Here's how to prevent the super hassle experience of having ingrown hair, especially in the bikini area

Oh, the things we do to get bikini-season ready: We hit the gym, we go on a diet, and we make sure to get rid of the hair…down there.

RELATED: Grow it out, trim, or try hairless? The benefits and possible risks of going bare down there

But did you know: Shaving and waxing have the additional downside of promoting ingrown hair?

In fact, Dr Stephanie Sy-Chua, a fellow of the Philippine Dermatological Society, names them as the most common causes of ingrown in the bikini area.

Dr. Jacqueline Luna, a dermatologist at the Asian Hospital and Medical Center, says, “Ingrown hair happens when the tip of a pubic hair folds back into the skin at the root. If left untreated, this can lead to inflammation, swelling, pain and infection.”

It doesn’t matter if it’s shaving, hot wax, cold wax, or sugaring. When it comes to ingrown hair, it’s all the same. “Either one of them may lead to ingrown because once removed, the hair has the tendency to curl back or grow sideways into the skin,” notes Sy-Chua.

You could go au naturale. Pubic hair, after all, serves a purpose: It protects your vagina from bacteria and cushions against friction. 

But if you’re really determined to do away with the hair down there, there are ways to do it where you can avoid getting ingrown.

Illustration: Jannielyn Ann Bigtas/GMA News

On waxing

If you insist on waxing, hot wax would be your best bet. “Cold wax is not very efficient in getting rid of short hair and sugaring requires some hair growth. Hot wax is effective even for short hair,” Luna explains. And because you need to remove the hair from the root to prevent ingrown, shaving is not a good option either.

The importance of technique

Leslie Colleen Acosta Tiongson MD, DPDS, a dermatologist at Metro North Medical Center, argues the type of wax used is not as important as technique. “Ingrown hair can be avoided if the entire hair follicle is pulled out, root included. If a remnant of hair is left, improper growth may result in an ingrown hair.”

It's important to pull down first, then upward so as to get the root. “Make sure the hair is long enough for wax to adhere to before pulling out. Short hair, when waxed, may remain in the follicle and grow improperly after,” she warns.

RELATED: The different ways to tame your hair down there

So find yourself a waxing technician who is well-trained and knows what she’s doing. There will be some trial and error involved, but once you find someone you’re hiyang with, stick with her.

Note the time of day

It may help to come early in the day, too. Some technicians tend to be tired and some may be in a rush to go home at the end of the day. Trust. We speak from experience.  

Some pre-waxing practices

Luna recommends soaking the skin in warm water and applying oil or lotion to soften the area. She also advocates exfoliating with products containing salicylic acid or glycolic acid. 

And of clothes

As for fabric and clothing, they don’t really make that much of a difference. As Tiongson puts it, “Fabrics in general do not lead to ingrown hair unless these are likely to pull out hair when being used.” But Sy-Chua suggests wearing bottoms in loose cotton fabrics anyway and advises you avoid wearing tight clothing post-waxing.

Post-procedure, Luna also advises you keep the area clean and dry. “Application of an anti-inflammatory immediately after waxing can relieve swelling and irritation, and topical antibiotics may be applied to help relieve folliculitis or infection,” she continues.

On shaving 

If you’re shaving, Tiongson recommends shaving in the direction of hair growth. Going against it can increase chances of ingrown hair.

Other recommendations

If all else fails, you may need to mechanically remove the ingrown hair. This takes precision and requires aseptic conditions to prevent infection, so maybe it’s best to leave it to the professionals. “Your dermatologist can remove the ingrown hair by creating a small cut on the skin with a sterile needle or scalpel to release the hair,” Luna concludes.

For best results, though, you may want to try several sessions of diode laser for bikini hair removal instead. According to Luna, laser procedure can permanently reduce hair growth and eschew repeated waxing that causes ingrown hair. — LA, GMA News