Does Shaving Make Hair Thicker or Grow Back Faster?
When it comes to hair growth, there are a lot of myths and misconceptions. One of the most common questions we get is whether shaving makes hair thicker or grows back faster. In this blog post, we will answer that question once and for all!
Does Shaving Make Hair Thicker?
Shaving does not cause hair to grow back thicker. When you shave, and the hair grows back, it might initially appear thicker because the ends of the hair have a flat blunt tip.
New hair can also appear thicker because it can have a darker appearance; this can happen because the new hair hasn't been exposed to light and the elements. This can also become more noticeable for people who have light skin tones.
But over time, your hair color should change back to normal, and the tip of the hair will eventually taper to a point again.
Does Shaving Your Head Make Hair Thicker?
The hair on your head grows back the same way as other body parts. It doesn't matter where you shave, and it will not physically grow back thicker. It will only appear thicker at first due to the larger and flat tip, and also, sometimes, new hair appears darker.
Does Shaving Hair Make It Grow Back Faster?
Another myth is that shaving will make your hair grow back faster; this is also not true. When you shave or trim your hair, it leaves a flat blunt surface at the tip, which can make it look like your hair is initially growing back faster. New hair might also appear darker, giving the allusion of it growing back faster, but shaving does not affect the rate of hair growth.
Does Plucking Hair Make It Thicker?
Plucking and waxing your hair is an entirely different process than shaving. When you pluck or wax your hair, you aren't just cutting the top off the hair; you are pulling out the entire hair follicle from the skin.
Pulling out the entire hair follicle will initially cause the hair follicle to grow back a little thicker, depending on the location. A research study suggested that plucking hairs from high-density areas could induce thicker hair growth, while hairs plucked from low-density areas saw no additional hair growth.
So if you do this only a few times in an area with high hair density, it's possible to see thicker hair growth.
However, while plucking could initially make your hair grow thicker, if you do this frequently, it eventually can have the opposite effect and cause the hair to grow back in those areas more sparsely. Still, it will never completely stop hair growth. If you want to learn more about waxing, check out our guide to how long waxing lasts.
The Hair Growth Process
Now let's talk about the hair growth process. Hair goes through 4 main stages. Hair doesn't just grow back because of shaving or waxing. Humans shed hair daily, so let's take you through the stages.
Anagen
Anagen is the stage where hair begins to grow. It grows at about .3 to . 4 mm per day. The time frame for hair in the anagen phase varies from person to person. The hair on your head stays in this anagen phase longer than the hair on your body. This process can be cut short by a bad diet and general aging.
Catagen
The next phase is the catagen phase. This is where the hair follicle detaches from the blood vessels in your skin. When the hair follicle detaches, it causes the hair to stop growing because it has been removed from the oxygen and nutrients that are needed for hair growth. This usually lasts for about two weeks.
Telogen
After the catagen phase, your hair goes into the telogen phase, where the hair follicle doesn't do anything and rests in place on your skin. This phase will last for about three months.
Exogen
The last phase is the exogen phase. This is where a new hair follicle begins to grow right under the old hair follicle and begins to shed or push the old hair follicle out of the skin slowly as the new hair follicle grows. The new hair follicle then begins the anagen phase. Your hair will repeat this cycle throughout your life.
How To Shave Different Parts Of The Body
A question we get asked a lot is should you shave different parts of the body differently? Our answer has always been yes! We will go over how to shave different parts of the body and when trimming could be better.
Shaving Your Legs and Arms
If you want to shave your legs and arms, this is an excellent place for shaving. Shaving is a great idea for legs and arms because it is a large and relatively flat area of skin. This will make shaving quicker and reduce the risk of razor burn or cutting yourself. Just make sure to use a high-quality safety razor and shaving gel.
Shaving Your Chest
Shaving your chest is another area that is relatively safe, with a low risk of cutting yourself. However, our blog post about chest hair goes over whether you should shave or trim chest hair. A study in that blog mentions that women find men with little chest hair more attractive. So before you shave yourself clean, you might want to pick up a high-quality trimmer instead.
Shaving Your Head
Shaving your head can be a little tricky. We recommend getting a hand-held mirror and taking your time. It's good to have a trimmer like the Brio Beardscape to remove all the long hair before shaving, so you don't get your razor clogged. Shaving your head requires patients and can take a bit of time.
Shaving Your Pubic Area
Shaving your pubic area is one of the places where we don't recommend shaving. There are a lot of curves, and loose skin, not to mention visibility is low. So you risk harming yourself, and the skin on your pubic area is susceptible to razor burn and bumps. Electric trimming technology has come along way. You can get a skin-close trim with a precision trimming head and a trimmer with guards. Trimmers make it faster and easier to trim that area, and best of all, you won't have to worry about hurting yourself or razor burn. If you are looking for an excellent trimmer for your pubic area, we recommend the Brio Beardscape.
Conclusion
That's our blog! We hope you found this helpful and learned that just because hair appears to be growing thicker after shaving doesn't mean it actually is. Let us know your thoughts in the comments below, and happy grooming!
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Should I Exfoliate Before Or After Shaving?
Sources
Mayo Clinic - Does shaving unwanted body hair makes it grow back thicker and darker?
Healthline - Shaving Does Not Affect the Thickness or Rate of Hair Growth
National Institute Of health - Plucking Hairs in Dense Pattern Can Prompt Hair Regrowth