ingrown hair

I suffer from red, puffy ingrown hairs, so I am always on the lookout for a magical cream that can nip them in the bud before they grow into large, unsightly bumps. So far, I've found two great products — Tend Skin and Arezoo Ingrown Hair Cream — and recently I've discovered Flawless Bump Fighter from Whish ($22.50).

It has a mild scent and comes in an easy-to-travel, slim tube with a fairly aggressive pump. It needs to be said since I consider you guys my friends, is that it's got a clear, whitish (think saliva) type of texture and color. So, let's just say that when it comes shooting out of the container, it reminds me of something downright dirty.

But, none of that really matters, does it? (I just thought I'd warn you.) I appreciate that it won't stain your underpants (it dries clear) and I've been using it every other day for two weeks since my bikini wax. So far I've only noticed one ingrown hair and minimal redness. I'd say that's a great result.

It claims to weaken your hair follicles, help prevent hair growth, and skin inflammation. Also, it's alcohol free, so it won't dry out your skin. Use it on your legs, lips, bikini area, and eyebrows after a wax, depilatory, or a shave. It leaves your skin feeling smooth, not sticky, and it dries quickly so you can get dressed right away. Pretty flawless after all.

Arezoo Kaviani worked at posh Mayfair salon in London for years, where she had a constant client waiting list. After much success she decided to venture out on her own. She now owns a private salon kitty-corner to the world-famous Harrods department store. Her specialties are extremely gentle waxing and facials, but she is so talented that her one-stop shop also offers a gamut of alluring body treatments.

While in London, I had the pleasure of meeting Azeroo for a bikini wax — not an easy feat, considering her schedule is jam-packed with clients that include Gwyneth Paltrow, Claudia Schiffer, Daniel Craig, Jake Gyllenhaal and Reese Witherspoon. I was dying to ask her if Jake comes in for a manly parts waxing or just an eyebrow shaping, but I resisted — I didn't want to put her in a compromising position or anything.

The one product she used that smelled great and cut the pain of a wax by at least half was her tea tree oil wax. She also handed me an ice cube before she began to help numb the area —it's kinda fun, actually! When we were finished, she recommended a terrific anti-ingrown hair product that I want to share with you.

Arezoo Ingrown Hair Cream contains no alcohol, but it does have tons of tea tree oil. That acts as an antiseptic and drying agent, so those nasty, itchy bumps don't form on your nether regions. It smells better than most products in its genre, and it won't thin your skin like other alcohol-based ingrown hair products do.

The cream works wonders for anywhere on the body suffering from cuts, scrapes, burns, or blemishes. Plus, men can use it as an aftershave. It costs £15, but since Arezoo has so many international clients, she's willing to ship any orders for a minimum charge of $5.

Readers have been steadily writing in asking about how to resolve your ingrown hair problem. Pesty post-waxing and shaving bumps look red, irritated and they can even itch a little bit. It's time you learn about Tend Skin Liquid.

This oldie but goodie has been a part of my life for years. I use it on my bikini line, and guys often use it on their face and on the back of the neck—essentially, wherever ingrown hairs usually form.

To use, dampen a cotton ball with Tend Skin and pat it onto the bumps you'd like to banish. You'll feel a little bit of a tingling sensation. That's okay; just wait about twenty to thirty seconds for it to dry and you're good to go for the day.

Now your bikini line will look beautiful for the duration of your beach days! Tend Skin is available in a four-ounce bottle ($20), an eight-ounce bottle ($35) and a 16-ounce bottle ($50). But if you're allergic to aspirin, take a pass: One of Tend Skin's main ingredients is acetylsalicylic acid, which is—you guessed it—aspirin.

Ah, Summer! Time to break out the bare legs and bikini bottoms — and to start worrying about battling ingrown hairs. Waxing and shaving frequently can easily lead to razor burn and painful bumps that get infected if left untreated. Fortunately, there are some great solutions to the problem, whether you're looking to pamper yourself or you're shopping on a budget. Here are three ingrown-hair treatments to try.

From one of our favorite spa brands, these Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads by Bliss ($35) are easy-to-use wipes presoaked in a hydroxy-acid solution, which helps battle bumps and soothe redness.

Two more, including a great budget option, so read more