husky was right! (and other hair removal info)

[amandasw]

so yes, husky, you're right (not surprised) about the correlation between pulling skin tight and ingrown hairs.

I did some research online because apparently it's much more common with epilators. First of all, I didn't really know what caused them, and it's when the hair breaks below the skin - this obviously never happens with shaving, but can happen any time you attempt to pull the hair out. when the hair tried to grow, but the skin is also growing around it, I guess the two are competing in a way that doesn't happen with new hairs and the hair starts growing under the skin.

ways to prevent it include holding the skin very tight so that the whole root is pulled out. also, exfoliating and moisturizing help a lot too (I wasn't totally wrong either!). If ingrown hairs happen to you and you don't wax/epilate, these two things would help reduce it (and those are just weird, naturally occurring ingrown hairs).

Interestingly, I have found some on me legs (I'm a lot more careful now), but those are never inflamed because there's very 'little' bacteria there, compared to the bikini area. And yes, I did get a few, but not too many and I think I was lucky. I'm definitely going to be better about holding the skin tight from now on though!

anyway, just some info for people who are thinking about getting things waxed or doing home epilation

[jennlin]

Aug 26, 2012 18:08:08 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

Interestingly, I have found some on me legs (I'm a lot more careful now), but those are never inflamed because there's very 'little' bacteria there, compared to the bikini area. And yes, I did get a few, but not too many and I think I was lucky. I'm definitely going to be better about holding the skin tight from now on though!
)

after i read this line, i couldn't help but imagine you were a pirate.

[Deleted]

Woo hoo! Glad I could help!

[amandasw]

Aug 26, 2012 18:10:49 GMT -5 jennlin said:

Aug 26, 2012 18:08:08 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

Interestingly, I have found some on me legs (I'm a lot more careful now), but those are never inflamed because there's very 'little' bacteria there, compared to the bikini area. And yes, I did get a few, but not too many and I think I was lucky. I'm definitely going to be better about holding the skin tight from now on though!
)

after i read this line, i couldn't help but imagine you were a pirate.

LOOOL

[Deleted]

Aug 26, 2012 18:10:49 GMT -5 jennlin said:

Aug 26, 2012 18:08:08 GMT -5 @amandasw said:

Interestingly, I have found some on me legs (I'm a lot more careful now), but those are never inflamed because there's very 'little' bacteria there, compared to the bikini area. And yes, I did get a few, but not too many and I think I was lucky. I'm definitely going to be better about holding the skin tight from now on though!
)

I just got back from A Terrible Beauty, so I was seeing hearing some sort of Irish brogue...pirate, lol.

after i read this line, i couldn't help but imagine you were a pirate.

[amandasw]

Aug 27, 2012 0:31:54 GMT -5 @sfgal530 said:

Tangentially related to this and perhaps it was shared on another thread somewhere that I didn't see, but TendSkin is amazing for taking care of ingrown hairs. A-maz-ing.

oh thanks! no, I haven't heard of that before. I'll look into it