You've probably heard that if you shave hair, it will grow back coarser, darker, thicker, and/or faster. This is an urban legend, and you should ignore others who try to tell you that it's true. Shaving the hair will never result in coarser hair, but many people suggest that, as it starts to grow back, the hair feels more coarse or stubbly.
As you stand there holding your triple-bladed razor wondering whether or not to shave your happy trail, you might think the hair will grow back thicker. After all, doesn't it seem that freshly-shaven legs or face are eventually overtaken by thick strands of dark-colored hair?
Fear the hair no longer! Paul Birnbaum, doctor of dermatology at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, said shaving will not cause hair to grow back thicker. Hair thickness depends on a number of factors, including the number of hair follicles and genetics.
"The number of hair follicles clearly doesn't change by shaving," Birnbaum said. "(Thickness) is not affected by shaving. The only thing that affects (thickness) is what goes on in the follicle."
Go ahead, shave away that unibrow, upper lip or toe hair. It may be stubbly and weird, but it won't be any thicker on its way back.
I have always wondered about this myth personally. As a person who could never grow much facial hair I used to hope that shaving more often would help my beard grow in thicker. As said in your post this does not work and my beard is still very lacking! As well this is also talked about in an episode of Seinfeld when Jerry isn't sure whether or not he should shave his chest hair.
ReplyDeleteI'm very glad to hear this isn't true. I have always heard this rumor and thought it sounded false but never quite had the nerve to test it.
ReplyDeleteI always thought this to be true. I did shave my beard off and hoping next time it would grown in it be fuller and longer but I was naive enough to buy into this myth. Also haha DTurner that Seinfeld episode its classic and can;t stop itching. Good post
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