Clean the bath thoroughly first. Disinfectant and a very good rinse. Repeat this step every single time you bathe with a new piercing. Very hot water will cause your piercing to swell and hurt. If not possible, do everything you can to keep the piercing well clear of the water. Make sure a minimum amount of contact occurs between the piercing and the water. Do not allow any soap, shampoo, conditioner or any other chemicals to get on the piercing. Do not touch, pull, tug, brush against, wash over, scrub around or near the piercing whilst you are in the water. Then immediately rinse the wound out with sea salt water (one pinch in an eggcup of boiled and cooled water is about right) or tea tree oil. Ideally both. The purpose of this is to rinse out any bacteria, or soaps that might have snuck in there, and it is absolutely critically important that you do this as soon as you are out of the water.

Summary: Do it in your own, clean bath. Be sensible with the temperature of the water. If possible, cover the piercing with a waterproof dressing. Make the bath as quick as possible. Once you get out, pat the area dry very lightly with a clean, soft towel. Clean your piercing thoroughly before you sleep that night using normal procedure.


Your beard trimmer will release a lot of small clippings, especially if you have a lot of hair. It’s best to place a wastebasket below you when shaving to reduce the mess. After you’ve let your clippings fall into your wastebasket, grab a damp paper towel and wipe up any stray clippings.

Summary: Place a wastebasket below you to catch the clippings.


The warmth from the washcloth will also help draw out any pus surrounding the hair. This will make it easier for you to remove the hair and clean out the pus, reducing your risk of developing an infection. Dip your tweezers in rubbing alcohol to disinfect them, then dig the tip of the ingrown hair out of your skin. Don’t pull the entire hair out of your leg—just the tip. The redness and irritation should reduce. Don’t dig too deep into your skin if you have trouble grasping the hair. Let it grow for a few days, and try again once it’s longer. Products with salicylic acid or glycolic acid work against ingrown hairs with exfoliating ingredients. These acids are often found in acne medications. It’s not uncommon for such medications to have an overall drying effect on your skin, though, so take care to moisturize thoroughly to offset this.  Expect results after 3-4 days of use. Some of these chemicals can make you sensitive to sunlight, so read their instructions carefully and apply sunscreen if so. The ultimate solution, laser hair removal is an option for those who have chronic issues with ingrown hairs. Treatment inhibits regrowth entirely, so pursue this only if you’re looking to give up leg hair entirely.  Although advances have been made, laser treatment is still most effective on individuals with fair skin and dark hair. Those with blonde hair or darker skin tones will find less success down this route. Even with fair skin (the skin tone most amenable to laser treatment) the total cost of the multiple sessions you’ll endure for laser treatment can run about $2,000.

Summary: Lay a warm, clean washcloth over the area to soften the skin. Tweeze ingrown hairs out from under the skin. Treat them with active ingredients. Laser your leg hair.


Instead of inserting your earbuds so the cord hangs straight down from your ear canal, insert them "upside down" and loop the cord over the back of your ear. This may feel strange at first if you're not used to it, but it will prevent the buds from slipping out every time the cord is slightly jerked or pulled. Earbuds are meant to fit snugly into your ear canal. If your earbuds don't seem to sit comfortably in your ears, you may simply need to insert them more carefully. Stretch your earlobe gently with one hand to open the ear canal while inserting each earbud, then release so that your ear cavity shapes itself around the earbud and forms a tight seal. Don't disregard those extra foam or silicone tips that come packaged with your earbuds. Experiment with different sizes to see which is most comfortable for you. It's even possible that one of your ears is slightly larger than the other, and you may want to use two different sizes. You can purchase accessories for your existing earbuds to customize the fit. These are great for improving the fit of those cheap round earbuds that came free with your device. A popular choice is Yurbuds, soft rubber attachments that create a more snug fit into the ear. They can even be made in custom sizes. A buildup of earwax can cause your earbuds to fit poorly and fall out. Using cotton swabs to remove earwax can actually cause the wax to be pushed against your eardrum, causing a blockage and possibly resulting in discomfort while wearing earbuds. Don't use Q-tips, and see a doctor if you think you may have an earwax blockage.
Summary: Hang the cord over your ears. Insert the buds firmly into your ears. Use the attachments that come with your earbuds. Purchase special attachments. Don't clean your ears with cotton swabs.