By May Omar
If you’ve noticed bumps on your face lately that don’t look like pimples, then we’re sorry to say you may be suffering from ingrown facial hairs.
Ingrown hairs are painful, itchy, and downright annoying red bumps that occur when you shave. We’re giving you the list of reasons these pesky bumps occur, how to prevent them, and the products that can help keep these bumps at bay.
The main reasons that lead to ingrown hair:
Dead skin cells: In addition to oil buildup which stays on your skin, the primary reason for ingrown hair is dead skin cells which prevent new hairs from growing out.
Shaving too closely: Close shaves can cause the edges of the hair to get caught in the skin, preventing them from growing back out.
Pulling the skin: While shaving, men tend to pull or stretch their skin to get a closer shave, which again traps the hair underneath the skin. This not only causes ingrown hair, it can also lead to bacterial or fungal infection.
Dry skin: Moisture helps ingrown hairs to push their way to the surface, as it weakens the skin’s natural healing and defense mechanism. The more you fall short on daily moisturizing, the greater tendency you have to worsen the condition
There a number of things men can start doing to help prevent this painful condition, try the following:
- Using a single-blade sharp razor. A lot of men fall victim to multiple use blades. A blade’s sharpness reduces by time and that could be a major cause of ingrown hairs.
- Exfoliating once or twice a week. While many brands offer good scrubs for different skin types, they’re easy to make at home.
Shaving each time in the direction that the facial hair is growing.
Moisturizing daily after shaving. A homemade soothing mask can also be beneficial for a quick moisture restoration:
PRODUCTS TO TRY
Brown Sugar Scrub:
¼ cup white sugar + 1/4 cup sea salt + 1/4 cup coconut oil + 20 drops essential oil of your choice
Oatmeal Scrub:
1/2 cup Oatmeal + 1/2 cup coconut oil + 1 tsp vanilla extract + 1 tsp honey + 1 tsp brown sugar
Honey Soothing Mask:
Honey + Coconut Oil
Aloe Vera condition mask:
Aloe Vera gel + Coconut Oil + 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil (optional)
