Top tips for tackling ingrown hairs

Yes, {ingrown hairs} are the blots on our otherwise super-smooth stems (or freshly waxed bikini lines) but, as much as they're annoying there are few things more delightful than uprooting one that's caused a lotta grief... inevitably shouting "Gotcha!" as you scrutinise the 'treasure' from your dig. But, gratifying as extraction is, we'd gladly swap the momentary glee for 'bumpless' limbs, so here are some top tips to help address this beauty bugbear...What even are they? Well, if your hair is quite fine or you shave regularly then sometimes the hairs become trapped before reaching the 'exit'. Consider dead cells like a doorman denying your tipsy hairs up the VIP roof terrace - instead, they're obliged to turn tail and retreat, causing little black dots or a huff-induced hump.Squeezing can often work wonders but, with squeezing - as with pimples - comes the risk of scarring (ouch). Far better to try and avoid an 'ingrown' in the first place - it just involves a little TLC.

Acids are allies...In the same way you'd reach for an acid to keep your face glowing, acids - both AHAs and BHAs - are great for skin below the chin as well. Use a body wash that's laced with a retexturising acid like glycolic - Pixi's {Glycolic Body Wash} is perfect - and use this to tackle blocked pores. Fewer breakouts and fewer ingrown hairs? The very definition of two birds, one body wash.And if it's your bikini line that's prone to pimples, The Perfect V's {Gentle Exfoliator} is a perfect excuse to devote some 'V-time' to your intimate 'bits'. An overdue apology for many moons of tyranny from waxists, razor blades and epilators (ouchies!), this boasts natural AHAs and salicylic acid to exfoliate both superficially and on a deeper level - perfect for preventing those unwelcome lumps and bumps. Just make sure you stick to the 'V' and steer clear of the vulva...You can also find a swathe of acid-laced creams, treatments and skin-smoothing serums on the market. A great way to {exfoliate} with almost zero effort, these clear away the surface 'scurf' while you get on with... brunch? REN's {AHA Smart Renewal Body Serum} is perfect for (gently) resurfacing skin overnight, while Pixi's {Glycolic Body Lotion} gets skin glowing - just make sure you follow with sunscreen if baring your pins in the daytime.Befriend a body brush...Pick your weapon. We swear by Dr. Barbara Sturm's {Body Brush Soft} for beginners, while those who're au fait can try something a little bit 'stiffer'. goop's {G.Tox Ultimate Dry Brush} is made from naturally firm yet non-abrasive sisal fibres from agave, which swiftly eliminate scales to leave hairs free to to grow unencumbered.

Scrub up...Try a body polish once (or twice) a week to really get the 'dregs' (shudder). frank body's {Coconut Coffee Scrub} not only smells incredible, but loosens reptilian skin to reveal super smooth, 'polished' acres of luminous, dewy (and speckle-free) flesh. Consider it a wake-up call for cells in hibernation...Use a 'conditioner'...You care for the hair on your head so why show such disdain for the hair on your body? Whatever your hairstyle - from bald to full bush - fur's edit of specialist blends are designed to help soften and care for your brows to your 'lady garden'. Packed with precious extracts to soothe, calm and soften skin post 'preening', the {Ingrown Concentrate} boasts a concoction of antimicrobial extracts to help take the sting out of waxing and minimise redness. Use this to target specific ingrowers, or massage into depilated areas to keep unwanted lumps and bumps at bay.Tweeze with caution...If you must go a-burrowing, make sure you're armed with an excellent weapon. Made for Swiss watchmakers, Rubis {Pointer Tweezers} are the very definition of precision - perfectly balanced and made from the finest, antibacterial stainless steel to guarantee a perfect pluck.Go pro...The best way to tackle ingrowns? Zap the roots of the issue with Tria's {Hair Removal Laser 4X}. An at-home device that 'disables' your follicles, this savvy gadget will free you from waxing, {shaving} or having to deal with the aftermath. Using professional-strength diode laser technology, this innovative treatment targets pigment in hairs' follicles, which causes the hair to fall out and the follicle to be 'switched off' - a boon for all devoted depilators (hallelujah!).SHOP OUR INGROWN HAIR CATEGORY >>

Verity Douglas Writer and expert

Cult Beauty’s Content Editor and a Cult Beauty OG, Verity loves nothing more than the marriage of language and lip balm. A quintessential Libran, she’s a self-professed magpie for luxury ‘must-haves' and always pursuing the new and the niche — from the boujee-est skin care to cutting-edge tech. Balancing an urge to stop the clock with her desire to embrace the ageing process (and set a positive example for her daughter), Verity's a retinol obsessive and will gladly share her thoughts about the time-defying gadgets, masks and treatments worth the splurge...

Top tips for tackling ingrown hairs

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