OFTEN times many hesitate to shave their hair - be it on their head, face, or body - out of concern that it will come back thicker, darker, and faster.
Is there truth to this age-old belief or is it something that's not worth tearing one's hair out?
Verdict:
FALSE
Shaving your hair will not make it grow back thicker, better, faster, or stronger.
Once your hair exits the skin’s surface, its cells are no longer alive. So when you shave, you’re slicing off dead hair at the surface of the skin.
Shaving doesn’t remove hair under the skin unlike some hair removal methods, so it’s impossible that it will affect your hair colour, thickness, or rate of growth.
This misconception was proven and tested via clinical studies as early as 1928! Despite this, the myth continues to get in people's hair to this day.
Why is this so?
To get to the root of the issue it is important to understand hair anatomy and its growth cycle.
It takes about a month for body hair to reach its full length. Older hair naturally has a fine tip as opposed to those growing back after a recent shave.
It regrows after a shave sporting a different appearance (initially) compared to before it met the blade.
The seemingly thick and coarse "stubbly" look will eventually go away as the hair regrows, including the fine tip that was shaved off.
When it comes to the regrown hair having a darker shade, it is likely that this is due to the lack of exposure to the sun and chemicals.
So don't let this misconception stop you from properly grooming yourself.
If you're feeling iffy about shaving, speak to your doctor about other hair removal methods such as waxing, sugaring, epilating, or the more expensive but longer-lasting laser hair removal.
Sources:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2151163/
https://www.healthline.com/health/how-long-does-it-take-for-hair-to-grow-back
https://www.healthline.com/health/does-shaving-make-hair-thicker#how-hair-grows
