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.
7 stories by Zahra Pemberton
ExplainerWhat Does an Ingrown Hair Look Like? A Stage by Stage Visual Guide for Curly and Coily Hair
Almost every reference photo of an ingrown hair shows a red halo on pale skin. On deeper skin tones that red halo is the one sign you should not rely on, and the bump you can feel usually arrives days before anything you can see.
September 3, 2026 · 6 min · Zahra Pemberton
ExplainerRazor 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
ExplainerTwo 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
ExplainerTwo 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
ExplainerSingle 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
ExplainerSalicylic, 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
ExplainerTwo 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