Silky-smooth skin is something we all want for summer, especially when we start rocking those short shorts. Read BeautyHeaven's tips on how to prevent nasty ingrown hairs from spoiling your fun in the sun…

Whether you've waxed, shaved, depilated or epilated, one thing's for sure – your aim is to have smooth skin, for as long as possible, right? So there's nothing worse than going to the trouble of getting fuzz-free, only to suffer from unsightly (and sometimes painful) ingrown hairs a few days/weeks later. The good news though is that ingrown hairs can be treated – prevented even. Here's how...

ANTI-INGROWN TIP #1: Use an astringent oil

Once you've finished getting fuzz-free, your hair follicles will remain open for a while (especially if you've waxed or epilated). So it's important not to overload your skin with heavy product as it could clog your follicles, which will cause ingrown hairs later down the line. Your best bet is to invest in a light oil or cream that's specifically formulated to be used after hair removal, as it will act as a skin soother and astringent in one.

ANTI-INGROWN TIP #2: Scrub sooner than you think

While your skin may be slightly sensitive post-hair removal, that doesn't mean you can forget about exfoliating it until you next decide to go fuzz-free. To help keep your skin smooth and remove any dirt or dead skin residue that may be blocking your follicles, give your skin a gentle scrub three to four days after your hair removal, and continue scrubbing regularly until the next time you shave or wax. We like: Dermalogica's Exfoliating Body, R385, which will effectively slough away dead skin cells and dirt, without being too harsh on your skin.

ANTI-INGROWN TIP #3: Opt for product over picking

Although it's pretty tempting to squeeze or pick at an ingrown hair or a pustule, the bacteria that's transferred from your fingers to your skin can actually increase the infection around your ingrown hair, which is definitely not a good look. Instead, arm yourself with a hard-working ingrown hair eliminator (preferably before you remove your hair) so that if you do get an ingrown, you're ready to treat it with the right product straight away. We like: Fino Soothe For Woman, R65, as it prevents ingrown hair and razor bumps while also helping to relieve itchiness.

Do you suffer from ingrown hairs? What do you do to get rid of them? Are you guilty of picking or squeezing them?

Written by Debbie, this article originally appeared on BeautyHeaven.

Image: Poznyakov/Shutterstock.com