There I was, minding my own business in the grocery store on 116th street, when a woman approached me. “Excuse me, do you know about TendSkin?” I looked at her with a confused look on my face, which she took as a cue to continue. “TendSkin, it will help with those bumps,” she said with a kind smile and walked away.
“Those bumps” were the ingrown hairs that I was battling as a result of managing the hirsutism (excess hair) that comes with having PCOS. As much as I hate that I have to deal with hirsutism, I’m thankful that I don’t have hair growing on my face/cheeks as other PCOS women do, that’s got to be really frustrating. Anyway, I thought my hairy situation was under control, but the side effects to my regular hair removal was giving me ingrown hair bumps which also isn’t cute. I mean, if a lady in the grocery store noticed it… I needed to do better.
Fast forward a few months and I started getting brazilian waxes (yup, plus size brazilians are no big deal, I love them). The aesthetician encouraged me to exfoliate my “little CeCe” with a sugar scrub and moisturize her with an oil (not baby oil, it clogs pores down there and causes… in-growns!). I mentioned to a girlfriend that I was trying different scrubs to prevent in-growns after waxing and she told me that apricot scrub works really well for her.
Thus, my ingrown hair/shaving bump prevention routine was born! I use the following steps anywhere that hair grows, bikini area, underarms and my “PCOS hot spots” and it keeps me bump free!
Here’s my process:
Step 1: When I shave, I use a 5 blade razor so that I don’t have to go over the area too much. I’ve tried cheap 5 blade razors, but I find that Schick is the best brand.
Step 2: In between shaving/waxes, I scrub all areas with Apricot scrub. I think the acne fighting agents are what makes this work better for me than a plain sugar scrub.
Step 3: I moisturize any area that has been waxed or shaved with coconut oil. Coconut oil is great to use all over your body and in your hair!
Step 4: Tend Skin, this is basically a miracle product. Even if I’m traveling and skip the steps above for a while, Tend Skin keeps a girl bump/ingrown free until I’m back home with all of my supplies. I’ve started with the roll-on container, now I buy big bottles and refill as needed.
Do you get shaving bumps/in-growns? How do you manage them?
Great Info…I have to remember this stuff! I already have coconut oil!!!
I’m basically obsessed with coconut oil lol
Reading this post took me back to the first time I got a Brazilian wax. The esthetician informed me of Tend Skin, and I was like “No thanks. I should be okay”. LOL. Poor me. I had no clue. Talk about a lesson learned. I like to alternate between Tend Skin and Tea Tree Oil after waxing. It works great. I prefer to wax my legs instead of shaving them. I find that I have less ingrowns/razor burns that way.
I used to have the WORST razor burn on my legs… but I grew out of that, thank GOD!
These are great tips!! This is why I love your blog. I am about to start waxing and I have PCOS and very sensitive skin. Even with the weight loss, I still get bad ingrown hairs. They can cause scars and dark spots. I will try these solutions and see what happens.
I have to ask…. Where were the bumps that this lady noticed? You said you don’t get face hair so what did she see?
I LOOOOOVE coconut oil. I’m obsessed with it. There are so many uses! I tell so many people about it that I feel like the dad in My Big Fat Greek Wedding with the windex. Anytime someone complains about something with their skin or hair I tell them to use coconut oil. It can even be used for (cough, cough) intimate purposes. Everyone should Google “101 uses for coconut oil”. I even use it on my dog for her dry nose!
I need to get coconut oil. I’ve heard a lot of people online talk about it. I strangely get ingrown hairs on the sides of my legs! I just try to exfoliate with something rough to help those areas.
what about scars and dark spots? have you found any treatment that works to get rid of them? especially in the more sensitive/intimate areas??
Not yet, but when I do you guys will be the first to know!
I’m brand new here and I hope you see this… you MUST try PFB-Chromabright! It works just like TendSkin but also contains a brightening agent that helps lighten scarring etc. I managed a spa where we sold it and I got myself hooked!
Sweet! I’ll check it out…
I’m dealing with facial hair than ever at almost 50. I also tell the truth when I say that they are jet black, as course as a man’s beard , and almost 90 % insist on becoming ingrown. It really bites the big one.
I LOOOOOOVE!! getting my brazilian!! Now that i’ve moved out of state, i have to find a new place to go, but I can’t wait to find one! I’ve got to get into this coconut oil movement! this is the umpteenth time i’ve heard good things about it! Unfortunately, i’m one of those PCOS Divas that have to deal with facial hair, and until i can complete my laser treatments (moving drained my funds temporarily) I have to resort to shaving more often, and it SUCKS!! I have to figure out what works!
Please tell me how the treatment goes? I suspect I have PCOS but kind of nervous to go get checked up. I have been having issues with facial hair. Its bad!
Scrubs are too abrasive and will make the problem worse. You need a good beta hydroxy acid lotion / gel / cream. http://www.paulaschoice.com/expert-advice/anti-aging/_/exfoliate-for-bright-smooth-and-radiant-skin#scrub
Can I use coconut oil as my regular moisturizer also?
YES! I love the way it feels….
Yep. Hubby and I use coconut oil as….when we..
Baby oil (mineral oil) is non-comedogenic and will not clog your pores. It’s a widely spread myth that baby oil clogs pores, but there are plenty of other comedogenic oils that will.
Do you use shaving cream when you shave?
Heather in GA
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Thank you so much, this was very helpful! I’ve been getting brazilian waxes for about 2 years and end up with terrible ingrown hair. I already own Apricot scrub and now I’ve got Tend Skin, I will send an update in a few weeks. 🙂 Lovely blog