Ingrown Hairs: Causes and How to Reduce Recurrence

THE HAIR IS GONE. BUT YOUR SKIN ISN’T HAPPY.

Shaving, waxing or sugaring. At first, beautifully smooth skin.

Then, a few days later, red bumps, itching and irritation appear. Sometimes there are painful inflamed spots and dark marks that last longer than the hairs themselves.

It’s especially frustrating when the same thing happens after every hair removal session.

INGROWN HAIRS ARE ABOUT MORE THAN SMOOTH SKIN.

An ingrown hair develops when a hair curves back into the skin or grows beneath its surface, triggering an inflammatory reaction.

And if the problem keeps returning, perhaps it’s time to rethink more than just your skincare routine.

MAYBE IT’S TIME TO CHANGE HOW YOU REMOVE HAIR.

WHY DO INGROWN HAIRS HAPPEN?

After shaving or hair removal, a new hair doesn’t always emerge freely through the skin’s surface.

Sometimes its tip curls back and re-enters the skin, causing irritation, redness and those familiar bumps.

What increases the risk?

• Coarse, thick or curly hair.

• Shaving against the direction of hair growth.

• Shaving too closely or repeatedly passing a razor over the same area.

• Individual reactions to waxing or sugaring.

• Tight clothing rubbing against irritated skin.

IMPORTANT: INGROWN HAIRS DON’T NECESSARILY MEAN YOU’RE LOOKING AFTER YOUR SKIN INCORRECTLY.

Sometimes it’s a combination of your hair structure, skin characteristics and the way you remove hair.

BIKINI AREA. LEGS. UNDERARMS.

Sound familiar?

Ingrown hairs often recur in areas where hair is regularly shaved or removed from the root.

An ingrown hair may appear as a small bump. Sometimes you can see the hair trapped beneath the skin.

There may be itching, tenderness, redness or dark marks left behind.

BUT NOT EVERY BUMP AFTER HAIR REMOVAL IS AN INGROWN HAIR.

Similar symptoms can occur with folliculitis and other skin conditions.

If inflammation worsens, pus develops or you experience significant pain, seek medical advice.

THE GOAL IS TO CARE FOR YOUR SKIN — NOT TO KEEP FIGHTING THE SAME INFLAMMATION.

A NEEDLE. TWEEZERS. “I’LL JUST HELP IT OUT A LITTLE.”

Tempting when you can see a hair beneath the skin?

But piercing the skin, squeezing an inflamed bump or trying to dig out a deeply embedded hair can lead to infection, pigmentation changes and scarring.

WHAT SHOULD YOU AVOID?

• Squeezing inflamed bumps.

• Piercing the skin with a needle.

• Digging into the skin with tweezers.

• Using harsh scrubs on inflamed skin.

• Continuing hair removal over irritated areas.

SMOOTH SKIN SHOULD NEVER COME AT THE COST OF DAMAGING IT.

If painful inflammation keeps returning, consult a dermatologist.

LESS SKIN TRAUMA. LESS RISK OF INGROWN HAIRS.

When shaving, use a clean, sharp razor and a suitable shaving product. Shave in the direction of hair growth.

Avoid repeatedly going over the same area or trying to shave as close to the skin as possible.

After hair removal, minimise friction and avoid irritating the treated skin.

Keep your skin moisturised. Gentle exfoliation may help when the skin is calm, but never scrub inflamed areas.

BUT WHAT IF YOU’RE DOING EVERYTHING RIGHT AND THE HAIRS STILL KEEP GROWING INWARDS?

Perhaps the answer isn’t another cream, scrub or shaving technique.

IT’S TIME TO LOOK AT HAIR GROWTH ITSELF.

LESS HAIR. LESS SHAVING. FEWER INGROWN HAIRS.

It’s the same cycle every time.

You remove the hair. Your skin feels smooth. A few days later, the hair starts growing back.

Another shave. More friction. Sometimes irritation and ingrown hairs follow.

WHAT IF YOU COULD REDUCE THE HAIR GROWTH ITSELF?

That’s exactly what laser hair removal is designed to do.

Laser energy targets pigment within the hair, generating heat that damages the structures responsible for hair growth. Over a course of treatments, the amount of hair growing back typically decreases.

THE LOGIC IS SIMPLE:

Less hair growth → less frequent shaving → less repeated mechanical irritation → a lower risk of new ingrown hairs.

Waxing and sugaring remove hair, but they don’t provide the same long-term reduction in hair growth.

LASER HAIR REMOVAL DOESN’T JUST REDUCE HAIR GROWTH. IT CAN ALSO REDUCE HOW OFTEN YOU NEED TO REMOVE HAIR IN THE FIRST PLACE.

WHY KEEP DEALING WITH EACH INGROWN HAIR WHEN YOU COULD REDUCE THE CHANCE OF NEW ONES?

If ingrown hairs are a recurring problem, laser hair removal addresses one of the main contributing factors: ongoing hair growth.

WHAT CAN A COURSE OF TREATMENTS OFFER?

• Less hair. Hair growth gradually decreases.

• Less shaving. Maintaining smooth skin becomes easier.

• Less irritation. Your skin is exposed to the razor less often.

• Fewer ingrown hairs. With fewer hairs growing back, fewer can potentially become ingrown.

This approach can be particularly useful for the bikini area, underarms and legs.

At The NOW Beauty Lab, we use the MediLase Pro diode laser.

Before starting a course, we assess your skin, hair colour and texture, screen for contraindications and discuss realistic expectations.

A series of treatments is needed for significant hair reduction. Results vary, and complete elimination of ingrown hairs cannot be guaranteed.

INSTEAD OF CONSTANTLY DEALING WITH THE CONSEQUENCES, ADDRESS ONE OF THE MAIN REASONS THE PROBLEM KEEPS RETURNING.

HOW MANY MORE TIMES DO YOU WANT TO REPEAT THE SAME CYCLE?

Shaving. Irritation. Ingrown hairs. Shaving again.

If the problem keeps coming back, you don’t have to keep approaching it in the same way.

LASER HAIR REMOVAL CAN HELP BREAK THAT CYCLE.

Less hair growth means less frequent hair removal — and therefore less repeated mechanical irritation and a lower risk of new ingrown hairs.

At The NOW Beauty Lab, we’ll help you choose a laser hair removal programme suited to your treatment area, skin and hair characteristics.

If you’re currently experiencing active inflammation or signs of infection, these need to be addressed first. Laser hair removal is not a treatment for infected or inflamed skin.

BIKINI AREA? UNDERARMS? LEGS?

Send us a message on Instagram and tell us which area is causing you problems, or choose laser hair removal through our online booking system.

LESS HAIR. LESS SHAVING. FEWER INGROWN HAIRS.

THE NOW BEAUTY LAB · RIJEKA