How to Get Rid of Ingrown Hairs on Legs and Prevent Them

An ingrown hair happens when a hair that has been cut or removed grows back into the skin instead of up through it. The follicle reacts to it as a foreign object, and you get a raised, often red bump — sometimes with a dark hair visible curling under the surface. They clear on their own in one to two weeks. The reason to intervene is not speed but prevention: the technique that caused one will cause the next twenty.

Ingrown hair, razor bump, or something else?

These get confused constantly, and the treatment differs.

	What it looks like	What it is
Ingrown hair	Raised bump, dark hair visible inside	Hair growing back into the skin
Razor bump	Cluster of small red bumps right after shaving	Irritation from friction, no trapped hair
Strawberry legs	Flat dark dots, skin feels smooth	Oxidised contents inside an open follicle
Folliculitis	Red, tender, sometimes pus-filled	Inflamed or infected follicle

If the dots are flat rather than raised and the skin feels smooth to the touch, you are dealing with a different problem — our guide to what causes strawberry legs covers that one.

Why they happen more on some skin than others

Curly or coarse hair is the biggest single factor. A curved hair has a natural tendency to re-enter the skin as it grows out. Add a tight follicle opening — which is exactly what dead skin buildup creates — and the hair has nowhere to go but sideways.

This is the connection most people miss: dead skin is the real culprit, not the razor. A clear follicle lets hair exit straight. A plugged one forces it under. That is why exfoliation prevents ingrowns far more effectively than any post-shave product does.

How to clear an existing ingrown hair

Do this

1. Warm compress, twice daily. Five minutes with a warm, damp cloth softens the skin over the hair and often lets it surface on its own.
2. Exfoliate gently around it — not on top of it. Circular motion with a mild scrub loosens the dead skin that is trapping the hair.
3. Stop shaving that area until it clears. Every pass re-cuts the hair below the surface and restarts the cycle.
4. Keep it moisturised. Supple skin releases a trapped hair more readily than tight, dry skin.

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A gentle daily exfoliating bar that buffs away dead skin cells and unclogs pores without the friction of a scrub — the right choice while skin is still irritated.

Never do this

• Do not dig it out with tweezers or a needle. You will introduce bacteria into an already inflamed follicle, and that turns a bump into an infection that scars.
• Do not squeeze it. Same outcome.
• Do not scrub aggressively over the bump. Inflamed skin responds by producing more keratin, tightening the follicle further.

If a hair has clearly surfaced and formed a visible loop above the skin, you can lift it free with sterilised tweezers — lift, do not pull it out. Anything still under the surface stays there.

Preventing the next one

Prevention is where the actual results are. Four changes, in order of impact.

1. Exfoliate twice a week

This is the single highest-impact change. Clearing dead skin from the follicle opening gives new hair a straight exit path. Twice weekly on damp skin, light pressure, two to three minutes per leg. Not daily — over-exfoliation strips the barrier and triggers more keratin production, which defeats the purpose.

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Mineral-rich Dead Sea salt lifts dead skin cells and unclogs pores while hydrating, so the follicle stays clear without the skin being stripped. Also in Lavender, Lemon, and Unscented.

For frequency and technique in more depth, see our guide to how often you should exfoliate.

2. Shave with the grain, always

Against-the-grain shaving gives a closer cut because it severs the hair below the skin line. That closeness is precisely what causes ingrowns. Accept a slightly less close shave and the problem largely disappears.

• Shave at the end of a warm shower, when hair is softened
• Replace blades every 5–7 shaves — a dull blade tugs the hair before cutting, leaving it retracted below the surface
• Never dry shave
• Rinse the blade after every stroke

3. Soothe immediately after

The window right after hair removal is when the follicle is most vulnerable to inflammation. Cooling the skin within a few minutes reduces the swelling that traps emerging hair.

Dead Sea Aloe Vera Gel 175ml — $27
Extra-concentrated aloe with Dead Sea minerals, chamomile and pro-vitamin B5 — cools and soothes skin immediately after shaving.

4. Keep skin hydrated daily

Dry skin sheds more, plugs follicles faster, and grips trapped hair more tightly. Daily moisturising is not a comfort step here — it is prevention. A rich Dead Sea body butter applied within three minutes of the shower keeps skin supple between exfoliation days.

When to consider changing hair removal method

If you follow all four steps consistently for six to eight weeks and still get frequent ingrowns, the issue is likely your hair type rather than your technique. Waxing removes hair from the root, so regrowth emerges from a fresh follicle with a tapered tip rather than a blunt cut edge. Laser reduces hair density permanently and is the definitive answer for people with coarse, curly hair who get ingrowns regardless of care.

When to see a doctor

See a dermatologist if a bump becomes hot, painful, or fills with pus; if you develop a fever; if bumps spread rapidly; or if you are left with dark marks or raised scars after they heal. Recurring infected follicles may need topical or oral treatment, and post-inflammatory pigmentation responds to prescription options that skincare cannot replicate.

Frequently asked questions

How long does an ingrown hair take to go away?

Most clear on their own within one to two weeks once you stop shaving the area and keep the skin exfoliated and moisturised.

Should I pull out an ingrown hair?

Only if the hair has already surfaced and formed a visible loop above the skin, and only with sterilised tweezers to lift it free. Never dig beneath the surface — that risks infection and scarring.

What is the difference between ingrown hairs and strawberry legs?

Ingrown hairs are raised bumps containing a trapped hair. Strawberry legs are flat dark dots caused by oxidised material inside open follicles, with smooth skin texture.

Does exfoliating prevent ingrown hairs?

Yes — it is the most effective preventive step. Removing dead skin from the follicle opening lets new hair grow straight out instead of curling back under the surface. Twice weekly is ideal.

Why do I get ingrown hairs after shaving but not after waxing?

Shaving cuts hair at an angle, leaving a sharp blunt tip that can pierce the follicle wall. Waxing removes hair from the root, so regrowth emerges with a naturally tapered tip.

This article is for general skincare information and is not medical advice. If you have a persistent or painful skin condition, consult a qualified dermatologist.