15 Products for Handling Hair Removal at Home

Whether a woman wants to let her body hair grow freely or get rid of it completely is her prerogative. But if the latter is her preference, removal shouldn’t feel like an expensive chore for someone who can’t afford or simply doesn’t enjoy getting it done professionally. And now that the weather’s warming up, you may be exploring your options.

At-home hair removal isn’t always the most comfortable or convenient option, but it does save money and afford the utmost level of privacy for those who’d rather skip the salon or spa. Regardless of the body part you’re targeting (even those nether regions), ingrown hairs are inevitable. So before you peruse the best at-home hair-removal products, here are four things to do when ingrowns attempt to steal your joy.

1. Leave them alone. First, “don’t try to pluck, pull, shave, wax or cut hair in the area where you’ve got ingrown hairs,” says Karen Young, CEO and founder of Oui Shave. “You’ll only make your skin angrier and possibly introduce an infection. (Though, see No. 3.)

2. Apply a warm compress and gently exfoliate. We’ve waxed poetic about the benefits of exfoliation for the face, and the same applies to your body. When you’re dealing with irritation, continue by using a soft washcloth soaked in warm water to soften the area for 10 to 15 minutes. “Then, use slow, circular motions to gently exfoliate with a salt or sugar scrub. This will remove dead skin cells and help skin regenerate. Exfoliating before shaving will help prevent razor burn and lift the hairs away from the skin, allowing for a closer shave,” says Young.

3. Free the trapped hair. You should only do this if you can see the looped hair growing into your skin. “If you can’t see the tip of the hair, skip to step 4,” says Young. “If you can see the hair, use pointed tweezers to extract it.”

4. Apply an exfoliating and antibacterial oil. Once you’ve dealt with the hair, use a topical exfoliating oil to calm and soothe the skin while helping to prevent more irritation.

Originally posted on StyleCaster.