6 Strategies to Banish Ingrown Hairs for Good

"I wish I had more ingrown hairs," said no one, ever. Luckily, there's a lot you can do to keep these pesky red bumps from popping up in the first place—and to make them disappear ASAP if they do make an unwanted appearance. Keep reading to find out how to make these bikini line ruiners a thing of the past.

Before You Get Ingrown Hairs...

Avoid tight clothing: You may swear by shapewear, but if you get ingrown hairs on the regular, you're better off sticking with outfits that let you skip the Spanx. Why? Tight outfits create friction, putting pressure on your hair follicles and making hairs more likely to curl down into the skin instead of growing normally, says dermatologist Ava Shamban, M.D. So long, skinny jeans.

Shave a few minutes into your shower: Shaving can be stressful on the skin, damaging hair follicles and encouraging ingrown hairs. To minimize your odds of getting razor burn, Venus dermatologist Jody Levine, M.D., suggests saving shaving for the last thing you do in the shower. "These few minutes are essential for hydrating the hair follicle, making hair softer in order to minimize the tug and pull during shaving," says Levine. "And the more hair tugging, the more likely hair will curl back around and create bumps."

Always use a moisturizing shaving cream: Since curly and coarse hairs are more likely to become ingrown, your bikini line is a definite danger zone. One thing you can do to keep things smooth below the belt is use a moisturizing shaving cream whenever you shave; we like eos Ultra Moisturizing Shaving Cream ($3.49, EvolutionofSmooth.com).

Exfoliate regularly: Exfoliating prior to any type of hair removal is a great way to help prevent ingrown hairs. "This is because the thicker the layer of dead skin, the harder it is for a hair to break through and grow straight," says facial plastic surgeon James Marotta, M.D. "Exfoliating removes dead skin cells so hairs can grow properly."

After You've Got an Ingrown Hair...

Treat it like you would a zit: Ingrown hairs are actually pretty similar to pimples, especially when they become infected (which they often do), says Marotta. So use a similar plan of attack, and apply benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid several times a day for a few days. "This, combined with daily exfoliation, is often enough to remove the ingrown hair since swelling will be reduced, giving the hair more room to grow out (rather than in)," says Marotta.

Hold a warm compress over it: If you can see the ingrown hair embedded in the skin, a warm compress is a great way to soften the hair and relieve the irritation, says Dana Carver, an esthetician at Suede Salon Spa and Body in Marlton, New Jersey. Doing this for a couple of minutes a few times a day will make the red bump begin to disappear.