Why Ingrown Hairs Come Back Out of Nowhere
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Ever gone through a long stretch of not having an ingrown hair, and then BAM — three pop out of nowhere!? Suddenly, you're left wondering what you did wrong and when. Well, don't be too hard on yourself, because there's actually a very good reason this happens from time to time, and it has nothing to do with your routine.
The answer comes down to how hair grows. Every strand of hair on your face is growing at a completely different stage at any given moment. Hair doesn't grow uniformly; it operates in independent cycles, strand by strand. So even when your shaving routine is dialed in perfectly, certain hairs will hit a vulnerable phase at different times, and that's exactly when they curl back under the skin and become ingrown.
Hair goes through three distinct stages of growth, and all three are happening simultaneously across your face right now:
| 1 |
Anagen — The Active Growth Phase This is where the action is. During the anagen phase, hair is actively pushing up through the follicle, growing roughly 1 cm every 28 days. Hair in this phase is strong, anchored, and on the move. |
| 2 |
Catagen — The Transitional Phase Think of this as the pit stop. The follicle pauses, detaches slightly, and renews itself before the next cycle begins. The hair is no longer anchored the same way, making it far more vulnerable to becoming ingrown during this window. |
| 3 |
Telogen — The Shedding Phase The hair naturally loosens and sheds, making room for a fresh strand to begin its anagen phase. This is the normal shedding your razor intercepts — and the phase where ingrown hairs are most likely to occur. |
All three phases occur simultaneously; one strand of hair may be in the anagen phase while its neighbor is entering telogen. This is why ingrown hairs can appear so randomly. They're not random at all. They're simply hairs that hit a vulnerable transition point right when you shaved.
So here's the bottom line, if you've figured out how to prevent ingrown hairs, you've already accomplished one of the most important aspects of shaving. The key is understanding that a few ingrown hairs returning from time to time is completely normal, and it doesn't mean your routine has failed. All that's left is to be aware that a few may return, and be prepared with the right approach when they do.
For a full breakdown on how to treat and prevent them the right way, check out our guide: Controlling Ingrown Hairs →
P.S. Know someone who could use this? Forward it their way — good shaving advice should never be kept to yourself. 😄