In the last couple of years I get the odd very painful ingrowing hair.
Would it make any difference if I waxed instead of shaved?

have you tried threading?

Yes I threaded this lol !

No I haven't. Would this make a difference? I suppose what I'm asking is, is it my shaving that causing them?

what area?

Hi, I have recently completed a waxing course (still waiting for my final assesment) so am a newby, however we were taught that waxing can make you more prone to ingrowing hairs, however the best way to avoid them is to exfoliate regularly and keep the areas well moisturised.
Some of the more experienced geeks will know more and have some handy hints I'm sure !!
HTH

Ive always been under the same impression as Sallyann... that regular exfoliation helps the situation.
Personally, I still prefer to shave my legs rather than wax as even with exfoliation I find I get more ingrown hairs with waxing, dont know if it has anything to do with the hair being finer.

those bloody hairs, ive shaved, threaded, waxed the lot and i still getbthe odd one,
the only thing that really helps is hard exfoliation, hope this helps x

me too.
as you need to shave more often than wax, you exfoliate every time you do it as the action of the razor removes old skin cells as well as hair.
waxing does pick up those cells too, but as you do it much less frequently they build up to a thicker layer preventing the erruption of the hairs.

regular exfoliation and moisturising should help.

i usually wax and rarely follow my own advice and i get loads of ingrown hairs. not the ones that look like a spot, but mine grow under the surface and are clearly visible but trapped under a thin layer of skin. very strange
as i dont do much waxing, i dont really know if thats unusual or not

angel!!!
yes those ones under a thin layer and no spot are so common. i use good tweezers and just hook them out on to the top again

ha, so i'm not a total freak then
tough i dont just get one or two, i get them in patches mostly on the sides and back of my calfs.

Thanks for all your replies! I'll have to step up the exfoliating even though I do it alot as I wear Spray Tan most of the time.
They just hurt so much and I hook them out too! eewwww gross!

if you do get a ingrown hair...it helps to put a small dab of Magnesium Sulphate Paste on a plaster and apply over the ingrown hair...it draws it out...also fab for splinters...works every time on me. xxx

hi there, waxing is definately better than shaving if yr prone to ingrown hairs as being waxed by a professional will ensure the hairs are all pulled out in the correct direction minimising trapped/ingrown hairs. shaving obviously cuts off the hairs at wrong directions as u sweep the razor up over many hairs. definately keep up with the exfoliating and moisturisin to help!! i know wot u mean with the tan as i am always smothered in fake tan as i do not believ in skin damage through sun exposure anymore since i stupidly use to nail the sunbeds and sun, stupid!!! am much wiser now!!!!!
gud luck!!! x

Thanks again, I'll keep that in mind! Have just got over a painful hair in my bikini line, wish I'd posted this sooner and then I might not have suffered so much!

is this the same as facial magnesium?? or do I get it else where?