Ingrowing hair nightmare - does anything work?

[PrincessOfWails]

For the first time in ages (I have been shaving!) I had my legs waxed a month ago. Now, I have a crop of ingrowing hairs all over my legs. It looks like I haven't shaved; they're just there under the skin, growing straight. (I have read of bumpy skin etc; I don't have this, just a straight hair trapped under the skin.

I have been exfoliating: with my Espa scrubbing brush, and this morning I had a go with a homemade sugar scrub, which I used vigorously. But they're not budging an inch.
I have also been using Nad's Ingrow Solution twice daily from a few days after the wax. Clearly that's not working.
I've also shaved a couple of times to see whether that 'exfoliates' or shifts them IYKWIM.

So, how do I get them out? Tweezers? A pin?
And does anything work or should I just give up on waxing now?

I have this problem too, so if anyone can give us an answer I would love to know! I exfoliate, moisturise etc and have got some of them out with tweezers, I have just had to leave other ones though . I think the problem is that I have lovely thick black hair, which is great on my head, but a bloody curse elsewhere.

I have heard that lemon essential oil is helpful, but haven't tried it myself. Might be worth investigating?

I hook those out with a pin, they're a total PITA!

I hate them! I've been left with scars!

Hi
Dh has this problem (on his face and neck) and bought some 'Smooth It' from Options by Hive. Not sure on price etc but knowing us prob not very expensive. You're supposed to use it before shaving for a couple of days, might be worth a try?

Rubbing with a loofah mit in a circular motion will help. You can buy something called Tend Skin that will help. I am a beauty therapist & in some people with dark or curly hair can be more probe to ingrown hairs. I use the loofah as soon as I feel the hair coming through & it helps as I get ingrown hairs too.

Frog has the Smooth It stuff worked for DH?

Prone

i exfoliate and get a very fine needle and put some antiseptic on it then gently slide the needle under the top layer of skin and they pop right out - without scarring usually - but i have had some very deep ones, and in my younger days really 'went at them' so have some marks on my upper thigh from that. But bio oil has reduced them.

I think it may be waxing that is the problem, sadly.
Something to do with pulling the hairs out from the roots makes them more prone to ingrowing (mine started after epilating, I used to have beautiful smooth, scar free legs when I had only ever shaved them).

My tip is that if you must hook any out, use a sterile leather needle - they are small but have a triangular point that is much sharper than a pin & will scar less - and tweezers but don't be tempted to pluck out the hairs you have hooked or they will ingrow again. Just exfoliate gently and then either leave or shave them.

I rub my legs everyday with a bath mitt with a few drops of coconut oil on it, (the coconut oil helps to stop them going all red and horrible), Tend Skin does fuck all. I have literally dug pits into my skin trying to reach them before.

Nothing gets rid of them 100%

Oh and I don't think waxing/epilating has anything to do with it, I've never waxed in my life, only used the cream once (didn't do a damn thing) I epilate now as the hairs grow back finer and lighter but I shaved for 15 odd years and had ingrowing hairs (thing is if you shave and the hair is just under, the razor will get them with a few going overs).

Sorry for the delay in replying but yes he thinks it helps.

Watching with interest

I suffer terribly on backs of calves with these and usually end up with pin attacking them - much to dh disgust.

I had them bad for years. Combination of thick curly hair and dry skin. Do not epilate: epilators break hairs and you get loads of ingrowns. Same with bad waxing technique. Shaving is better. I used to scrub vigorously (until I felt that my skin was about to come off) and moisturise with a very oily lotion religiously every day. I picked them with tweezers one by one. I saved up and spent £1,500 and got myself lazered all over and it was the best money I have ever spent.

I get these constantly. only thing which helps is exfoliating with gloves in the shower and heavy duty moisturiser. as hair gets waxed it grows more finely hence can get stuck under skin if skin is dry as they are not strong enough to force their way through poor things. if I deviate from this regime at my next waxing there will be loads under the skin that are impossible to get rid off and I feel half done!
maraki - can I ask how did you find lasering? I've had armpits done - 6 sessions so far and massive improvement. how painful was it on legs and bikini line? really want to do it but feel a bit wimpish

pfb vanish is brilliant.

akissisnotacontract - never heard of that one. can you say more please?

Did you click the link?

I've heard that epsom salts help get them out - not sure if you apply a paste directly or bathe in them though, sorry...

From ehow:
Epsom Salt Soaks
An Epsom salt soak can help to draw out the ingrown hair because of the salt's active ingredient, magnesium sulfate. Add 1/4 cup salt to a tub of warm water and soak for 30 minutes.

yes I did look at link but I see a lot of miracle solutions for things that don't actually live up to their claims that's all. glad it works for you though. just interested in how successful it's been for you. desperate for something to really be brilliant at ridding me of the buggers!!

It's worked well for me, the active ingredients are glycolic and salicylic acid so might not be good for sensitive skins.

ok thanks for letting me know. might try

I've stopped getting my legs waxed because of the ingrowing hairs. I still have my bikini line done though and get the occasional one - sometimes very badly, I've never found anything that stops them - although the best exfoliator I've ever come across was something called a Riffi mitt. It was like scouring (in a sort of good way). I could do with getting one again.