Will Shaving Really Make Your Hair Grow Back Thicker & Faster?

Let's address the common myth: Shaving does not actually make hair grow back faster or thicker. Continue reading to uncover the reality behind this widely held misconception.

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Woman shaving her legs in the bathroom

Read on to uncover the truth behind this popular misconception.

Does shaving make your hair grow back thicker?

Woman shaving her leg with a razor in a bathroom

Although you might think your hair is thicker after you shave, it really isn’t. Thinking that shaving makes your hair grow back thicker is a common misconception. Regardless of whether you shave your intimate area, legs, arms or armpits, your hair will not grow back thicker. When you shave, your razor cuts away the hair from the surface of the skin, but it does not remove the hair entirely, just part of it. The rest of the hair strands and roots are still underneath the skin’s surface.

Once the hairs start to emerge back through the surface of your skin, they may look and feel thicker due to the blunt end from where the razor cut the hair, giving the illusion of thicker hair.

Does shaving make my hair grow back faster?

Woman shaving her underarm with a razor in a bathroom

The act of shaving does not make your hair grow back faster; your genetics do. Hair texture and regrowth are determined by your gene pool. Some people have more hair than others; some people have thicker hair, and everyone’s hair grows back at different rates.

For instance, a person with fine, fairer coloured body hair might not have to shave as often as someone with naturally dark, thick body hair.

Why does hair grow back faster in certain areas than others after shaving?

Woman Shaving Armpit Hair

Just like how body hair grows back at different rates for different people, the hair on various areas of your body can also grow back at different speeds. For example, armpit hair generally grows back 50% quicker than the hair on our legs. This is why if you shave both areas, you might end up shaving your armpits more frequently than your legs.

For those who are wondering, does shaving every day increase beard growth? The answer is no. Shaving daily or frequently does not affect the rate or thickness of beard growth. The growth of beard hair is determined by genetics, hormones, and age, and shaving has no impact on these factors.

What other hair removal methods can I try to keep my hair from growing back so quickly?

Different Hair Removal Methods

Since shaving only cuts away a portion of the hair, other hair removal methods may keep hair from growing back for longer periods of time. For example, waxing works by removing hair from the root, which results in hair taking longer to grow past the skin’s surface. Epilation, which removes hair mechanically, and laser hair removal are both longer lasting solutions.

If shaving is your preferred method, and if you’d like to learn more about shaving and hair removal products, click here for the Venus shaving products.

Does hair grow back darker after shaving?

Exfoliate Before Shaving

You may also be curious about whether shaving makes your hair grow back darker - the answer is no. Contrary to popular belief, shaving does not alter the colour of your hair. However, the regrowth of hair after shaving may create the illusion of darker hair, as the blunt tip of the newly grown hair may appear darker than the tapered tip of unshaven hair.

Hair Growth Cycle

Ingrown Hair

The myth that the more you shave, the faster it grows is commonly believed, but is untrue. When you shave, you cut off the hair at the surface of the skin, which does not affect the hair follicles located beneath the skin.

Hair growth occurs in stages, starting with the anagen or growth phase, followed by the catagen or transitional phase, and ending with the telogen or resting phase. During the growth phase, hair actively grows from the follicle. During the transitional phase, hair growth slows down, and the hair follicle starts to shrink. During the resting phase, the hair stops growing and eventually falls out, allowing new hair growth.

Cutting or shaving the hair does not change its thickness, colour, or rate of growth. Therefore, shaving does not cause hair to grow back thicker.

Will Shaving Really Make Your Hair Grow Back Faster and Thicker FAQ

Does hair grow back healthy after shaving?

Yes, shaving only cuts off the hair at the surface of the skin and does not affect the hair follicles underneath, so hair grows back healthy after shaving.

How long does hair take to grow back after shaving?

Hair takes about 1 month on average to grow back to its full length after shaving, but this can vary depending on hair type and the area shaved.