All kinds of hair removal techniques, epilating, shaving, waxing, sugaring, even creams, can cause ingrown hairs.
They are little red bumps that can be dotted around the skin. Usually only a small amount occur. They are hairs that have not broken through the skin, and have either curled back in on itself or have not grown through the hair follicle and have embedded in the skin. They sound a lot worse than they actually are, and most of the time are minor irritations. They are common with epilating because epilation pulls the hair out by its root, and when the hair grows back it becomes weaker and has not got as much force to push through the outer skin.
The best way to prevent these ingrown hairs is to exfoliate the skin each time you are in the bath or shower. It helps let any potential ingrown hairs out. My favourite ways to exfoliate are to use a puff with some shower cream and I occasionally use Clinique Sparkle Skin. This is a body scrub that is very gentle on the skin and has a menthol smell which really wakes you up in the shower. Skin becomes lovely and smooth from it. Since making an effort to exfoliate more often I’ve not had any ingrown hairs at all, but I did used to before exfoliating. I also always apply Johnsons Baby Lotion to my epilated skin. Partly because I just love the comforting smell, but also it is very gentle to the skin and keeps it nice and soft. Epilating can be very drying to the skin so needs that moisture putting back into it.
