How do ingrown hair wipes work?

Ever read The Joy of Hair Removal? Yeah, me neither. The worst part of it all is that even after a Brazilian wax or a time-consuming, around-the-ankle shave, the result is seldom perfectly smooth, and I've got a decade's worth of ingrown hair experience to prove it. After spending years trying to treat the pesky bumps at home, I've finally found a solution that works: European Wax Center Smooth Me Ingrown Hair Wipes ($28).

According to European Wax Center's Education Manager, Gina Petak, ingrown hairs are typically caused by too much dry skin on the surface, which can force hairs off course and cause them to grow in the wrong direction. The result is irritation, redness, and pimple-like bumps. Ingrowns can pop up anywhere but are most commonly found around the bikini line, thanks to the fact that the hair down there is often coarser. She adds that they also tend to happen more frequently during the winter months, when dry weather can cause your skin and hair to dry out, making them more prone to breakage before they make it to the surface of skin.

Shop now: European Wax Center Smooth Me Ingrown Hair Wipes, $28

Shop now: European Wax Center Smooth Me Ingrown Hair Wipes, $28

Because of all of this, Petak explains the most important thing you can do to remedy ingrown hairs is to exfoliate. And the best way to do it, she says, is with wipes that are saturated with natural astringents and acids, which work to chemically exfoliate the delicate skin around your bikini line. They're also soaked in antiseptic ingredients, which work to keep the area clean, preventing bacteria from getting trapped beneath the skin and causing irritation. "You want to look for key ingredients that are strong enough to treat skin but also are not overly drying or harsh on the skin," says Petak. She suggests using a product that has glycolic acid in it to help remove dead skin, which allows the trapped hairs to grow freely. You'll also want to look for something that's formulated with moisturizing ingredients, like aloe or glycerin, that will help keep your skin barrier hydrated and intact.

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