How to Prevent Ingrown Hairs on Your Legs, Bikini Line and Butt: A Practical Checklist

Updated September 2026

Ingrown hairs happen when a shaved, waxed or plucked hair curls back or grows sideways into the skin instead of out of it, which is why curly or coarse hair gets them most. To make them less likely, soften hair before you shave, shave with the grain using a sharp blade, don't shave too close, and exfoliate gently a couple of times a week. If they keep coming back, a different hair removal method, such as laser, may help more than any shaving tweak.

What causes ingrown hairs?

Shaving, waxing and tweezing remove the hair strand but not the follicle it grows from. When the new hair comes back, especially if it's thick, coarse or tightly curled, its sharp cut tip can bend back into the skin or grow sideways under the surface. Your body treats it like a splinter, and you get a red or dark, sometimes itchy or sore bump.

Cleveland Clinic lists the legs, armpits and pubic area, including the bikini line and inner thigh, among the places most likely to get them, along with the buttocks. People who shave often, and people with curly or coarse hair, are more prone. DermNet explains that tightly curled hair can pierce the skin after close shaving, and that in women this is common in the groin.

What are the 9 habits that help prevent ingrown hairs?

1. Soften hair with warm water before you shave.
2. Use a shaving gel or cream, never a dry razor.
3. Shave in the direction your hair grows.
4. Don't shave too close: fewer strokes, no stretching the skin.
5. Rinse the blade after every stroke and replace it often.
6. Try an electric razor or trimmer for problem areas.
7. Exfoliate gently two or three times a week, not every day.
8. Give skin rest days between shaves when you can.
9. Keep hands off: no picking, squeezing or digging.

The sections below explain each one and when to switch to a different approach.

How do you prevent ingrown hairs when shaving?

Most prevention happens before and during the shave:

• Soften first. The American Academy of Dermatology suggests shaving at the end of your shower or holding a warm, damp washcloth on the area, which loosens and swells the hairs so they cut cleanly.
• Use a lubricating gel or cream. The NHS says to wet the skin with warm water before applying shaving gel.
• Go with the grain. Shaving against the direction of growth cuts hair shorter and at a sharper angle, which makes it more likely to curl back in.
• Don't chase a baby-smooth finish. The NHS advises against shaving too closely. Use as few strokes as you can and don't pull the skin tight while you shave, which DermNet also flags.
• Keep the blade sharp and clean. Rinse after every swipe. The AAD suggests swapping disposable razors or blades every 5 to 7 shaves.
• Consider an electric razor. The NHS suggests it as an alternative to wet shaving if you get ingrown hairs, because it doesn't cut as close.
• Finish gently. A cool, wet cloth afterward can reduce irritation, followed by a fragrance-free moisturizer.

Does exfoliating prevent ingrown hairs?

It's one of the few habits major health sources name directly. The NHS suggests using an exfoliating scrub to help release trapped hairs, and Cleveland Clinic explains that exfoliating removes the layer of dead skin cells that hairs can get stuck under. It won't make up for rough shaving technique, but it's a sensible part of the routine.

How to do it without causing more irritation:

• Two or three times a week is plenty. Daily scrubbing irritates skin, and irritated skin gets more bumps, not fewer.
• Time it before shaving, not right after. Exfoliate a day or two before you shave, or on non-shaving days. Leave freshly shaved skin alone for about 24 hours.
• Use light pressure on damp skin. Small circles, then rinse.
• Never scrub an inflamed, sore or pus-filled bump. Work around it.

If you'd like a scrub for this step, Becky Booty Scrub is our fine walnut shell scrub in a fragrance-free, sulfate-free cleansing base, which suits skin that already reacts to shaving. Use a small scoop on damp legs, inner thighs or butt with light circles for 30 to 60 seconds, then rinse. It lifts dead skin so skin feels smoother, which makes it an easy way to follow the exfoliating step the NHS suggests.

A washcloth or a mild chemical exfoliant works too. For a closer look at timing, see whether to exfoliate before or after shaving.

Is waxing, epilating or laser better for ingrown hairs?

If shaving keeps giving you ingrown hairs, changing the method can make a bigger difference than perfecting your technique. Here's how the options compare:

The AAD's hair removal guide covers the risks of each method in more detail. DermNet notes that for stubborn cases, the most effective fix is to stop shaving the area altogether.

How do you avoid ingrown hairs on your bikini line, inner thighs and butt?

These areas are harder. Hair is often coarser and curlier, the skin folds, and underwear and leggings rub right where you've just shaved.

• Trim instead of shaving close if you don't need a completely smooth finish. Short hair is less likely to curl back in.
• Shave at the very end of your shower when hair is softest, and use a mirror for areas you can't see well.
• Wear loose, breathable underwear for a day after shaving so seams don't rub freshly shaved skin.
• Don't shave right before a sweaty workout in tight leggings if your skin reacts.
• Exfoliate on off days, gently, with the rest of your body.

For the butt specifically, see ingrown hairs on the butt. If your bumps look more like tiny dark dots in the pores, strawberry skin is a better match, and if you're not sure what the bumps are, this comparison of butt bumps can help.

What should you do if you already have an ingrown hair?

1. Stop shaving that spot until it settles. Cleveland Clinic says most ingrown hairs heal on their own within one to two weeks.
2. Use a warm compress to soften the skin and ease discomfort.
3. Don't pick, squeeze or dig. The NHS warns this can damage the skin and cause infection, and picking is a common cause of dark marks that last far longer than the bump.
4. Don't scrub over it. Gentle exfoliation around the area, once it's no longer inflamed, is fine.
5. Ask a pharmacist about suitable products if it's irritated.

When is an ingrown hair infected?

Signs that a bump has become infected include:

• The bump gets bigger and more painful.
• There's pus around it.
• The skin around it is hot, swollen or very tender.
• You feel hot, shivery or generally unwell.

The NHS says to see a GP if the area becomes very painful, hot or swollen, or if you feel unwell. Cleveland Clinic notes that infection can lead to scarring. If ingrown hairs are frequent or leave marks, a dermatologist can offer options such as prescription creams or laser hair removal.

The bottom line

Most ingrown hairs come down to how hair is removed. Soften it, shave with the grain using a sharp blade, don't go too close, exfoliate gently a few times a week, and leave bumps alone. If they keep coming back, consider trimming, an electric razor or laser before you try yet another razor. Build these habits into a weekly butt skincare routine so they stick.

FAQ

Why do I get ingrown hairs so often?

The usual reasons are curly or coarse hair, shaving close or against the grain, dull blades, and shaving very often. The bikini line and inner thighs are especially prone because hair there tends to be coarser and skin folds and rubs. Changing technique or hair removal method usually helps.

Does Vaseline prevent ingrown hairs?

Petroleum jelly isn't among the prevention steps in the NHS, Cleveland Clinic or AAD guidance we checked. For shaving, use a gel or cream made for it. A plain, fragrance-free moisturizer afterward is fine for dryness, but it won't stop hairs from curling back in.

Should you exfoliate every day to prevent ingrown hairs?

No. Two or three gentle sessions a week is plenty for most people. Scrubbing daily, especially on freshly shaved skin, adds irritation and can make bumps worse.

Can tight clothes cause ingrown hairs?

The main trigger is hair removal, not clothing. But tight underwear, jeans or leggings rubbing freshly shaved skin adds irritation and can make existing bumps sorer, so looser, breathable fabric for a day after shaving is a sensible habit.

Does laser hair removal stop ingrown hairs?

It can reduce them a lot, because fewer hairs grow back to get trapped. The AAD says laser hair removal can be permanent after 6 or more treatments in most body areas. It takes multiple sessions and should be done by an experienced provider, particularly on darker skin.