How to Prevent and Get Rid of Ingrown Hairs After Waxing or Shaving

Ingrown hairs after waxing, a Brazilian wax or shaving are incredibly common. The good news? The right exfoliation, moisturizing and hair removal routine can help prevent ingrown hairs, razor bumps and irritated skin.

I’ve been waxing for more than 20 years, and if there’s one question I’ve heard thousands of times, it’s: “How do I stop getting ingrown hairs?” Prevention is much easier than dealing with an angry ingrown once it’s there. And no, the answer isn’t scrubbing the living daylights out of your skin.

Is It Actually an Ingrown Hair?

A true ingrown hair happens when a hair curves back into the skin or becomes trapped beneath the surface instead of growing normally out of the follicle. But not every bump after waxing or shaving is an ingrown hair. Dead skin and sebum, your skin’s natural oil, can collect around a follicle and create a bump that looks rather like a blackhead. Irritated follicles can also cause those annoying little red or white bumps after hair removal.

How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs After Waxing or Shaving

My advice after decades of waxing is surprisingly simple: Gently exfoliate. Moisturize. Keep the skin calm. Chemical exfoliants such as salicylic acid and glycolic acid can help remove excess dead skin and buildup around the follicle. Salicylic acid is oil-soluble, making it particularly useful for oily, congested and ingrown-hair-prone skin.

At Queen Bee, we created Buzz Off Bumps® for skin prone to ingrown hairs and razor bumps. The secret is consistency. Don’t ignore your skin for three weeks and then attack it with a scrub the night before your Brazilian. Gentle maintenance wins.

Can Over-Exfoliating Cause Ingrown Hairs?

You can absolutely overdo it. Aggressive body scrubs, exfoliating mitts and brushes can irritate the skin and create inflammation around the hair follicle. If you’re trying to prevent bikini bumps and ingrown hairs, don’t make the skin angry in the process. Your skin barrier likes gentle.

Why Do I Get Ingrown Hairs After a Brazilian Wax?

Hair type plays a big part. People with curly or coarse hair are more prone to ingrown hairs because the hair can naturally curve back toward the skin as it grows.

Waxing technique matters too! If wax is brittle or technique is poor, hairs may break rather than being removed cleanly. Repeatedly waxing over the same area can also cause unnecessary irritation.

At Queen Bee, our estheticians are trained to analyze skin type, hair texture and direction of hair growth before waxing. We’re rather obsessive about it because a great Brazilian wax isn’t simply about removing hair. How we leave your skin matters too.

Why Do I Get Ingrown Hairs After Shaving?

Shaving cuts the hair at the skin’s surface. As that hair grows, particularly if it’s curly or coarse, it can sometimes curve back toward the skin and become ingrown. A dull razor, shaving too closely, repeated passes and shaving irritated skin can make matters worse. Use a clean, sharp razor with plenty of slip and try not to go over the same area repeatedly.

What Should I Put on My Skin After a Brazilian Wax?

Immediately after waxing, skip the acids and scrubs. Freshly waxed skin should be soothed and moisturized.

We use Queen Bee Balm after hair removal to help moisturize and soothe delicate skin. Keeping skin soft and comfortable is an important part of a good Brazilian wax aftercare routine. I’d also avoid heavily fragranced and stripping products on freshly waxed skin. Your skin doesn’t need perfume right now. It needs a little peace and quiet.

The Best Routine for Ingrown Hairs

After more than 20 years of waxing, I don’t believe you need a bathroom full of products. Cleanse gently. Exfoliate appropriately. Moisturize properly. Don’t pick. And please stop scrubbing the living daylights out of your skin.

At Queen Bee, we use a gentle cleanser for delicate-area care, Buzz Off Bumps® as part of an ongoing routine for skin prone to ingrown hairs and razor bumps, and The Balm to keep skin moisturized and comfortable.

Most importantly, don’t wait until you have an ingrown hair to start taking care of your skin. Prevention is always better than cure.

Queen Bee Salon & Spa offers professional Brazilian waxing, bikini waxing and body waxing in Los Angeles, Dallas, Seattle and Omaha, along with the aftercare products we actually use and recommend ourselves.

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Written by Jodi Shays, Founder of Queen Bee Salon & Spa