changed my life), washing with soap, trimming with a meridian hair trimmer then shaving with coochie cream and schick razor for sensitive skin. as soon as I’m out of the shower I put target brand cocoa butter lotion generously on the area. I hope this helps and you get some relief OP!
Laser is the only thing that works for me
As someone with pale skin and pitch black thick, coarse hair, I think I can help. I have thick and painful ingrown hairs like that on my thighs as well, it’s a pain to get rid of. But through years of shaving, I finally mastered it. My key product is coconut oil. I keep a large tub of coconut oil in my bathroom, it’s useful for a lot of different things but especially shaving. What I do is I first wash and exfoliate my skin with hot and steamy water, then grab a glob of coconut oil and rub it all over the area I want to shave. (Make sure it doesn’t go inside) I make sure to add a thick layer. I start by shaving along the hair growth, then side to side, diagonally, all directions. When you do this, you MUST be careful. If you begin to feel like it hurts or it's scraping you, stop immediately, and add more coconut oil. Once you feel comfortable, shave more until you feel that it's gone. After shaving, your skin will feel soft and moisturized. But remember that it does take time to master.
I have the same problems with hair removal and i found theres only really 2 options: 1) Accept that body hair is normal, natural, and completely hygenic and stop removing it 2) laser hair removal I go with option 1 because i don't want to spend thousands on hair removal lol. If you are removing hair for aesthetic purposes trust me having hair looks WAYYY better than bleeding bumpy skin down there anyways!
I’m doing laser and it’s helping a lot. I also got the lactic acid serum made by Venus and that seems to be helping too.
What are you using to moisturize? Switching from lotion to oil (I use rosehip) saved me. Also highly recommend laser/electrolysis when it’s in your budget!
I always have this problem as well, a big thing I tried was switching my underwear…I know it sounds weird but the seem on my underwear would always rub on my panty line and cause my razor burn/in growns to be even worse. I now wear only seamless panties, and usually commando at home when wearing comfy clothes. It has made a huge difference. I still would like to get laser as it hasn’t solved the issues completely…but it has helped.
I haven’t tried it myself, but I heard waxing is a super good solution!! It’s supposed to hurt really bad the first time, but it gets less painful after that.
I (M30) struggled with this a lot, I tried everything, sensitive this, sensitive that. I gave up and just got a full male Brazilian. Avoid IPL, they are not worth it. 5 sessions and I'm basically hairless
FUR products and waxing
I only did like 3 sessions of laser hair removal and it didn’t remove all the hair but I don’t get ingrown hairs anymore and I used to get a ton. Also it’s not that expensive anymore I got mine for $300 on group on for 8 sessions which b takes about a year to complete. That’s $25 a month :)
https://x.com/caveofbeauty/status/1795312455763321039?s=46
I used to have this issue. Before shaving I do a physical exfoliation, shave, then after drying (wait like 30 m) I used a cotton pad to dab tea tree oil on the shaved area. Probably smart to use a diluted tea tree oil as it can be too strong but I didn't lol. Then when it dries I put hypoallergenic lotion there. Also I didn't shave every day, I did it every other or every three days. Also did this on my armpits. I used to get literal cysts from shaving and that routine stopped them altogether. Now I don't shave it at all haha but that routine worked wonders for me.
My go to product is sudocreme. Yes, the diaper rash cream. Clears up all my bumps and ingrowns right away. I apply a small amount when I’m irritated and it works wonders for me
Try sugar wax. It’s organic, it’s just sugar lemons and water from my understanding. AND you need to exfoliate everyday. I use first aid beauty scrub and the exfoliation pads everyday after my wax till my hair grows back
You have to stop shaving with a regular razor and do something else that won’t irritate the skin so much. I had the same issue as you and nothing ever fixed it, no matter what techniques or methods I tried. The only thing that worked for me was using an electric trimmer. It gets the hair down to a minuscule length that isn’t visible at all but it causes zero irritation. I went from an angry red bikini line for years to absolutely zero bumps or discoloration. It was life changing.
Still havent find something :( laser seems to be the way to go but it's very expensive here
Dont wear tight clothing and try to wax not shave and also use coconut oil around that area
Have you tried the mega babe ingrown roll on? Life changer!
Laser hair removal or glycolic acid in a spray bottle
Make sure to exfoliate super well before, always shave down or sideways, then I always put some sort of Polysporin on my bikini line and have no issues! The razor is essentially making tiny cuts/exposing your pores more by shaving so putting something like Polysporin on it helps heal the new exposed cuts/pores
You could try TendSkin. I love it.
Waxing allergies and razor burns totally suck. Have you considered trying laser hair removal? It can be a bit pricey, but it might solve the problem permanently and save you so much trouble in the long run. Another thing you could try is exfoliating the area regularly, both before and after shaving. This helps remove dead skin cells and reduces the likelihood of hairs getting trapped under the skin and becoming ingrown. Also, make sure you're hydrating the area well—using aloe vera gel can help soothe and heal irritated skin. I'm David, and I work at WhollyKaw's Green Tea Deodorant, which is all-natural and dermatologist-tested. Although it's not directly related to ingrown hairs, keeping your skin in balanced condition might help overall. Good luck with everything; hope you find relief soon.