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Ingrown hairs can be uncomfortable and, at times, embarrassing. So check out this simple remedy that leverages witch hazel and tea tree oil to help soothe, heal, and prevent further irritation!

Adding tea tree essential oil to heal ingrown hairs.
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Pesky ingrown hairs affect us all! They are painful and unsightly, leaving us feeling icky and pretty sorry for ourselves. 

I’ve had my fair share of encounters with ingrown hairs over the years, and have gone as far as keeping a bottle of tea tree oil for ingrown hairs in my purse, so I’m never a moment without it.

It might sound strange, but tea tree oil has so many uses – I keep a roller bottle of it whenever thereโ€™s a cut or scratch (or ingrown hair) in sight and apply it immediately to help speed up the healing process!

In this post, Iโ€™ll explain how to use essential oils for ingrown hairs, specifically focusing on tea tree oil and witch hazel. 

I will say itโ€™s not solely about using essential oils for ingrown hair but more about preventing them in the first place.

But Iโ€™ll explain more about that in the sections below. 

What is an ingrown hair?

Ingrown hairs occur anywhere on the body due to the hair shaft growing incorrectly. 

They are most common with curly hair, where the hair curls back towards the skin as it grows and tucks itself back under the skin.

As the hair grows back inward, you may notice pain, redness, and a bump where the hair gets lodged inside the skin layer. 

They also manifest themselves as a result of poor shaving techniques. Using a dull razor or not enough gel when shaving is a surefire way of causing ingrown hairs. 

So too, trapped dirt can cause ingrown hairs, so keeping your skin clean and healthy is essential.

Is witch hazel good for ingrown hairs?

Yes! Witch hazel is a beautiful, natural ingredient that reduces inflammation and pain associated with ingrown hairs.

Itโ€™s a great additional tool to use alongside tea tree oil. 

Witch hazel tightens the skin with its astringent qualities and reduces the chances of infection. 

Itโ€™s also suitable as a skin cleanser straight from the bottle, removing residue and dirt to leave the skin clean and refreshed.

Is tea tree oil good for ingrown hairs?

Yes! We wouldn’t be here if it weren’t! Tea tree oil contains properties to help with issues often associated with ingrown hairs.

Tea tree oil has been said to be an excellent healer of ingrown hairs. Its natural powers can fight inflammation, open blocked pores, and help release trapped hairs.

This essential oil is a great way to soothe any discomfort or irritation and encourage healing.

Why youโ€™ll love this recipe

  • This recipe is easy to make, with only two ingredients. Itโ€™s inexpensive and can be mixed up in no time at all – and used straight away. No waiting around!
  • By applying a small amount of tea tree essential oil to the skin, you can reduce redness and itching and heal blemishes faster. 
  • Tea tree oilโ€™s effective and powerful properties make it suitable for various conditions, not only on the skin but also in the hair.
  • Itโ€™s full of natural goodness with no synthetic ingredients or chemicals – just good stuff for your skin!
  • Let us not forget its beautiful cleansing fragrance!
Adding tea tree oil to a white bowl.

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key ingredients

This is what youโ€™ll need to make a tea tree essential oil solution for ingrown hairs. 

How to prevent ingrown hairs with witch hazel

Simply dab a cotton ball in witch hazel and apply directly to the skin immediately after shaving. This is to tighten the pores, reduce irritation, and clean the skin after the shave. 

Adding witch hazel to a white bowl.
Applying tea tree oil to a cotton ball.
Dabbing tea tree oil onto the skin.

How to heal ingrown hairs with tea tree essential oil

  • Add 1/8 cup of warm water to a small bowl.
  • Stir in 5 drops of tea tree essential oil.
  • Dab a washcloth and gently rub the affected area twice daily to open the pores and loosen the hair.
  • Eventually, after a few days, the ingrown hair should emerge and, if necessary, can be removed carefully using clean tweezers. 
Rubbing tea tree oil on a ingrown hair to loosen it up.

tips for ingrown hairs

Itโ€™s always best to avoid getting ingrown hairs in the first place. The trick with this is to keep the skin clean before and after shaving.

Use witch hazel as an ointment to close pores and prevent dirt from getting in – and remember to cleanse the skin daily in the bath or shower.

The reason we cleanse and wash skin is to keep our pores clear over time, avoiding that build-up of dirt and grime, thereby reducing the chances of ingrown hair. 

Regular exfoliation of shaved skin is also good, say once or twice a week. Here is a recipe for a homemade scrub that would be great for this purpose. 

And it may seem a touch obvious, but itโ€™s essential to practice good shaving techniques.

Always use a fresh razor blade and shave gel or cream designed to make skin smooth.

Ingrown hairs are rarely anything to worry about – theyโ€™re more a nuisance than a concern. 

Just be aware of any redness and heightened pain, as this may signal an infection in the hair follicle, which may require a check with your healthcare provider. 

Wrapping up

This is a one-time-only recipe for ingrown hair treatment. So use it when you need it, and then make a fresh batch when you need it again. 

Keep an eye on the expiration dates on your essential oil bottles – I wrote a post on how to tell if an essential oil has gone bad here. 

Always follow up a shave with a good aftershave or witch hazel to close those pores and prevent any dirt or contaminants from clogging them up.

I hope you found this post helpful. If so, consider reading one of these next.

4.67 from 3 votes

How to prevent and heal ingrown hairs

Prep: 5 minutes
Active: 2 minutes
Total: 7 minutes
Yield: 1 time use
Using tea tree essential oil for ingrown hair is simple when you know how!

Equipment

  • Cotton balls
  • washcloth
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Ingredients 

Instructions 

How to prevent ingrown hairs

  • Dab a cotton ball in witch hazel and apply it directly to the skin immediately after shaving to close the pores and prevent any dirt or contaminants from clogging them.

How to Heal Ingrown Hairs

  • Add 1/8 cup of warm water to a small bowl.
  • Stir in 5 drops of tea tree essential oil.
  • Dab a washcloth and gently rub the affected area twice daily to open the pores, soften the skin, and loosen the hair.
  • After a few days, the ingrown hair should emerge and, if necessary, can be removed carefully using clean tweezers.

Notes

While this works incredibly well, you will need to perform a patch test on the back of your elbow before using any of the ingredients for treating ingrown hairs.
Tried this recipe?Mention @our_oily_house or tag #ouroilyhouse!
This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.

About Laura

Welcome to Our Oily House, Iโ€™m so glad youโ€™re here! Explore DIY cleaners, homemade soaps, skincare and hair care recipes, fragrance-free solutions, and sustainable laundry tips for a naturally inspired home.

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4.67 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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2 Comments

  1. Karen says:

    Hi Laura. My friend is bothered with her eyelashes turning in causing pain in her eye. Could this recipe be used for that or just hair on the skin

    1. Laura says:

      I would not recommend using this around the eyes.