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Byrdie / Jaclyn Mastropasqua
Whether you're partial to wax, lasers, epilators, razors, or plucking, hair removal can be a tricky feat. And even when you're past the discomfort (or wincing pain), the battle might not be over quite yet. For many, saying goodbye to peach fuzz and stubble means saying hello to ingrown hairs.
We chatted with a couple of experts to find out about the different types of topical treatments to not only get rid of but also prevent these pesky bumps. "To prevent ingrown hairs, I recommend exfoliating three to four times a week," says Orange County-based esthetician and wax specialist Beka Hussong. Exfoliation can also help get rid of the ones that have already popped up, according to Bay Area esthetician Draci Gomez.
We conducted hours of research on the best-rated ingrown hair treatments out there, evaluating each formula on type (physical versus chemical exfoliant), active ingredients, application, and effectiveness. We took into consideration different skin types and concerns, as well as how well the formula performs on delicate skin. After considering dozens of formulas and consulting with estheticians, we landed on these favorites.
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Packed with nourishing and calming oils
Includes exfoliating cloth mitt
Safe for sensitive skin
Needs to be used regularly to be effective
We love Fur Ingrown Concentrate because it comes with everything you need to tackle ingrown hairs and prevent future ones. You get a little dropper bottle containing a blend of soothing oils, like castor, grape seed, coconut, lavender, and jojoba, plus a textured cloth mitt. This genius combo allows you to control the pressure as you exfoliate while targeting your irritated skin with gentle yet effective ingredients. Just a heads up, you'll need to use it continuously to get the best, most effective results.
Who It's For
If you want an ingrown hair treatment containing natural ingredients that actually works and won't aggravate sensitive skin, you can't go wrong with Fur.
Type: Oil with exfoliating mitt | Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, tea tree oil, tamanu oil, chamomile extract | Size: 0.5 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Contains soothing sea buckthorn oil
Can be used on all common areas of concern below the chin
Great value
Contains synthetic fragrance
You don't have to break the bank to take down ingrown hairs. This topical solution uses salicylic acid (a chemical exfoliant) and sea buckthorn oil to address existing bumps, ingrown hairs, and razor burn while preventing more from forming. One thing to note is that it contains synthetic fragrance, which can be irritating for folks with particularly sensitive skin.
Who It's For
Those looking for a wallet-friendly product that addresses existing ingrown hairs and prevents more from forming with similar efficiency to more expensive products will appreciate this topical solution.
Type: Chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Acetylsalicylic and salicylic acids, sea buckthorn oil | Size: 4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Gently exfoliates
pH-balanced formula
Free of fragrance, dyes, parabens, silicones
Not clean or cruelty-free
If there's one drugstore brand you can trust on your journey to smooth skin, it's Gillette. Since the 2001 launch of its Venus line, our legs have been ever-silkier, so it's no surprise this gentle exfoliant is one of the best options for preventing ingrown hairs. We like that it kicks dead skin to the curb and is pH-balanced for your most delicate areas.
Who It's For
This gentle yet effective product is ideal for those looking for an affordable option from a tried-and-true brand. That said, if you prefer clean, cruelty-free products, we suggest you look elsewhere.
Type: Physical scrub | Key Ingredients: Coconut, olive, and jojoba oils, glycerin | Size: 6 ounces | Cruelty-Free: No
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Individually wrapped towels for single use
Formulated with a blend of AHAs and BHAs
Contains bakuchiol and squalane
Has excess packaging
Consider springing for a box of Dr. Gross's Exfoliating Body Treatment if you want to pull out the big, exfoliating guns. Part of the fan-favorite Alpha Beta line, these peel pads call on AHA and BHA exfoliants to improve the look of ingrown hairs and help to prevent future pustules (aka pimples or whiteheads), according to the brand. The abundance of packaging isn't the most eco-friendly, but the single-use packets certainly are convenient.
Who It's For
If you're a fan of chemical exfoliants and the convenience of wipes, this splurge-worthy treatment is an excellent choice.
Type: Chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, enzymes, bakuchiol, squalane | Size: 8 textured towels | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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All-Natural formula
Contains skin-brightening turmeric and lavender
Physically exfoliates with organic sugar
Inconvenient scoop
Anne's Apothecary Turmeric Body Scrub is ideal for treating skin from the shoulders down, though it's gentle enough for your face, too. We also love that it's only made with natural ingredients including shea butter and, of course, turmeric, which brightens skin. It contains organic sugar, which works as a physical exfoliant to slough off dead skin and fend off ingrown hairs. It comes with a wooden scoop which we don't think is the most convenient for in-shower use and storage—you can just use your fingers if you prefer, though.
Who It's For
Those on the hunt for an all-over body scrub that sloughs off dead skin to prevent ingrowns will love this all-natural physical exfoliant.
Type: Physical scrub | Key Ingredients: Turmeric, lavender, vitamin E, shea butter, organic sugar | Size: 7 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Contains AHAs and BHAs
Packed with soothing ingredients
Prevents future ingrown hairs
Strong smell
We love this exfoliant as a final step in the shower since it's designed to keep razor burn at bay. After shaving, apply a thin layer of Jack Black Bump Fix with a cotton pad, and continue using it as often as every day to prevent razor burn and bumps. This AHA-BHA combo claims to remove dead skin cells to expose trapped hairs before they have a chance to grow inward. It also mitigates oil to help prevent body acne. The strong smell might not be everyone's cup of tea, but it doesn't contain any potentially irritating synthetic fragrances.
Who It's For
This no-nonsense solution can be applied with a cotton pad as needed to soothe irritation, prevent razor burn, and keep bumps at bay.
Type: Chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, lactic acid, aloe leaf, chamomile extract, allantoin | Size: 6 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Uses topical aspirin to soothe and calm skin
Large bottle
Cruelty-free
Contains alcohol
You'll want Tend Skin Solution on your side in the battle against razor bumps. This toner-style product uses topical aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid or ASA) to soothe the skin, unclog hair follicles, and calm inflammation. It's especially helpful to reduce redness after waxing or shaving. We especially love that it's cruelty-free and is made in the U.S.. We should note, however, that this product contains alcohol, which could sting if you have cuts, open sores, or pustules.
Who It's For
Anyone who frequently deals with razor bumps post-shave will want to keep a bottle of this soothing, pore-unclogging toner in their medicine cabinet.
Type: Toner | Key Ingredients: Acetylsalicylic acid | Size: 4 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Contains AHAs and BHAs
Vegan and cruelty-free
Formulated specifically for the bikini area
Contains citrus fragrance
Bikini-line bumps can be notoriously difficult to treat since they're in a sensitive area where the skin is thinner. To tackle bumps down there, try these pre-moistened pads from Completely Bare. Glycolic acid and salicylic acid exfoliate, while, according to the brand, green tea extract and witch hazel help soothe your delicate nether region. The formula does have a refreshing citrus scent, but if your skin is particularly reactive, you might want to look for a fragrance-free option.
Who It's For
If you're looking for a user-friendly solution for razor bumps and ingrown hairs on your bikini line and like fresh, citrus scents, these pads are for you.
Type: Chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, green tea| Size: 50 pads | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Exfoliates with natural sugars
Packed with nourishing oils
Natural, sweet fragrance
Leaves behind slight residue
A body polish is different from a body scrub— they both exfoliate and smooth skin, but a polish is not a cleanser, so it can be used at the end of your shower time. We love them because they tend to be gentler on the skin than scrubs. This brilliant body polish physically exfoliates with Brazilian cane and coconut palm sugars. Then, it calls on plant-derived oils and a dose of raw honey to moisturize. One thing to note is that the thick, oily formula may leave behind a slight residue, but it should eventually absorb into your skin.
Who It's For
Want a full-body polish that not only exfoliates but also nourishes and moisturizes your skin? This naturally derived skin polish has your name on it.
Type: Physical scrub | Key Ingredients: Apricot, jojoba, sweet almond oils, honey, coconut, and palm sugars | Size: 1.5–7.6 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Great value
Packed with soothing natural oils
Cleanses and moisturizes
Contains essential oils and may irritate sensitive skin
Give yourself a good rubdown with this body scrub from Nubian Heritage. Exfoliating sugar addresses ingrown hairs and prevents more from popping up while the natural oils, butters, and extracts, including patchouli oil, and organic shea butter, moisturize the skin. As we mentioned above, scrubs are designed to cleanse as well, so you're getting a lot of bang for your buck with this product. While this product doesn't contain synthetic fragrance, it gets its scent from a blend of essential oils, which can still be irritating for some skin types.
Who It's For
Those looking for a plant-derived formula without synthetic fragrance will appreciate this sugar-based exfoliator.
Type: Physical scrub | Key Ingredients: Sugar, sunflower oil, olive oil, rosehip seed oil, essential oil blend | Size: 12 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Soothes with aloe
Contains AHAs and BHAs
Alcohol-free
May be too strong for sensitive skin
Hussong recommends 3BWaxing Acne & Ingrown Pads first and foremost because she created them for her clients. "They are a jar of pads that gently exfoliate the skin and have no alcohol in them, so they aren't drying. They have glycolic, lactic, salicylic, and mandelic acid, which are really good for removing dead skin so ingrown hairs can come out, as well as preventing future ingrowns." Despite there being no alcohol on them, they may still be too strong for people with super sensitive skin (or on more sensitive areas, like the bikini line).
Who It's For
If you want an esthetician-approved product that gets rid of existing ingrown hairs and prevents more from cropping up, these pre-moistened pads are just the thing.
Type: Chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Glycolic, lactic, salicylic, and mandelic acids, aloe | Size: 50 pads | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Precise, tapered tips
Stainless steel prevents rusting
Stainless steel
Very sharp; not beginner-friendly
Sometimes you just have to go at ingrowns with a pair of tweezers. But you shouldn't just go for any pair. To remove existing ingrown hairs, we reach for Splinter-Tweeze tweezers. The sharp tip is designed to grab those pesky little offenders with precision and pull them out from the root. Just a heads up, the points are pretty pokey and extremely sharp, so you'll want to be careful if you're not used to this type of tool.
Who It's For
You'll want these super-pointy tweezers in your arsenal when topical treatments aren't cutting it and you need to physically extract an ingrown hair.
Type: Tweezers
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Exfoliates with phytic acid salt and BHA
Contains aloe vera and coconut liquid crystals to soothe and hydrate skin
Cleanses and exfoliates
Might be too intense as a regular cleanser
An exfoliating cleanser can help prevent ingrowns, especially when used in conjunction with another treatment like a toning solution. We love this formula because it contains physical and chemical exfoliants including BHA and salt to dissolve and break down buildup that can occur around pore follicles. Though you could use it as your regular cleanser, it might be a little too intense for daily use.
Who It's For
This easy-to-use product is great for those who want to reap the benefits of both physical and chemical exfoliation.
Type: Physical scrub and chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: BHA, pomegranate enzymes,
sunflower seed oil, phytic acid salt | Size: 1.6–4.1 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Exfoliates with biodegradable beads
Softens skin with papaya enzymes
Can help IPL remove hair more efficiently
Botanical extracts might irritate sensitive skin
Formulated by the hair removal device company, nood, to be used in conjunction with their at-home IPL(Intense Pulsed Light tool for hair removal), this cleanser is gentle enough to use every day. Packed with antioxidants and papaya enzymes to both exfoliate and soften skin, plus biodegradable beads to slough off dead skin cells, this treatment helps reduce ingrown hairs and inflammation, preparing skin for hair removal. It's also got antioxidants in it to help brighten and rejuvenate skin.
Who It's For
Looking for something you can use every day without drying our your skin? This gentle exfoliating cleanser is your guy.
Type: Physical and chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Resveratrol, papaya enzymes, biodegradable exfoliating beads | Size: 3.3 ounces | Cruelty-Free: Yes
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Targets single pustules
Works quickly
Effectively clears bumps
High price per patch
This clever spot treatment from Fur is essentially a pimple patch but for ingrowns. The fingerprint-sized stickers have little microdarts that deliver active ingredients directly to the inflamed pustule without over-drying or irritating the surrounding skin. Targeted patches like this are all the rage right now, but the microdarted ones work especially well because they can get under the protective skin barrier to treat more directly. They work quickly too—sometimes in as little as six hours. The only thing we don't love is they're a bit expensive for just one patch.
Who It's For
These patches allow you to treat one ingrown hair at a time without drying out or potentially irritating the entire area.
Type: Patch | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, licorice root, hyaluronic acid | Size: 6–12 patches | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Where We Stand
Our favorite ingrown hair treatment overall is Fur Ingrown Concentrate because it combines oils and a cloth mitt for excellent exfoliation and moisturizing benefits. However, if you can swing the price tag, you really can't go wrong with Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment, especially if you're looking to take your exfoliating game up a notch.
What to Consider When Buying an Ingrown Hair Treatment
- Exfoliating Ingredients: When buying an ingrown hair treatment, you'll want to look for exfoliating ingredients, which can be in the form of physical exfoliants or chemical exfoliants. Physical exfoliants like, Gillette Venus Skin Smoothing Exfoliant, physically slough off dead skin cells, either with grainy particles (like coffee grounds or sugar crystals) or a textured cloth. Chemical exfoliants, like Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment, use AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta-hydroxy acids) to essentially dissolve dead skin cells. AHAs include glycolic acid, lactic acid, and mandelic acid, and salicylic acid is the most common BHA.
- Body Part: Some ingrown hair treatments are intended for specific body parts, such as the face, neck, underarms, or bikini area, like Completely Bare Bikini Bump Blaster. If you typically get bumps in one place, you might want to look for an option formulated for that area. However, many options can be used on your entire body, and you'll find some that can be used from head to toe.
- Application: You'll also want to consider the application. Ingrown hair solutions come in the form of pre-moistened pads, toners, creams, spot treatments, scrubs, and polishes. As with Fur Ingrown Concentrate, some are liquid concentrates to be applied with an exfoliating mitt. Whichever format you prefer, get something easy to use between hair removal sessions, and be sure to follow the directions carefully to avoid further irritation.
How We Researched
To compile this list, our team of editors and contributors spent hours researching the best at-home ingrown hair treatments on the market, evaluating them based on exfoliating ingredients, intended body part, and application technique. We also interviewed multiple experts for insight into ingredients and product recommendations, then combed through reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We used this research to select the best products to feature in this article.
Attributes we evaluated each ingrown hair treatment on:
- Exfoliating ingredients
- Intended body part
- Application technique
- User-friendliness
- Reviews and expert recs
Why Trust Byrdie
Theresa Holland has been writing for Byrdie since 2020, where she covers makeup, haircare, wellness, and skincare. As an aficionado of the latter, she's tried many exfoliating treatments and is a big fan of Dr. Dennis Gross and Bliss—and always keeps a pair of Tweezerman tweezers nearby. You can read more stories by Theresa on People, Travel + Leisure, and The Spruce.
- Beka Hussong is an Orange County-based esthetician and wax specialist.
- Draci Gomez is a licensed esthetician, professional waxer, and the co-owner of Vibe Skin Studio.
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