With summer being just around the corner, the time has come to start preparing our bodies for the beach. It’s not easy to take your clothes off for the first time on the beach after a long winter. The tan is yet to be achieved, which means that our skin imperfections are much more visible now than after the summer, when sun polishes all our pimples, bumps and skin discolorations out. Let’s be honest, we all look better after absorbing some D vitamin! One of the most common problems women have when it comes to jumping into the bikini, is unwanted hair on sensitive areas, such as the bikini area. Although some women are lucky enough not to have these problems, others, unfortunately, cannot brag about having the body from the commercials for the shaving products.
What is ingrown hair?
A hair in-grows when it gets trapped under the skin, so it starts curling around inside your skin, instead of growing upward above the skin surface. Even though it’s usually not dangerous, it may develop into a cyst, whose infection, if left untreated, may get to the blood and cause blood poisoning. Ingrown hair is a common occurrence after shaving, waxing or plucking. It usually appears in the pubic or the armpit area, as well as on the buttocks. Although they’re not dangerous, they’re quite ugly to see, so we all most definitely would like to avoid having them. In order to achieve this goal, we bring you some tips that will help you soothe the irritated skin suffering from the ingrown hair.
Scrubbing
This is the most effective solution for ingrown hair. This method gently brushes away the top layer of the skin and in that way, it frees the ingrown hair. There are many beneficial recipes to help with this problem that can be found online. Here’s the sugar scrub recipe, which is the simplest, yet very functional.
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup coconut or olive oil
- 1 cup of sugar
- ½ cup of shredded soap
- Optional scent additions
Mix the oil with the soap and microwave it on a high level until the soap is melted. Stir it every 10 seconds while microwaving. After it’s melted and mixed together, add the sugar or the optional additions. Tip: you can also add the coffee to your scrub since it’s great in fighting the cellulite. Put the mixture in a mold and keep it in a covered container so it would dry out.
Other than exfoliating, there are a few things you need to keep in mind also. If you shave frequently, invest in a new razor after 3-6 shaves, (around every 10 days). Also, use moisturizing shaving cream after exfoliation! You can also make your own moisturizing coconut oil cream:
Ingredients:
- ¼ cup aloe vera
- ¼ cup coconut oil
- 4-6 drops essential oil
Simply melt the coconut oil and mix it with aloe vera and the essential oil. Store it in a plastic bag and apply to your skin about 10 minutes before shaving or waxing. It will prevent the skin irritation.
That’s it! Try these simple bits of advice and you're ready for the beach!
Nessie L.B.