The Essentials

8 DIY Recipes to Banish Ingrown Hairs

by Karen Haitos on Jun 23, 2020
8 DIY Recipes to Banish Ingrown Hairs - Essentially Haitos

Ingrown hair — two little words that conjure up dread and strike fear in the hearts of many (OK, maybe a little exaggeration — but nobody wants to deal with them). In our quest for smooth, gorgeous, stubble-free skin, ingrown hairs are a pain at best and a cause for real concern at worst (infection, anybody?).

Whether they’re popping up as bumps on your legs or wreaking havoc on your bikini line, ingrown hairs are unwelcome guests that can cause real discomfort, inflammation, and even scarring.

The cause isn’t complicated. When a hair starts to grow, it sometimes curls inward and gets trapped just beneath the skin's surface. Sometimes that’s because dead skin cells have clogged the follicle (so yes — always exfoliate), and sometimes it’s simply your hair’s natural growth pattern, which is why those with curlier hair often deal with this more.

Keep reading for a few simple steps, DIY remedies, and easy fixes to help keep ingrown hairs at bay. (Updated 7/16/26)

Before You Start

  • Patch test any new mixture on your inner forearm for 24 hours before applying it to a larger area.
  • Skip the aspirin treatment if you’re allergic to aspirin, NSAIDs, or other salicylates.
  • Pregnant or nursing? Check with your doctor before using essential oils topically.
  • These remedies are meant for mild, uninfected ingrown hairs. If you notice spreading redness, pus, fever, or no improvement after a few days, see a dermatologist.

Aspirin-Honey Treatment

This first recipe is a double whammy. Aspirin converts to salicylic acid when dissolved in water, and honey has antibacterial properties — combined, they can help reduce the chance of inflammation and infection, says Dr. Kautilya Shaurya, a NYC dermatologist. This mask can help ward off infection and reduce swelling when applied. Here’s how to make it:

Ingredients:

  • 3 uncoated aspirin tablets (aspirin powder is also available, but you really have to look for it)
  • 1 tsp. honey
  • 1/2 to 1 tsp. water

Directions:

  1. Add warm water to a bowl
  2. Add honey
  3. Crush aspirin tablets
  4. Mix all ingredients together
  5. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes
  6. Wipe off entirely with warm water

You know we love honey at Essentially Haitos - check out our best-selling honey mask here!

Coconut Oil Sugar Scrub

Combine an exfoliant (like sea salt or granulated sugar) with a carrier oil (like avocado or coconut oil — something that won’t dissolve the granules right away) for an easy DIY scrub. This combination keeps follicles clear and gently massages ingrown hairs out before they become inflamed or infected, says Ali Tobia, an esthetician in NYC.

Coconut oil is hydrating, keeps skin moisturized, and helps reduce inflammation — a simple, multi-functional skin savior. Mix it with raw sugar, and you’ve got a winner. Use this scrub daily until you see improvement, then switch to two or three times a week. Just don’t overdo the “scrubby” factor.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup of raw sugar
  • 1/2 cup of coconut oil
  • 10 drops of tea tree oil, or your preferred essential oil

Directions:

  1. Combine sugar and coconut oil in a bowl
  2. Add essential oil and mix well
  3. Apply and then rinse using warm water
  4. Dry with a clean towel

You can use this scrub daily on your body — check it out here — until you see an improvement, and then switch to two or three times a week.

Oatmeal-Honey Soothing Scrub

Finely ground oatmeal is a gentle, natural exfoliant that’s also naturally soothing — it can help calm the redness and irritation that often follows exfoliation, says Dr. Blair Murphy-Rose, a dermatologist.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp. finely ground oatmeal (colloidal oatmeal works great)
  • 1 tsp. raw honey
  • Warm water

Directions:

  1. Combine oatmeal and honey in a bowl
  2. Add warm water a little at a time, stirring until it forms a paste
  3. Apply to the affected area and let it sit for 10 minutes
  4. Rinse with warm water

Tea Tree Oil Soak

Tea Tree Oil is anti-inflammatory and has antibacterial and antiseptic properties, which is why it's found in so many acne products (we use Tea Tree in our Mean Green Detoxifying Clay Mask and This Blem For Real!). You can typically find Tea Tree Oil at your local health food store and retail pharmacy. 

Ingredients:

  • Warm water
  • Tea tree oil

Directions:

  • Warm eight ounces of water in a bowl
  • Add about 20 drops of tea tree oil
  • Use a clean washcloth to apply the mixture to the affected area

    Always patch-test tea tree oil first, and keep it away from the eyes and other mucous membranes.

Black Tea Bag Treatment

Tea has long been used for its soothing properties, and black tea in particular contains natural compounds that may help calm redness and irritation. It also contains antioxidants like caffeine, which can help temporarily de-puff the skin.

Ingredients:

  • 1 black tea bag
  • Warm water

Directions:

  1. Heat water
  2. Dip the tea bag to moisten
  3. Apply tea bag to the affected area
  4. Let it sit for two to three minutes

Oil-Based Serum

If your skin is particularly sensitive, it’s best to avoid harsher scrubs — abrasive exfoliants like sugar or salt do the job, but they can irritate reactive skin. For something to soothe post-shave, try this oil-based option instead.

Ingredients:

  • 1 tbsp. castor oil (you can find it at your local health food store or retail pharmacy)
  • 10 drops tea tree oil

Directions:

  1. Find a reusable glass bottle
  2. Combine castor and tea tree oils
  3. Mix well
  4. Apply combination after shaving to prevent irritation

Patch test before first use.

Tea Tree Oil and Witch Hazel

Tea tree oil combined with warm water makes a great antiseptic for the affected area (see above). It helps loosen hair and clear out follicles. Afterward, witch hazel — a natural plant extract with antibacterial and antiseptic benefits — can be applied as a toner immediately following hair removal or shaving.

Ingredients:

  • 10 drops of tea tree oil
  • 1 cup warm water
  • Witch hazel (easy to find at retail pharmacy and health food stores)

Directions:

  1. Warm 1 cup of water in a bowl
  2. Add tea tree oil to warm water
  3. Apply to skin
  4. Dab with witch hazel as a toner afterward

(We use a combination of witch hazel and tea tree in our Mean Green Detoxifying Mask to help with inflammation and acne flare-ups on your face, chest, and back.)

Aloe Vera Soothing Gel

Aloe vera is a gentle, calming ingredient that helps soothe irritated skin and support its natural moisture valance after exfoliating or shaving.

Ingredients:

  • 2 tbsp. aloe vera

Directions:

  1. Apply to clean skin, gently rubbing in a circular motion
  2. Let stand for 10 minutes
  3. Wipe off with a warm, wet washcloth
  4. Store any extra in a jar in the fridge for later use

In Summary

Anti-inflammatory treatments like soaks, scrubs, and oil serums can help calm things down after an ingrown hair shows up, but don't forget to treat the root cause, too: clogged hair follicles. Gentle daily exfoliation and consistent moisturizing are stilll the best way to keep ingrowns hairs from forming in the first place. Try our suggested DIY mixes to exfoliate, prevent, and soothe irritations along the way, and if an ingrown hair looks infected or isn't improving after a few days, it's worth a visit to your dermatologist.
Tags: body scrub, DIY body scrub, Exfoliate, exfoliation, ingrown hairs, razor bumps, smooth skin, Summer skin care
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