Ingrown Curls
Zahra Pemberton

Associate Editor · Editorial staff

Zahra Pemberton

Tracks new techniques and devices in ingrown hair in textured and curly hair and separates genuine advances from marketing.

6 stories by Zahra Pemberton

Razor vs. Depilatory Cream: Which Actually Causes Fewer Ingrowns on Curly Hair?Explainer

Razor vs. Depilatory Cream: Which Actually Causes Fewer Ingrowns on Curly Hair?

Both methods cut hair above or at the skin line, yet they behave very differently once a tightly curled strand starts to regrow. Here is what the mechanism says, and who should choose which.

August 9, 2026 · 5 min · Zahra Pemberton

Two Ways a Hair Grows Back In: Why the Mechanism Changes What Actually WorksExplainer

Two Ways a Hair Grows Back In: Why the Mechanism Changes What Actually Works

Extrafollicular re-entry and transfollicular penetration are not interchangeable. Understanding which one you are dealing with explains why some fixes help and others quietly make things worse.

August 7, 2026 · 5 min · Zahra Pemberton

Two Ways a Curl Goes Wrong: Transfollicular vs Extrafollicular Ingrown HairsExplainer

Two Ways a Curl Goes Wrong: Transfollicular vs Extrafollicular Ingrown Hairs

Not all ingrown hairs form the same way. Understanding the two distinct entry routes in coiled hair explains why some fixes work, some backfire, and why razor technique matters more than razor brand.

August 7, 2026 · 5 min · Zahra Pemberton

Single Blade vs Multi Blade: What Razor Mechanics Actually Do to Curly HairExplainer

Single Blade vs Multi Blade: What Razor Mechanics Actually Do to Curly Hair

The lift-and-cut design that gives multi-blade razors their closeness has a specific downside for coiled hair. Here is the mechanism, what the research actually shows, and how to choose.

August 6, 2026 · 4 min · Zahra Pemberton

Salicylic, Glycolic, or Mandelic: Which Acid Actually Helps Ingrown Hairs in Curly, Coily Hair?Explainer

Salicylic, Glycolic, or Mandelic: Which Acid Actually Helps Ingrown Hairs in Curly, Coily Hair?

All three exfoliating acids show up on product labels aimed at razor bumps. They do not work the same way, and the differences matter for textured hair and melanin-rich skin.

August 2, 2026 · 5 min · Zahra Pemberton

Two Ways a Curl Turns Inward: Transfollicular vs. Extrafollicular Ingrowns, ExplainedExplainer

Two Ways a Curl Turns Inward: Transfollicular vs. Extrafollicular Ingrowns, Explained

Not all ingrown hairs form the same way. Understanding the two distinct mechanisms behind pseudofolliculitis barbae can change how you shave, exfoliate, and treat bumps in textured hair.

August 2, 2026 · 4 min · Zahra Pemberton