Ingrown Hair: What It Looks Like, Causes, Treatment & Prevention

Table Of Content

• Do home remedies for ingrown hairs work?
• How do I get rid of a cyst in my pubic area?
• Laser Hair Removal
• When should you see a healthcare professional?
• What Causes An Infected Ingrown Hair?
• Ingrown Hair Cysts vs. Cystic Acne
• Ingrown hair and staph infection: Is there a link?

Treatment for ingrown pubic hair cysts or ingrown hair cysts anywhere else on the body is usually not necessary unless the cyst becomes infected. They can determine if you have an infection that needs medical treatment. In most cases, you won’t need to see a healthcare professional for razor bumps. Razor bumps are most common in Black cisgender males and those of Asian descent, as well as people who shave.

Do home remedies for ingrown hairs work?

Thread the sterile needle, pin, or tweezers through the exposed hair loop. Then lift the hair loop until it releases from your skin. Some doctors believe that ingrown hairs also cause pilonidal cysts. These pockets of hair and skin debris usually happen at the base of your tailbone, between your buttocks. An ingrown hair is one that's grown back into your skin instead of rising up from it. Ingrown hairs are also known as razor bumps, shave bumps, ingrown hair bumps, or barber bumps.

How do I get rid of a cyst in my pubic area?

A medical professional can treat ingrown hairs and help you prevent them in the future. One very useful product is adapalene gel, an over-the-counter retinoid medication. This medication can be applied to areas with ingrown hairs to help gently exfoliate until the ingrown hair appears at the surface of your skin. You can then carefully remove the hair with tweezers (see below). The market has exploded with skin care products with different ingredients to help with ingrown hairs.

Laser Hair Removal

PFB is commonly found in areas that people shave, including the face, legs, armpits, and pubic area. Popping an ingrown hair can increase you chance of it becoming infected. The results of electrolysis and laser hair removal are immediate.

But if the top of your pore becomes blocked due to debris or too much sebum and it swells shut, the hair can’t make its way out, resulting in an ingrown hair. Chemical depilatories like Neet or Nair can loosen the structure of hair, resulting in blunt tips of shaved hairs at the follicular opening. Chemical depilatories may be used every second or third day rather than every day to avoid chemical irritation on the skin. Hydrocortisone cream can be applied to alleviate the irritation caused by chemical depilatories. The diagnosis of ingrown hair is typically very straightforward and based on the skin's appearance. In some cases, a small skin biopsy may be used to help the doctor confirm the diagnosis.

When should you see a healthcare professional?

If your symptoms don’t improve, your healthcare provider may need to prescribe medications that decrease inflammation and improve infections. Anyone who shaves, tweezes or waxes their hair can develop ingrown hairs. If you shave often, you’re more likely to have ingrown hairs.

What Causes An Infected Ingrown Hair?

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Shaving creates a sharp edge on hair, making it easier to pierce the skin. Home remedies can often treat ingrown hairs, even if the affected area becomes infected. Infections can occur if a person does not treat the hair or if they have a weakened immune system.

Topical corticosteroid creams are applied to reduce inflammation of inflamed ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs most characteristically involve areas that are shaved, like the beard, bikini area, and legs. Other common locations of ingrown hairs include the face, neck, thighs, and buttocks. Although possible, it is rare to have ingrown hairs all over the body. Ingrown hairs do not affect the mouth, palms, vagina, or soles of the feet, as there are no hair follicles in these locations.

Ingrown hair and staph infection: Is there a link?

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Doctors treat staph infections with antibiotics to prevent other serious complications, such as a blood infection. Staphylococcus (staph) infections can occur with an ingrown hair. Staph is typically present in your skin flora, but it can’t cause an infection unless it enters a break in the skin. A doctor will usually assess an ingrown hair infection by looking at the symptoms and asking about your medical history. Any of these signs near an ingrown hair might indicate a staph infection.

For example, a healthcare professional may prescribe a steroid cream such as hydrocortisone to help reduce redness and pain around your bump or cyst. Electrolysis may be used to permanently remove hair. This procedure targets individual hair follicles and can be performed on any color of skin and any size and color of hair. Electrolysis is often slow, tedious, and requires multiple treatments. Trying to remove them can sometimes interfere with the healing process and cause them to last longer.

If an infection develops and worsens, you may need medical treatment. Taking measures to prevent ingrown hairs and treating any infections promptly can help prevent these. The first sign of an infected ingrown hair is often a bump.

These hair types are more likely to curl back into the skin when growing out after hair removal. An infected ingrown hair — also known as folliculitis — typically looks like a bump, a hard lump, or a cyst under the skin. A person can help reduce the risk of staph infection by keeping the area clean and covered and washing their hands. They also need to seek medical treatment if they believe they have an infection. Treatment for ingrown hair cysts varies depending on the type of cyst involved.

Nearly everyone will have ingrown hair at some time. Overall, teenagers and adults are more prone to ingrown hairs. African-American individuals with thicker, coarser tightly curling hairs tend to have the highest rate of problems with ingrown hairs.

Ingrown Hair Cyst Treatment

Table Of Content

• Home remedy #2: Warm compresses
• How can I prevent ingrown hair?
• What are the symptoms of ingrown hair?
• Recognizing the Symptoms of Ingrown Hairs
• What Does an Ingrown Hair Cyst Look Like?

If the hair is near the skin’s surface, however, you may be able to remove it by gently grasping it with sterilized tweezers. A doctor will examine the affected area and ask about a person’s symptoms. They may ask about systemic symptoms, such as vomiting and fever, to determine whether the infection has spread through the rest of the body.

Home remedy #2: Warm compresses

Contact your healthcare provider if you notice any signs of infection. If you notice an irritating, painful, or swollen bump on your skin after shaving, you likely have an ingrown hair. The easiest treatment for an ingrown hair is to wait it out and let the hair grow long enough so that it can loosen up from the skin. To help recovery, you can also apply a warm compress and take medication as needed for inflammation. If you notice signs of infection or your ingrown hair is irritating you, talk to a healthcare provider about possible further treatment. If you get ingrown hairs frequently, you may want to consider a long-term solution, such as laser hair removal.

How can I prevent ingrown hair?

Apply a warm, moist — not dripping — washcloth for 10 to 15 minutes, three or four times a day. Warm compresses soften your skin and may help ease inflammation and discomfort by allowing your skin to open and drain if there’s any pus present. A man shaves a shaving machine without using foam, soap and cream. They can figure out the type of cyst it is and drain it or remove it. Bacteria can then take over and cause an infection known as folliculitis, which leads to the development of a cyst. Certain diseases or trauma to your skin can also cause them.

What are the symptoms of ingrown hair?

Or, you can take preventative steps like shaving differently or using a razor with just one blade. Ingrown hair cysts happen when a hair follicle gets blocked, and the hair grows into your skin instead of out. You should never pop an ingrown hair cyst because it can cause infection and scarring.

If you allow your hair to grow out fully, there won’t be an opportunity for the hair to become ingrown. People who are in the military or a police force also frequently develop ingrown hairs since they are often required to shave their facial hair frequently. Although technically not an "infection," a pilar cyst is a type of slow-growing, non-cancerous growth that forms within a hair follicle. Pilar cysts are typically located on the scalp, but they can develop on other parts of the body. Infected ingrown hairs can also manifest as papules, which are small, solid, raised bumps that may be red or pink in color.

The condition is also called pseudofolliculitis barbae. It develops when shaved hairs curve back into the skin, leading to inflammation. If your ingrown hair has looped or curled back into your skin, you can remove it by gently pulling it out with a sterile needle, pin, or tweezers. Use rubbing alcohol on the area to prevent an infection.

Possible side effects of this method are blistering, scarring and loss of skin color (dyspigmentation). Most instances of ingrown hair get better without treatment. You can avoid this condition by not removing hair or not shaving very close to the skin. If that's not an option, you might try other hair removal methods that lessen the risk of developing ingrown hair. Ingrown hair cysts may go away on their own or with simple treatment. However, you may need to see a healthcare provider to treat an ingrown hair cyst that's hard to get rid of.

For a skin infection, these antibiotics may be topical or oral. If the infection has reached the bloodstream, then IV antibiotics may be necessary. Learn more about the symptoms of MRSA staph infection.

Ingrown hairs and staph infection explained

Apply rubbing alcohol to your surrounding skin to prevent an infection. Then, carefully thread the sterile needle, pin or tweezers through the exposed hair loop. Gently lift the hair loop until one end releases from your skin. In rare cases, your healthcare provider may use a sterile surgical knife with a thin blade (scalpel) to make a small cut in your affected areas.

If you see signs of infection, you should visit your healthcare provider. Laser hair removal may be an option for preventing ingrown hairs. Laser treatments applied to an area help to permanently decrease the number of hairs.

Other times, a skin bacterial culture may be taken by a cotton-tip applicator to assist in determining an infectious cause. Scarring is another potential complication of ingrown hairs. You may develop keloids which are thick, raised scars. In the meantime, it is best to avoid shaving until your symptoms have improved; it can take anywhere between one to six months for razor bumps to get better. Clean the area with warm, soapy water, clean your angled tweezers with alcohol and gently grasp the hair.

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The cysts may go away on their own, but if they hurt, look red, or ooze pus, see a healthcare provider for treatment. An ingrown hair occurs when a hair that you've shaved, waxed, or plucked grows back into your skin. This can cause red, swollen, and infected hair follicles. Ingrown hairs most commonly occur in places where you often remove hair, such as your face, neck, underarms, legs, and around your bikini area. Symptoms include "razor bumps," swelling, tenderness, and itching.

If it’s difficult to see the area, use extra lighting like an LED ring light and a magnifying mirror. This will allow you to grasp only the hair and avoid damaging your skin. A hair becomes ingrown if it grows back into your skin while being outside of its hair follicle. The curlier the hair, the more likely it is to become ingrown.

Staph infections come from a bacterium called Staphylococcus aureus that is present naturally on the skin. It can cause serious problems, such as sepsis, if it enters a person’s bloodstream. Ingrown hairs are hairs that have grown back into the skin. You can help the process along with a simple home remedy.

50 Gorgeous Blonde Highlights Ideas for All Types of Hair

Table Of Content

• #17: Creamy Blonde Highlights
• Demi Lovato Shows Off New Shorter Hairstyle — See the Photo!
• Warm Toned Flowing Layers
• #31: Feminine Dark Hair with Rose Gold Highlights
• Tousled Chestnut Waves with Honey Highlights
• Cute Side Bangs and Blonde Highlights Idea

Here’s a black pixie cut with blonde highlights that offers a dashing style! This is a short sassy haircut that looks great when textured. It has subtle layers, so it’s easy to style with a piece-y effect.

#17: Creamy Blonde Highlights

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Tousled mocha swirls interlaced with golden blonde accents create a rich, dimensional look that’s as indulgent as a well-crafted latte. The varying shades of blonde bring out the depth in the natural curls, perfect for enlivening the hair’s volume and embracing its texture. This style works beautifully with round and square faces, as the layers and highlights contour and frame the face for a soft, flattering effect.

Demi Lovato Shows Off New Shorter Hairstyle — See the Photo!

Karlie Kloss looks exceptional no matter what, but her lowlight-toned waves are a particular favorite of ours. The perfect way to wear it is with curls, so if you have thick hair, or wavy hair, then this could be just right for you. Here, you color half of your hair by the side black and leave the remaining side part black. The incorporation of blonde not only adds an element of surprise but also softens the overall look, making it intriguing yet approachable. “New hair by @alchemistamber 🖤,” Lovato wrote in the caption, tagging hairstylist Amber Maynard. Maintenance is paramount, and the products you’ll use at home matter.

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Warm Toned Flowing Layers

A few face-framing strands, a messy middle part, and a roughed-up texture is perfection. Stand out from the crowd and add more personality to your look by updating your waves with blonde highlights, and finish off with a bounce-enhancing foam. If you enjoy shining bright and turning heads at all times, fiery red highlights might be what you need. So vivid and juicy, they are a great way to show off your charismatic personality and unique style. Still, remember to stock up on quality colored hair products to keep your flame burning for as long as possible.

Ask your colorist for a ton of back-to-back foils while doing the highlights. When it comes to getting and maintaining blonde highlights, there are some common misconceptions that Maria has seen. “I would say some women think that using the same products they used before getting highlights should be good enough to use after the highlighting service,” she says. The hair that has been blonded is now different from the hair they had before.” So, switch up your routine to accommodate your new blonde locks. Blonde highlights have become a popular hair trend that always seems in style.

Tousled Chestnut Waves with Honey Highlights

Honey highlights on black hair are a very pretty hair color idea for the spring/summer season. If you use color protection shampoo and conditioner this color will stay shiny without any orange and yellow tones. This type of blonde highlights for black hair is high maintenance. So, if you are not ready to devote much time (or money) to your hair, blonde highlights are not the choice to go with. However, if you feel that you can step up to the challenge, this look is definitely one to fall in love with. Although very subtle, blonde babylights can do an awesome job of illuminating your face and adding a soft glow to your complexion.

Strawberry blonde color highlights look stunning on natural brown hair and work even for those women who could never imagine themselves wearing blonde. Lighter streaks on trendy curtain bangs with a warmer honey blonde tone peeping from hair’s ends are too good not to try. This one-length haircut with feathered ends is an excellent option for ladies with a thin hair type. Bright blonde highlights and lowlights may give a lot of dimension and volume, necessary for fine wavy locks.

To create a chic and modern look, try adding some loose waves and a side part. Ask for babylights with flipped ends for a soft blonde at the crown that transitions to a bold blonde on the ends. You can try a toner with cool/gold tones for a vibrant reflective blonde with a beautiful balance of tones.

Balayage is the latest way of rocking those same old highlights but with a new technique. Instead of using foils, the stripes are hand-painted and become denser towards the tips resulting in a more natural-looking seamless gradient. Don’t worry about the emerging dark roots as they’ll add up to the look. This style of blonde highlights involves taking two to three big chunks of hair and coloring them from root to tip in blonde. A bit of contrast is never a bad thing when it comes to your locks. Instead of having your hairstylist blend all of your colors together, place highlights more or less separate.

From the darkness to the caramel highlights, there’s really nothing not to love about this style. Smooth, sleek, sensual—the perfect look for a woman who wants to showcase that she knows her worth; an elegant style, worthy for any occasion. Sometimes to stand out from the rest, it’s good to go back to simplicity. This classic ombre look maybe something we know and love but you have to admit, it looks stunning here.

Black long hair combined with a money piece and highlights is a popular low-maintenance choice. Money pieces have a way of framing the features of your face while adding dimension to any style you choose. Ombré hair is the choice for those girls who need an easy transition. The only way to rock brown and blonde hair simultaneously is with a smooth shift from brown to blonde.

If soft and seamless is their goal, you may want to go for deeper shades of blonde, such as a caramel, golden or bronde (brown blonde) tone. Natural highlights for black hair create lightness, fullness, and dimension. Have a thorough consultation with your stylist to ensure your desired blonde level can be achieved. Highlights on black or even dark brown hair are also an excellent way to blend any gray you may have.

50 Stunning Blonde Highlights for 2024

Table Of Content

• What Highlights Go with Black Hair without Bleach?
• #2 Short Black Hair with Blonde Tips
• #6: Glossy Dark Hair with Bronde Caramel Highlights
• Balanced Tones
• How to Find Infallible Foundation Shades That Match Your Skin Tone

A black bob with chunky pink highlights is the perfect way to add a bold interest if you have dark and sometimes dull-looking colors. The chunky pink highlights are fun and can bring brightness to your face. Dark hair can wash light-toned skin out and look quite harsh, so by adding pink, you can soften your overall look.

What Highlights Go with Black Hair without Bleach?

Perhaps you’ve seen people with dark brunette or even black hair try to rock blonde highlights and they just didn’t seem to pull it off. The truth is, mastering blonde highlights on dark hair can be trickier than if your starting shade was light, but it’s certainly possible. Black and brown hair look stunning with platinum blonde highlights. Don’t hesitate to experiment with the lightest shades of blonde in order to look original.

#2 Short Black Hair with Blonde Tips

In that case, it might be better for you to pick a slightly pink or peachy hue. These highlights paired with natural black hair are ideal for pretty much any age. It’s recommended that you visit your colorist every 6 weeks to get toner or gloss to keep your hair color vibrant. A woman with thin hair is able to achieve similar black and blond hair, but it might be less of a contrast.

#6: Glossy Dark Hair with Bronde Caramel Highlights

Go even blonder with butter and cream blonde highlights on blonde hair. Even if you have curly hair or darker hair, you can rock a balayage look, especially if you go for a sandy blonde color. The gentle, pastel hues create a soft, gorgeous look that is even more effective when the sun hits it just right. The light blonde and dirty blonde combination creates a jaw-dropping balayage effect, especially when paired with the subtle lowlights in the bangs. The fact that the balayage starts at eye-level just makes this look more intriguing and dramatic. Colored hair deserves a little extra care to keep it strong and healthy, so look for a shampoo formula that’s both color-safe and deeply nourishing.

Fresh Short Bob with Bangs Looks to Style Your Blunt Cut

Here, you highlight just the top part of your hair and leave the rest black. If you think that getting wide streaks of highlights is an outdated trend, you are mostly right. This style is the epitome of effortless chic with its bronde layers that fall softly around the face, creating a look that’s as casual as it is elegant. These long, cascading waves are kissed with the softest whisper of pink, creating a dreamy rose gold effect that’s as romantic as a sunset. It’s a versatile look that flatters most face shapes, adding warmth and dimension to the overall appearance.

Warm Bronde

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The contrast highlights the length and silkiness of the hair, perfect for those with long, straight locks. It’s particularly flattering for oval and heart-shaped faces, as the light ends can soften strong jawlines while the dark roots draw attention upward. Before your next hair color appointment, check out these gorgeous pictures and ideas of black hair with blonde highlights. Ask for dimensional ombré highlights to show your bob haircut and give it a modern trend style. The best way to achieve this is with teasy lights applied in foils for maximum lift on black hair.

Sleek Gradient with Ash-Blonde Ends

Highlights that are blended seamlessly into your hair require little upkeep. Balayage is great if you want to try out lighter strands without the upkeep of traditional highlights. Brown highlights will give your hair a multi-dimensional glow. This color is perfect if you are looking for a minimum maintenance choice for very dark hair. Just wash and air dry your tresses, and it will still look beautiful, especially on long hair. From the cut to the light spread of light highlights, this is the perfect style for the woman changing up her style.

Andy focuses on getting readers familiar with the latest and trendiest hairstyles. There’s pretty much no style she has yet to try, and her mission is to help everyone find the perfect look they seek. When Andy is not gushing about hairstyles, she spends most of her time reading through her giant collection of sci-fi books or watching old Star Trek shows. Heavy, thick locks like these simply ask for highlighting for a deep, gorgeous color. Blonde is ideally complemented by burgundy or maroon highlights, provided they aren’t too chunky or dramatic.

Brown hair with blonde balayage is a great color that adds gloss to your long tresses. The balayage appears smooth, which goes very well with beach curls. Gospel superstar Tamela Mann switches styles frequently, but some of her most renowned musical moments have featured her extra pale, cool-toned blonde. However, blonde this pale requires special products for maintenance.

Even if your locks are brown, you can still achieve similar results. You might be surprised to learn that changing your image doesn’t require creating full-blown highlights. You might want to consider using the partial highlighting technique at first.

A bob gets the slicked back wet look and the mix of purple and red highlights make the whole look edgy and modern. For a new look, try this gorgeous, voluminous style that is made even more beautiful with the addition of carefully placed highlights. There are many ways you can wear highlights in dark hair, but this stripey, ribbon looking option is one of the most popular. This silver balayage on ebony hair is both chic and tough, and is sure to turn heads wherever you go. This look is best for young or younger women, with a dark root at the top for a big contrast. Ash blonde balayage isn’t going to go out of fashion any time soon.

When deciding on changing up your black hair, try adding in some light brown highlights. I advise ensuring you look at many pictures with your stylist before dyeing your hair. This will help you determine what type of placement and tone would be good. With light brown highlights on black hair, expect a warmer tone for your first session. If you’d like to add pop to your silver highlights, please don’t hesitate to ask for a more violet ash hue. For an understated look, it’s good to start with small streaks or flecks throughout the hair.

It’s best to bring your stylist some photo inspirations to ensure that both of you are on the same page. Check our style guide to the best dreadlock hairstyles for women and our style guide to the most gorgeous hairstyles for black girls to see other beautiful looks. If you have a negative base, don't worry, you can totally get lowlights, it just might not happen right away. When moving to more subtle highlights such as these, it's best to start slow and add as you go.