:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TheresaHolland_Headshot_2020-8c13b32507674083ade8019565ea9e96.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/8.Dr.MarisaGarshick-6f6654b460834746888995c02b258304.jpeg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ScreenShot2021-08-04at3.15.50PM-14f336adc52f4418aa9fd6f3f2afa688.png)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BYRDIE-11-best-ingrown-hair-treatments-4774468-primary-cb5f85db0263408996b06c5352bb1e7e.jpg)
Byrdie / Chloe Jeong
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.
Byrdie Researched & Approved
The Fur Ingrown Concentrate earns the best overall spot. This treatment is loaded with soothing oils and comes with an exfoliating mitt to both treat and prevent ingrown hairs. For a more affordable option, consider GiGi No Bump Solution, which contains salicylic acid to help exfoliate skin and keep follicles clear.
We chatted with some estheticians to find out the different types of topical treatments to get rid of ingrowns. "To prevent ingrown hairs, I recommend exfoliating three to four times a week," offers Orange County-based esthetician and wax specialist Beka Hussong. According to Bay Area esthetician Draci Gomez, exfoliation can also help get rid of the ones that have already popped up.
We conducted hours of research on the best ingrown hair treatments, evaluating each formula on type, active ingredients, and results. We took into consideration different skin types and concerns, as well as how the formula performs on delicate skin. After considering dozens of formulas and consulting with estheticians, we landed on these best in show.
Best Overall
Fur Ingrown Concentrate
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/FurIngrownConcentrate-3a55f0ee35814c17b43b7395ada477d3.jpg)
Amazon
Packed with nourishing and calming oils
Includes exfoliating cloth mitt
Safe for sensitive skin
Needs to be used regularly to be effective
Who else recommends it? Cosmopolitan, Best Products, and Verywell Health all picked the Fur Ingrown Concentrate.
What do buyers say? 79% of 1,400+ Amazon reviewers rated this product 4 stars or above.
Fur Ingrown Concentrate comes with 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.
Price at time of publish: $32
Type: Oil with exfoliating mitt | Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, tea tree oil, tamanu oil, chamomile extract | Size: 0.5 fl oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Budget
GiGi No Bump Solution
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GigiNoBumpTopicalSolution-3018bd8620094075a00516417de2ee63.jpg)
Walmart
Contains soothing sea buckthorn oil
Great value
Can be used on all common areas of concern below the chin
Contains fragrance
Gigi No Bump is a great option for those on a budget. This topical solution uses salicylic acid and sea buckthorn oil to address existing bumps, ingrown hairs, and razor burn while preventing more from forming.
Price at time of publish: $10
Type: Chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Acetylsalicylic and salicylic acids | Size: 4 fl oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Drugstore
Gillette Venus Skin Smoothing Exfoliant
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/GilletteVenusSkinSmoothingExfoliant-9ae1c341a12649a7825666dfbafb7b1f.jpg)
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.
Price at time of publish: $15
Type: Physical scrub | Key Ingredients: Coconut, olive, and jojoba oils, glycerin | Size: 6 fl oz | Byrdie Clean: No | Cruelty-Free: No
Best Splurge
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta Exfoliating Body Treatment Peel
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Dr.DennisGrossAlphaBetaExfoliatingBodyTreatment-15be51383a984e60922f25f92c13227d.jpeg)
Sephora
Individually-wrapped towels
Formulated with a blend of AHAs and BHAs
Contains bakuchiol and squalane
Contains excess packaging
If you want to pull out the big guns, you might consider springing for a box of Dr. Gross's Exfoliating Body Treatment. Part of the cult-loved 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, according to the brand.
Price at time of publish: $58
Type: Chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Glycolic, lactic, and salicylic acids, enzymes, bakuchiol, squalane | Size: 8 textured towels | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Face
Skin Buttr Exfoliatr
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SKINBUTTREXFOLIATR.-16097b7acaab4a6ba7ba5f672c1f43a5.jpeg)
Packed with natural plant oils
Contains antioxidant-rich green tea extract
Fragrance-free
Might be irritating to those with sensitive skin
For those dealing with ingrown hairs on their face or neck, we suggest Skin Buttr Exfoliatr, a natural and ultra-gentle solution that claims to soothe while keeping bumps at bay. Standout ingredients include aloe vera, shea butter, avocado oil, green tea extract, vitamin E, and jojoba oil.
Price at time of publish: $25
Type: Physical scrub | Key Ingredients: Aloe vera, shea butter, avocado oil, grape seed oil, green tea extract, vitamin E | Size: 3.4 fl oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Body
Anne's Apothecary Turmeric Body Scrub
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/AnnesApothecaryTurmericBodyScrub-b3023d7e94904480879978f54ad7030b.jpeg)
Natural formula
Contains skin-brightening turmeric and lavender
Physically exfoliates with organic sugar
Somewhat pricey
Anne's Apothecary Turmeric Body Scrub is ideal for treating skin from the shoulders down, though it's gentle enough for your face, too. It contains organic sugar, which works as a physical exfoliant to slough off dead skin and fend off ingrown hairs.
Price at time of publish: $32
Type: Physical scrub | Key Ingredients: Turmeric, lavender, vitamin E, shea butter, organic sugar | Size: 7 oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Post-Shave
Jack Black Bump Fix Razor Bump & Ingrown Hair Solution
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ScreenShot2019-10-29at9.46.53AM-46ba5f48f7864d6fabbf1b6be9dd9c8c.png)
Sephora
Contains AHAs and BHAs
Packed with soothing ingredients
Prevents future ingrown hairs
Strong smell
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.
Price at time of publish: $28
Type: Chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, lactic acid, aloe leaf, chamomile extract, allantoin | Size: 6 fl oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Razor Bumps
Tend Skin Tend Skin Solution
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TendSkinTheSkinCareSolution-b5bad53befca495eb3becbdddbc010c6.jpg)
Courtesy of Amazon
Uses topical aspirin to soothe and calm skin
Large bottle
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.
Price at time of publish: $22
Type: Toner | Key Ingredients: Acetylsalicylic acid | Size: 8 fl oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Bikini
Completely Bare Bikini Bump Blaster Ingrown Hair & Bikini Bump Eliminator
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/CompletelyBareBikiniBumpBlasterIngrownHairBikiniBumpEliminator-fc7ff229f6f94bfbbf1000a2ff79aa67.jpeg)
Contains AHAs and BHAs
Infused with antioxidant-rich green tea extract
Formulated specifically for the bikini area
Contains fragrance
To tackle bumps on your bikini-line, try these pre-moistened pads from Completely Bare. Glycolic acid and salicylic acid exfoliate, while, according to the brand, green tea extract helps to soothe your delicate nether region.
Price at time of publish: $35
Type: Chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Witch hazel, salicylic acid, glycolic acid | Size: 50 pads | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Preventative
Sweet & True Botanicals Body Polish
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/SweetTrueBotanicalsBodyPolish-2d9d5365778e4457bed255166a3efd52.jpg)
Natural formula
Exfoliates with walnut shell powder
Packed with hydrating ingredients
May be irritating for sensitive skin
"My go-to product would be from Sweet & True Sugaring Co. I am obsessed with their body polish," Gomez tells Byrdie. "The natural body scrub is made with coconut oil and shea butter as the main ingredients. It leaves my skin feeling amazing and definitely helps ingrown hairs stay away."
Price at time of publish: $25
Type: Physical scrub | Key Ingredients: Coconut oil, shea butter, lemongrass, green tea | Size: Not listed | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Spot Treatment
Alleyoop Spot Me All-In-One Blemish Treatment
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/01-Alleyoop_Spot_Me_0002-1_500x-52704edb488b44bfb42d18077fcb12a4.jpg)
Courtesy of Alleyoop
Formulated with AHAs and BHAs
Contains calming Canadian willow herb
Great for blemishes, too
Small container
With one or two ingrown hairs, you don't necessarily have to exfoliate the entire area. Instead, reach for Alleyoop Spot Me, a brilliant formula that delivers a concentrated dose of AHAs and BHAs to the bump in question.
Type: Chemical spot treatment | Key Ingredients: Salicylic acid, glycolic acid, Canadian willow herb, essential oils | Size: 0.5 fl oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Polish
The London Grant Co. Honey Coco Body Polish
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ScreenShot2020-08-25at5.10.31PM-b91b259113aa42dcb2e2e86eafb8268d.png)
Courtesy of The London Grant. Co
Exfoliates with natural sugars
Packed with nourishing oils
Natural, sweet fragrance
Leaves behind slight residue
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.
Type: Physical scrub | Key Ingredients: Apricot, jojoba, and sweet almond oils, honey, coconut and palm sugars | Size: 7.6 oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Scrub
Nubian Heritage Patchouli & Buriti Infused Shea Butter
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/NubianHeritagePatchouliBuritiHandBodyScrub-0f5c1ec6ac154dd6a410fcbddec89469.jpg)
Great value
Packed with soothing natural oils
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 natural oils, butters, and extracts moisturize the skin.
Price at time of publish: $15
Type: Physical scrub | Key Ingredients: Rosehip seed oil | Size: 12 oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Pads
3BWaxing Acne & Ingrown Pads
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/3BWaxingAcneIngrownPads-edac816f6a934af39390028c6ac4ef70.jpeg)
Soothes with aloe
Contains AHAs and BHAs
Alcohol-free
May be too strong for sensitive skin
"I recommend the 3BWaxing Acne & Ingrown Pads I created for my clients," says Hussong. "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."
Price at time of publish: $45
Type: Chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Glycolic, lactic, salicylic, and mandelic acids, aloe | Size: 50 pads | Byrdie Clean: N/A | Cruelty-Free: N/A
Best Scent
The Luxxstrous Dulce Cafecito Whipped Body Polish
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TheLustrousDulceCafecitoWhippedBodyPolish-487d09a0529d4588b608da364ecdae5b.jpeg)
Foaming base
Exfoliates with ground coffee and brown sugar
Packed with nourishing plant oils
Can be somewhat messy
"I would also recommend body scrubs from The Luxxstrous—coffee flavor is my go-to," says Gomez. This scrumptious-smelling body polish contains a foaming base of plant oils and exfoliates with ground coffee and brown sugar.
Type: Physical scrub | Key Ingredients: Avocado oil, sweet almond oil, and olive oil | Size: 6 oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best Tweezers
Tweezerman G.E.A.R. Ingrown Hair Splinter-Tweeze Stainless Steel Tweezer
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/TweezermanG.E.A.R.IngrownHairSplinter-TweezeStainlessSteelTweezer-3aba2333d19b4a7899e9edf7ada9d78c.jpg)
Precise, tapered tips
Stainless steel prevents rusting
Can be painful to use
To remove existing ingrown hairs, 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.
Price at time of publish: $22
Type: Tweezers | Size: 0.75 x 2.54 x 6.65 inches
Best Exfoliating Cleanser
Tata Harper Regenerating Cleanser - 50ML
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/pdp_regenerating_cleanser_50ml_digital-1000-r1-0806-e6da36375e3e4a2b8083576f6938b010.jpg)
Tata Harper
Exfoliates with phytic acid salt and BHA
Contains aloe vera and coconut liquid crystals to soothe and hydrate skin
Expensive to use as a body treatment
An exfoliating cleanser can help prevent ingrowns when used in conjunction with another treatment. 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.
Price at time of publish: $46
Type: Physical scrub and chemical exfoliant| Key Ingredients: BHA, pomegranate enzymes,
sunflower seed oil, phytic acid salt | Size: 1.6 oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Best for Daily Use
nood The Revealer
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/global_images-195893893232-1_1024x-38f9b58943614cafa8b315e95a49fb23.jpg)
nood
Exfoliates with biodegradable exfoliating beads
Softens skin with papaya enzymes
Botanical extracts might irritate sensitive skin
Formulated by the hair removal device company to be used in conjunction with their at-home IPL, this exfoliating cleanser is gentle enough to be used everyday. Packed with antioxidants and papaya enzymes to both exfoliate and soften skin, this treatment helps reduce ingrowns and inflammation, preparing skin for hair removal.
Price at time of publish: $39
Type: Chemical exfoliant | Key Ingredients: Resveratrol, papaya enzymes, biodegradable exfoliating beads| Size: 3.38 oz | Byrdie Clean: Yes | Cruelty-Free: Yes
Final Verdict
The best ingrown hair treatment overall is Fur Ingrown Concentrate, which 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.
Meet the Expert
- Beka Hussong is an Orange County-based esthetician and wax specialist.
- Draci Gomez is a licensed esthetician in Salinas, CA.
What to Look for 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 physically slough off dead skin cells, either with grainy particles like coffee grounds or sugar or a textured cloth.
Chemical exfoliants include AHAs (alpha-hydroxy acids) and BHAs (beta-hydroxy acids), which 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, bikini area, or neck. 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, concentrates, scrubs, polishes, and spot treatments. 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 products on the market in this category, evaluating their key features—like ingredients, shade range, or design—in addition to reviews from customers and other trusted sources. We then used this research to assign a star rating from one to five (five being the best; one being the worst) to certain products on the list.
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 MyDomaine.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/drugstore-exfoliators-5111961-recirc-ef728cff140d4b9fa8969f305cdd5d18.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BYRDIE-v2-12-best-pore-minimizers-4588902-primary-6ff41a7bd9de469eb184ecf2c7d08809.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BYR-Dr-Dennis-Gross-Alpha-Beta-Universal-Daily-Peel-Juliao-5-e128a0a8d9344f128ed39aa2d66ceb5c.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BYRDIE-primary-best-exfoliating-face-wash-1eeec85713094ca881b662cf5a4f9433.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BYRDIE-v2-21-best-face-exfoliators-4584298-primary-677b46945db148ab8739cdf8e9af757a.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BYRDIE-10-best-exfoliating-gloves-4782685-primary-70337106c98d49d88599cc198d25ef12.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/exfoliating-pads-recirc-64363eab38444077a66f2d9cebcccb90.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/16-best-skincare-products-for-40-year-olds-tout-9972613b8de74705b5418f93bd0a9d60.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/ProductReview-8651f4fcd88140e88f70992eaa75c8d4.jpeg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BYRDIE-21-best-body-washes-4586438-primary-2dfcd6aa042245baa5b1771b7cfeff2b.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Lip-Scrub-Test-fe44427cfc8645abb1bb45580f4babf3.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/promo-67f41d41928a4dfab19387742046c517.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BYRDIE-v2-15-best-toners-2021-4584550-primary-a076b2881008450faa7f53f6cd7df124.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/Lip-Mask-Test-7a01a1cac4d546ceb6cc488ec5e411cb.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/BYRDIE-primary-best-exfoliators-for-sensitive-skin-4587969-final2-e28a37e7b3624839ba6312742bef87cf.jpg)
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc()/18-best-body-oils-for-skin-tout-2ce10725354c4c2186212b98c1dc3a63.jpg)