FUZZ OFF

Enjoy some razor-sharp tips to help you remove hair from the places you don't want it.

- BY HEATHER MUIR MAFFEI

Avoid Ingrowns

Maybe the biggest summer bummer of them all, ingrown hairs are a common phenomenon. They can be especially prevalent where hair is thick or curly—the bikini area, armpits, and nape of the neck. If you understand why they happen, it’s easy to prevent them, says Kavita Mariwalla, MD, a dermatologist in West Islip, New York. “As the hair grows out, it can get trapped under the skin’s surface. Instead of growing out straight from the pore, it curls back and creates the dreaded bump.” The more it grows, the more inflammation, redness, and irritation you get. For prevention, Mariwalla suggests exfoliating, which coaxes hairs out of their pores and keeps dead skin cells from building up and trapping the hairs. Use a pad containing alpha hydroxy and beta hydroxy acids (like Buff & Brighten AHA/BHA Body Exfoliating Pads, $30; shop.sweetspotlabs.com) a few times a week on prone areas, or apply a 50/50 mix of Differin 0.1% Adapalene Gel ($15; target.com) and your regular body moisturizer. Also, never go commando in your athleisure.