ingrown hairs, it's a depressing problem?

Question

how can i get rid of them?

Answer 1

If you are talking about ingrown hairs on your face, it is more than likely aggrivated by your shaving habits. It's called Pseudofolliculitis Barbae, and is due to cutting the hairs at an angle instead of flat across. The hairs then tend to make little pointed barbs that grow inward rather than outward, and make painful red lumps on the face. The cure takes a bit of time, to get it all under control. First, you need to let the beard grow out a bit, until you have at least 1/4 inch of stubble. Before you shave, get a washcloth or small handtowel, and soak it in steamy hot water, wring it out and apply it to your face for a few minutes to soften up the hair. Make sure you have a nice new razor, single blade is best. Use plenty of shaving cream and rub it in to the beard well, using your fingernails to rough up the hairs and release any caught just beneath the skin. Run the hot water, and shave in a downward direction- the way the hair grows and not upwards against the hair growth. After each swipe, rinse the blade in the running hot water. When you are finished shaving, use warm water to wash your face and remove all the rest of the cream. Then splash on cold water,which will close the pores of your skin, and pat dry.
If you have multiple spots with ingrown hairs, you should let the beard grow until all the hairs have pretty much grown out on their own. You can use a pair of electric beard clippers, but adjust them so you leave a shadow of about 1/4 inch. When it looks like nearly all the spots have healed, you can try a shave. You won't want a baby bottom smooth shave, you want to just cut level with the skin- which is why the single blade is the best choice. You also don't want to shave every single day, unless you have to. If you shave in the mornings, in the evenings you should use your fingernails to scratch lightly against the hair growth to encourage them to grow outwards and not ingrown.
For really tough cases, they do make shaving depilatory powders and creams that will eat the hair off they way Nair does the hair on girls legs. It's some strong stuff though, and can eat your hide as well as the hair- so it's not always a good alternative. It's better to shave less closely and less often, and very important to shave correctly. If this is really not clear, see if you can visit a dermatologist, who can teach you the best way for you. If you don't have luck with the shaving methods I gave you, a dermatologist visit would be your best bet to prevent having other problems come up and causing scars or infections.
I had to learn all this in the military. It was one of my extra duties at the clinic to teach the shaving class for guys with this same problem. I even taught my own future husband, and later my son. Hope it works for you.

Answer 2

A review of the various hair removal methods is available at http://tinyurl.com/ob6tt