You’ve probably heard it from a friend or a family member: “If you shave, your hair will just grow back thicker and faster.” It’s a piece of advice that has been passed down for generations, often causing hesitation for someone considering their first shave or wondering how to manage regrowth. But is there any truth to this common belief, or is it simply a long-standing myth?
The idea that shaving accelerates hair growth can feel incredibly real. After all, when hair first grows back after a shave, it can feel stubbly and coarse. This immediate sensation is what fuels the myth, making it seem like the hair itself has changed. Let’s look at what actually happens to your hair and skin when you shave.
Why Shaved Hair Feels Different
When you shave, you’re cutting the hair off at the skin’s surface. This creates a blunt tip on each strand. As this new, blunt hair begins to emerge, it feels thicker and more coarse than a hair with a natural, tapered end. It’s not actually thicker at the root; it just feels that way because of its sharp, flat edge. This is the primary reason for the “thicker hair” illusion.
The Science of Hair Growth Beneath the Skin
Your hair grows from follicles, which are tiny organs located deep within your skin. The rate of growth, thickness, and color of your hair are determined by factors happening inside these follicles, influenced largely by your genetics and hormones. Shaving only affects the dead portion of the hair shaft that is already above the skin. It has no effect on the living follicle underneath, meaning it cannot change your hair’s growth rate, texture, or color.
Tips for a Better Shaving Experience
Since shaving doesn’t make hair grow faster, you can focus on techniques that give you a smoother, more comfortable shave. Always use a sharp, clean razor to minimize irritation. Shaving in the direction of hair growth can help prevent ingrown hairs and razor burn. Using a generous amount of shaving cream or gel creates a protective barrier, and following up with a gentle, alcohol-free moisturizer will help keep your skin hydrated and healthy.
In short, you can put the old myth to rest. Shaving does not make your hair grow back faster or thicker. The changes you perceive are all about the hair’s texture at the surface, not its fundamental biology. Your hair growth cycle is governed by internal factors that a razor simply cannot reach.