When a hair starts to curl inward and grows in on itself rather than out of the skin, it becomes referred to as ingrown hair. If you’ve ever had one, which the majority of people have, you’ll know just how annoying it can be.
They are often found in areas of the body where you may shave or wax your hair, such as the face, armpits, legs, or the pubic area. They may start as a small bump or red dot, but can quickly become painful and itchy.
The worst thing you can do when you experience an ingrown hair is pick it. As tempting as it may be, picking the hair or squeezing the spot can cause inflammation and infection.
The good news, however, is that there are many natural ways to help treat and prevent ingrown hairs from occurring.
Let’s take a look at some of the best essential oils and recipes that will have you saying good riddance to those stubborn ingrown hairs.
Effective Essential Oils For Ingrown Hairs
There are many essential oils you can use which are perfect for treating and preventing ingrown hairs.
Melaleuca Oil
Generally used for treating acne, this oil is packed with antibacterial and antiseptic properties.
Lavender Oil
This oil is incredible for controlling any inflammation of the skin and also helps your skin to recover quickly.
Frankincense Oil
Another oil with incredible antiseptic properties that are perfect for keeping the inflamed area clean and bacteria-free.
Roman Chamomile Oil
Used for preventing and treating infections, this oil can help reduce any redness and itchiness the ingrown hair may create, as well as prevent any infection from occurring.
Lemongrass Oil
This oil is perfect to use when an ingrown hair occurs as well as after experiencing an ingrown hair. It can help fight off infections as well as reduce any scarring that these hairs can cause.
Geranium Oil
Full of antiseptic properties, this oil is fantastic for helping with skin issues, and works particularly well alongside Frankincense and Lavender.
Tea Tree Oil
Thanks to its high alcohol content, tea tree oil is essential when trying to keep an area clean and bacteria-free, and reducing any inflammation the skin may be experiencing.
Essential Oil Recipes For Ingrown Hairs
These recipes are great natural remedies for dealing with and preventing any ingrown hairs from making an appearance in your future.
1. Lavender & Melaleuca Treatment
2 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
2 drops of lavender oil
3 drops of melaleuca oil
Method
Place the ingredients into a small glass jar and mix well.
Using a Q-tip to reduce the chance of spreading bacteria, apply a small amount of the mixture to the affected area daily. This will help reduce any inflammation and ease any itching you may experience.
2. Melaleuca, Lavender, & Frankincense Treatment
1 tbsp coconut oil (melted)
2 drops of melaleuca oil
2 drops of lavender oil
1 drop of frankincense oil
Method
Place the ingredients into a small glass jar and mix thoroughly.
Using a Q-tip, apply a small amount of the mixture to the affected area daily. This will treat the ingrown hair by reducing any inflammation/infection and preventing any other ingrown hairs from occurring.
3. Tea Tree Essential Oil Treatment
1 ounce of shea butter
5 drops of melaleuca oil
Method
Mix the shea butter and the Tea Tree oil in a small glass jar. After shaving apply the mixture to your skin to keep the area moisturized and bacteria-free.
4. Lemongrass (Anti-Bacterial) Treatment
¼ cup of jojoba oil
5 drops of lemongrass oil
Method
Place the ingredients into a glass jar and mix well. Using a Q-tip, apply a small drop of the mixture directly onto the ingrown hair. This will help to disinfect the area and also speed up the healing process.
5. Ingrown Hair Massage Treatment
1 ounce of jojoba or sweet almond (carrier) oil
5 drops of roman chamomile oil
2 drops of melaleuca oil
2 drops of lavender oil
Method
Combine all of the ingredients in a glass jar and mix well. For best results, massage the mixture into your skin about 30 minutes before having a shower to ensure that your pores are clog-free.
As dry skin tends to suffer more from ingrown hairs, it’s essential to keep your skin moisturized and soft.
Prevention & Treatment
As well as using essential oils to treat any ingrown hairs, you can also use the suggestions below to keep them at bay:
Exfoliate! We can’t say this enough, but exfoliation is key when it comes to preventing ingrown hairs. Before waxing, shaving, or tweezing, use a sugar scrub to get rid of dead skin cells that block pores and can cause ingrown hairs. Also, remember to exfoliate in between treatments.
Try not to shave too closely to the skin. When you do, you create tiny openings which bacteria love. They slide through these openings and turn the ingrown hair into a painful pus-filled boil that can often be painful.
Always make sure the essential oils you purchase are 100% pure and high-quality.
Final Thoughts
Even though ingrown hairs are unsightly and a nuisance to deal with, there are many natural ways to get rid of them.
By using a mixture of essential oils to treat and prevent ingrown hairs, you’ll be enjoying smooth bump-free skin in no time. Just remember…never pick an ingrown hair!
Hi, my name is Hannah Shiftle, and I started using essential oils 15 years ago. At first, I was dubious of them, much like a lot of people. However, as I began to use them on a daily basis, I quickly discovered how much of a difference they had on both my physical and mental health.
Through Oil Health Benefits, I will be sharing my knowledge and passion for essential oils with you, providing readers with all the information they need to know. From the best oils to use for illnesses, to understanding what makes essential oils pure, I have covered all these topics.
