Ingrown Beard Hairs – Causes & Valuable Tips

Whether they are just an optical nuisance or even painful: nobody wants ingrown hairs – and certainly not on their face. Fortunately, there are many ways to prevent them, as well as acute remedies if you do find one or more ingrown hairs despite preventative measures. Here you can find out exactly what you can do, what you should pay particular attention to, why beard hairs grow inward in the first place, and what acute solutions there are to remove ingrown beard hairs.

What to expect:

How do ingrown beard hairs occur? Removing an ingrown beard hair 3 tips on how to prevent ingrown hairs Your facial care routine

How to: How to get rid of ingrown beard hairs

In our video, we give you tips on how to prevent ingrown beard hairs.

How do ingrown beard hairs occur? The 3 most common causes

1. Incorrect shaving

If your razor blades are not sharp enough, the beard hair will not be cut precisely enough, making it more difficult for it to grow out straight later. However, even with a sharp blade, an ingrown hair can occur under certain circumstances. After shaving, the beard hair has a wider and sharper edge and can no longer penetrate its intended canal as easily, or it simply grows back in. Especially system razors with multiple blades often cut the hair just below the skin's surface. While this results in a super smooth shave, it also makes it easier for the hair to grow inward.

2. No or incorrect pre- and after-shave routine

In the article razor burn, we already discuss the importance of a good pre- and after-shave routine. Dead skin cells, too much sebum, and clogged pores block the hair follicles, preventing new or cut hair from growing as intended.

3. Curly beard hairs

As beautiful as curly hair may be, it is very prone to ingrown hairs. Due to the hair structure, your beard hair can curl prematurely or grow in the wrong direction.

In all these cases, the hair remains under the skin's surface, continues to curl there, or makes a U-turn. Your body then perceives it as a foreign object and sends white blood cells there. Gradually, the familiar pimple-like bump forms, which can easily become inflamed and sometimes even truly painful. Your body will eventually expel the encapsulated hair on its own, but you can help it along a bit.

Removing an ingrown beard hair – what can you do?

Okay, enough about the problem and possible causes. So, what can you do to get rid of an ingrown hair on your face? We'll get to prevention later; first, here are some acute home remedies:

#1: Open pores

Soften the affected area with a warm washcloth or a steam bath, preferably several times a day. This is often enough, and your beard hair will find the right way out.

#2: Exfoliation

With a gentle exfoliant, such as our clay face wash, you can try to expose the beard hair and the growth channel and bring it to the surface.

#3: Special creams

If your hair is still under the skin, there are special creams for ingrown hairs. Feel free to ask your dermatologist or pharmacist about this.

#4: Tweezers

Still ingrown? Then very carefully use sterile tweezers or a needle to pull out the beard hair. If it doesn't come out on its own, leave it for now, otherwise the next one might grow back in right away. Also disinfect the skin to prevent inflammation.

Has your beard hair already become inflamed?

If your beard hair and the affected skin area have already become slightly inflamed, you can also have an antibiotic cream prescribed. For more severe inflammations, your dermatologist can help remove the beard hair and recommend the appropriate follow-up treatment.
Squeezing with your hands is taboo, just like with pimples. Why? You can promote or even cause inflammation. Especially if there is already a mild to moderate inflammation, you should not take care of it yourself, but rather your dermatologist.

How can I prevent ingrown hairs? – The 3 best tips

With these 3 tips, your beard hairs won't grow in as easily:

Tip #1: Shave with sharp blades

Always use sharp blades. If you often suffer from ingrown hairs, try a razor with fewer than three blades or even a safety razor. As mentioned above, system razors with many blades cut hairs (too) short and thus promote ingrown beard hairs.

If you choose a safety razor, not only your skin but also the environment will thank you! Depending on your beard length and desired result, you can also forgo a close shave for now and just neatly trim your beard hairs. A stubble, mustache, goatee, or full beard is still very much in fashion.

Tip #2: Pre and After-Shave Routine

Adopt a pre and after-shave routine. A few high-quality products are all it takes, and your skin and beard hairs will thank you!

Pre-Shave:

a) Wash your face with warm water and your beard 2–3 times a week with beard soap. This will remove dirt, sebum, and sweat from your skin, making it less prone to pimples or inflammation.

b) Massage a few pumps of a gentle peel and rinse thoroughly. This removes dead skin cells, opens clogged pores and hair follicles, and frees your skin from too much sebum.

c) Extra tip: moisten a towel with hot water and place it on your face and beard for a few minutes. This perfectly prepares the skin and hair for shaving and also has a spa effect.

After-Shave:

a) Thoroughly remove all shaving residue like shaving cream or hair.

b) Use an Aftershave Spray or, for sensitive skin, an Aftershave Balm. Their antibacterial and nourishing effect soothes skin irritated after shaving and prevents inflammation.

c) Adopt a daily face and beard care routine. This includes washing with water, a good beard oil or, for a clean shave, a 2-in-1 beard and face cream and regular gentle exfoliation.

Tip #3: Shaving itself

If you have longer beard hairs, trim them first, for example with our Brooklyn Blade, before you start shaving. Whether wet or dry is up to you, but consider your skin type. In this article, we go into more detail and provide a step-by-step guide for both shaving methods and which is suitable for which skin type: Shaving your beard: 3 steps to a perfect shaving result.

Because just like with the pre- and after-shave routine, there are also some tips here to avoid razor burn and ingrown hairs. High-quality products also play a role here. For example, our shaving soap is not only great for the environment but even better for your skin and hair. This softens the hairs and thus prevents skin irritations and ingrown beard hairs.

Your facial care routine

Wait, what does your facial care have to do with your beard?! A lot. That's why you shouldn't neglect it. Beard – and facial care go hand in hand and can therefore be perfectly combined. As you've probably noticed, the top layer of skin plays a big role in ingrown hairs, so it makes sense that you should also deal with it. We have an article with valuable tips, an optimal routine, and product suggestions: Men's Facial Care: This is what the perfect routine looks like

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How do you prevent ingrown beard hairs? Do you have a tip that you consider part of the perfect routine? We look forward to hearing from you on Instagram and Facebook.
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