There are many men afflicted by in-grown hair caused by shaving, which can not only be an annoying problem, but can also be incredibly painful. Extremely hard to treat at times, it is far easier to prevent them happening in the first place.
The secret to a good shave is in the preparation, equipment used and technique. Before starting to shave, the face should be gently wrapped in a hot towel. This relaxes the facial muscles, and softens the hair making it far easier for the razor to cut through.
The equipment used should be the best available. Ideally a three or four bladed razor should be used, whilst cream or gel should be put on with a quality shaving brush. Ensuring that a shave follows the way the hair grows is important too, paying particular attention to any changes in direction, in the neck area for example.
Following these steps should certainly reduce the likelihood of suffering from in-grown hair and better still, give a far better shave than ever experienced before. For men susceptible to the problem though, there are a few other things which can be tried.
If it is possible to only shave every other day, this will certainly help. Giving the skin and hair time to recover, it will allow any hairs pushed back on themselves to gently return to their natural direction. For some men of course, this may not be possible due to work commitments and so forth. If this is the case though, taking a break at the weekend and on days off will help a little.
Men that do suffer from in-grown hair will most likely have a particular area, or areas, which are more likely to be affected. If this is the case, it is good to be careful to only shave these areas once. Running a blade across a problem area of skin consistently will only make the issue worse.
Using an exfoliating scrub before shaving, at least a couple of times of week, will really help by removing all traces of dead skin, oil and dirt. These can stop hairs from growing in the right direction, causing them to in-grow and also help prevent blackheads to boot.
There are also a couple of things that men should not do, to help reduce the risk of ingrown hairs. The first of these is to avoid using electric razors, particularly those which have a rotating head. The way these work causes hairs to be fractured and cut in all directions, which will often then cause them to grow back into their follicles.
Wearing a tightly buttoned collar will cause irritation, so is something else which should be avoided wherever possible. Much the same is true of wearing a high necked top. These can both trap in dirt, oil and sweat, which will clog pores and promote hairs to grow in themselves.
Being careful with how shaving is approached, and taking care of facial hairs throughout the day will certainly help prevent in-grown hair. However, for some people, they still may be troubled by them. Should this be the case, it is best to approach a dermatologist for a thorough consultation.
