Does shaving really make your hair grow back thicker? Experts weigh in on the common myth and explain the science behind hair growth after shaving.

Debunking the Myth: Does Shaving Make Hair Grow Back Thicker?

Many of us have heard the persistent myth that shaving makes hair grow back thicker and faster. However, according to expert estheticians, dermatologists, and scientists, this is simply not the case. The belief that shaving causes thicker hair regrowth is a common misconception that is not supported by scientific evidence.

The Science Behind Hair Growth After Shaving

So what’s really going on when we shave? According to Gaby Longsworth, Ph.D., a scientist and hair expert, the appearance of thicker hair growth is an optical illusion. “Hair strands typically taper at the tip—so when those hairs are shaved, tapered strands are sheared into flat ends, which can look thicker to the naked eye,” she explains. However, the underlying hair structure and thickness remain the same.

Ranella Hirsch, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, agrees: “Shaving only cuts the hair at the surface, it doesn’t affect the root or the overall thickness of the hair.” She notes that the rate of hair growth is determined by genetics, not by shaving.

Why Does Hair Grow Back Faster in Some Areas?

While shaving doesn’t make hair grow back thicker, it is true that hair in certain areas of the body can appear to grow back faster than in others. Jodi Shays, an esthetician, explains that this is due to differences in hair growth cycles across the body. “Armpit hair generally grows back 50% quicker than the hair on our legs,” she says. “This is why if you shave both areas, you may shave your armpits more frequently than your legs.”

Alternative Hair Removal Methods

If you’re looking for longer-lasting hair removal, Shays suggests trying alternative methods like waxing, epilation, or laser hair removal. “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,” she explains. “Waxing works to remove hair from the root, which may result in hair taking longer to grow past the skin’s surface.”

Maintaining Smooth, Irritation-Free Skin

Regardless of your preferred hair removal method, it’s important to take proper care of your skin to avoid irritation, ingrowns, and other common shaving-related issues. Hirsch recommends using a high-quality, sensitive skin-friendly razor, shaving with the grain, and moisturizing after shaving to keep your skin healthy and smooth.

Key Takeaways

• Shaving does not make hair grow back thicker – this is a common myth not supported by scientific evidence.
• The appearance of thicker regrowth is an optical illusion caused by the blunt ends of shaved hairs.
• Hair growth rate is determined by genetics, not shaving.
• Hair in certain areas (like armpits) may grow back faster than other areas due to differences in growth cycles.
• Alternative hair removal methods like waxing and laser can provide longer-lasting results than shaving.
• Proper shaving technique and post-shave care is important for maintaining smooth, irritation-free skin.

Shaving Myths Debunked

The myth that shaving makes hair grow back thicker is just one of many shaving-related misconceptions out there. In our experience, many people have questions and uncertainties when it comes to shaving and hair removal. To help clear up some of that confusion, we’ve compiled a list of 14 of the most common shaving myths and debunked them with help from our expert sources.

For example, did you know that sharing razors is actually a major no-no? Or that you should be changing your razor blades more often than you probably are? Check out our full article on 14 Shaving Myths Debunked to get the facts straight on all things shaving and hair removal.

The Bottom Line

The claim that shaving makes hair grow back thicker is simply not true. While shaved hairs may appear thicker due to their blunt ends, the underlying structure and thickness of the hair remains unchanged. Hair growth rate is determined by genetics, not by shaving. If you’re looking for longer-lasting hair removal, consider alternative methods like waxing or laser hair removal. And no matter which hair removal technique you choose, be sure to follow proper skin care practices to avoid irritation and other issues.

Does Shaving Make Hair Grow Back Faster & Thicker

Find out the truth about if shaving affects hair growth and makes it actually grow back faster and thicker; and learn a few key tips on how you can achieve a better shave.

2 min read

Scroll down

Find out the truth about if shaving makes your hair actually grow back faster and thicker. Most of us have heard the myth shaving makes your hair grow back faster and thicker. You may have even hesitated or decided not to shave certain areas of our bodies as a result.

Does shaving make your hair grow back thicker?

Although you might think your hair is thicker after you shave, it really isn’t. And this is true regardless of whether you shave your bikini and pubic area, legs, arms or armpits. 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 strand and root 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, but they really aren’t.

Does shaving make my hair grow back faster?

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 than others; and, everyone’s hair grows back at different rates. For instance, a person with fine, fairer colored 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?

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

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

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 to remove hair from the root, which may result 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.

Extra Smooth Green Razor

View details

Satin Care Sensitive Skin

View details

Comfortglide White Tea Disposables

View details

Latest Articles

14 of the Most Common Shaving Myths Debunked

Risks of Why You Should Never Share Your Razor

How Often Should You Shave and Change Your Razor Blades

Does Hair Really Grow Back Thicker After Shaving? Experts Tackle the Common Myth

High school is a time filled with experimentation and a lot of learning—and we’re not just talking about during school hours. For many of us, it’s a time of immense change and self-exploration. I mean, hello puberty. And with those many changes (both puberty-related and not) comes the inevitable body hair debate. We know puberty brings more hair growth in certain areas (more on that later), but what exactly to do with that hair—if you choose to do anything at all—isn’t so simple. 

Though the potential for nicks, burns, bumps, ingrowns, and irritation is rife, shaving has remained a popular option for those who choose to remove their body hair. And yet, despite its enduring legacy, much of what we know (or think we know) about shaving is downright false. For example, we’re willing to bet you’ve heard that shaving makes hair grow back even faster and thicker.

But does it actually? The answer’s not so simple. That’s why we went straight to the experts: esthetician Jodi Shays, board-certified dermatologist Ranella Hirsch, MD, and scientist Gaby Longsworth, Ph.D. Read on for everything they have to say about shaving and whether or not hair really does grow back thicker.

Meet the Expert

• Jodi Shays is an esthetician and the owner and founder of Queen Bee Salon & Spas in Culver City, California, and Seattle, Washington.
• Ranella Hirsch, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist based in New York City.
• Gaby Longsworth, Ph.D., is a scientist and hair expert. She’s the owner of Absolutely Everything Curly and received her Hair Practitioner Certificate through the International Association of Trichologists.

Does Shaving Make Hair Grow Back Thicker?

According to Longsworth, the myth that shaving makes hair grow back thicker is really just an optical illusion. Hair strands typically taper at the tip—so when those hairs are shaved, tapered strands are sheared into flat ends, which can look thicker to the naked eye. When you shave and cut off that tapered tip, you’re left with hair that can look (and even feel) a lot thicker and blunter. Longsworth offers a great tip for avoiding this trick of the eye: “Higher-end razors with multi-blades [versus traditional single-blade razors] lift the hair before slicing it for a deep shave so that it takes longer for new hair growth to become visible. ”

Does Shaving Make Hair Grow Back Faster?

All three experts give a resounding no to this myth, which is fueled by the aforementioned optical illusion. “Hair grows at the rate it is going to grow based on the person,” Shays explains. “Shaving won’t change that. That being said, hormonal changes can cause hair to grow back faster. The same goes for people taking hair-growth supplements.”

How Hair Grows

News flash: Most of the body has hair (except for specific spots like the palms and soles). All that hair stems from corresponding hair follicles within the epidermis and/or dermis layers of the skin.

According to Longsworth, what we tend to think of as hair falls under two main types: The shorter and thinner vellus hairs (also known as peach fuzz) and the longer and thicker terminal hairs, which tend to include the hair on your head, facial hair, pubic hair, eyelashes, eyebrows, etc. Interestingly, some vellus hair is replaced with terminal hair during puberty in androgen-dependent sites (think the pubic area).  

All hair follows the same set of growth cycles, explains Hirsch, though the specific cycles differ in both time and hair length depending on the area. There are three main phases within the hair growth cycle. The first is the anagen phase, during which growth begins at the root of a hair follicle via blood supply and nutrients. This is followed by the catagen phase, during which the hair transitions from a growing to a resting phase and detaches from the body’s blood supply. Finally, the telogen phase is the inactive phase, when the hair sheds or falls out of the follicle. The time length of each differs depending on the area of the body, which impacts the subsequent amount of hair growth possible in a given area.

The thickness, color, and length of hair (both vellus and terminal) largely varies depending on the individual and even varies within a single individual depending on the area. Let’s get a bit more specific here.

The Face

The growth phase for eyelashes, eyebrows, nasal hair, and ear hair is (thankfully) quite short—about a quarter of an inch per month, says Longsworth. As for peach fuzz on the face, a study on the physiology of the vellus hair follicle measured the rate of vellus hair growth on the forehead over three months for a group of healthy men and women between the ages of 15 and 30 years. They found growth to be about 0.03 millimeters per day or an average of .9 millimeters per month. For reference, that translates to a growth rate of less than 1/25th of an inch per month.

The Legs

There’s a bit more variation when it comes to leg-hair growth. According to Shays, a mixture of vellus and terminal hairs cover the legs of both men and women, which can range in density and color. During puberty, some of the vellus hair follicles on the legs become terminal hair follicles, resulting in thicker, faster-growing hair.

Terminal leg hair grows about a half-inch per month, according to Longsworth, with a growth cycle of about two to six months. Vellus leg hairs grow far slower, she adds, though they still follow the same growth cycle as terminal (just at different rates). Vellus hair tends to have a shorter anagen phase than terminal phase.

Underarms

Growth within the underarm area is similar to that of the leg region. The hair cycle is around three to six months and, “even if you never shave, there is a limit to how long it can get, ranging from one to two inches in length,” Longsworth says.

Pubic Area

Pubic hair growth is also comparable to that within the leg and underarm region. The increased androgen production that comes with puberty causes vellus hair in all three areas to turn into terminal hair, increasing hair growth thereafter. Longsworth estimates that hair growth in the area is similar to that of the legs, though it can be a bit faster.

Tips for Shaving

From a health perspective, Hirsch says there are two major concerns when it comes to shaving: cuts and infections. For the former, allowing the hair to soften in the shower and applying a good lubricant will help immensely. For the latter, optimizing your technique will help limit ingrown hairs and the potential for folliculitis (an infection in the follicle).  

As for general shaving tips, always prep by washing your face and body and warming your skin to soften the hair and the skin itself. All our experts underscore the importance of using a fresh, clean, sharp razor and a gentle, easy-glide shave product (such as a gel or cream) to avoid snags and cuts. Use short strokes. If you’re looking for a deep, close shave, Longsworth suggests shaving against the grain of the hair. She recommends going with the grain if you have sensitive skin or are particularly prone to ingrowns. Always moisturize post-shaving and use sunscreen or wait 24 hours before exposing freshly shaved skin to direct sunlight for an extended period. As for shaving frequency, it totally depends on the individual and their personal preferences. For area-specific tips and tricks, see below.

The Face

Take a hot shower before shaving—the steam helps open the pores for a close, clean shave with minimal skin irritation, Longsworth explains. Shays recommends avoiding shaving creams and gels that contain essential oils to help prevent irritation and aggravation, while Longsworth suggests looking for shaving products that lather easily and feature moisturizing, skin-loving ingredients. Apply minimal pressure to your razor, use short, gentle strokes, and move with the grain. For those with less sensitive skin, Longsworth says you can re-lather the face with some extra shaving cream or gel and finish by gently shaving against the grain. This, she says, will give you the closest possible shave without suffering any nicks or cuts. For those with more sensitive skin, we suggest skipping that final pass.

The Legs

When it comes to shaving their legs, many people can do it as frequently as once a day without experiencing irritation. As we said before, shaving frequency is completely dependent on the person, how much hair they have, how quickly it grows, and their preferences. 

Our experts suggest soaking legs for at least ten minutes pre-shave to soften the area, so try shaving near the end of your bath or shower if possible. And while not technically necessary, gently exfoliating the area before shaving will help remove dead skin cells that could otherwise clog the blade and jeopardize the quality of your shave.

The skin here is generally tougher, so most people will be fine shaving against the grain (in an upward motion), though those with ultra-sensitive skin should proceed with caution. Longsworth suggests starting at your ankles and working your way up the leg using short, gentle strokes for better control. Take extra precaution when approaching the knee area, as it tends to be drier and more prone to nicks and cuts. Hair on the upper leg tends to be finer than the hair on the lower leg, so shaving direction matters a bit less according to Shays. Follow with a gentle moisturizer. Because the skin here is tougher, Longsworth says you can try a depilatory cream to dissolve the hair at its root, which will buy you a few weeks before new growth occurs.

Underarms

While this area can have different rates of growth and thickness, Shays says most people shave their underarms every day or two, especially during the summer months. According to Longsworth, hairs in the underarm area can grow in many directions, making them appear wilder than other body hair. Plus, the skin here can be especially sensitive, which increases the likelihood of developing a rash, irritation, or general itchiness.

Longsworth suggests avoiding shaving this area right before you head to the beach, a pool, or any situation where a lot of sweating is involved. She recommends shaving at night and avoiding deodorant after the fact to give the skin a chance to repair overnight.

Pubic Area

As nearly anyone who’s shaved their pubic area can attest, the skin here is very delicate and has a lot of potential for ingrown hair growth. According to Shays, dragging a razor over the area too frequently can create dry, irritated skin and cause hyperpigmentation, so avoid daily shaving—perhaps opt for weekly instead. Longsworth suggests looking for a shaving gel or cream with moisturizing ingredients like aloe and vitamin E to help reduce friction and irritation. Gently pull the skin taut for a smooth surface, and shave with light strokes. If you’re not prone to ingrown hairs, feel free to shave against the grain, but those who are should stick to shaving with the grain.  

12 Facial Hair Removal Methods for Smooth Skin

What to do if hair grows faster and thicker after shaving

Last update:

09/12/2022

Many women, after many years of shaving their body hair, begin to notice that the cover becomes thicker and grows faster, resembling male stubble. What to do?

It is no secret that the razor allows you to achieve smooth skin in just a few hours (up to 24 hours), after which “stumps” appear.

At first, they can be almost invisible to the eye, but they can be felt with tactile contact. In the future, they turn into hard and coarse hairs.

Often it seems that the sprouts not only become thicker and grow faster, but also their number increases significantly.

Fortunately, the situation is not as dramatic as it might seem. The fact is that there is a point of view that the use of the machine does not affect the structure of the rod, since the blade cuts off only the top, without affecting the root in any way.

And with a stable hormonal background, the vegetation cannot become either larger or thicker.

However, frequent shaving, lack of regular cleaning of the skin surface with scrubs, lack of moisture – all this leads to ingrown hairs, curvature of the follicle. Hair begins to grow at a different angle, and visually they become larger.

Therefore, in most cases, as shown by foreign studies, this is only a subjective feeling.

However, there is another point of view, which relies, among other things, on the experience of electrolysis masters. She says that there is a relationship between shaving and hair growth.

What to do?

First of all, you should take care of yourself: do not be lazy and regularly use a scrub (any, including home-cooked ones). Use moisturizer.

There is a group of methods that can delay the appearance of unwanted “aliens²” for different periods: wax (or sugar) will allow you to forget about the situation for 2-3 weeks (sometimes up to 4).

The laser (as well as photoepilation) will delay the resumption of growth for longer periods – up to several months and even years.

In addition, with the regular and competent application of these techniques, newly appeared specimens will gradually become “smarter”, thinner.

In the case of light techniques, the root system is injured much more strongly, which affects not only the time for the appearance of new shoots, but also seriously reduces their number.

Sometimes this is enough to meet the needs and fulfill the goals.

If your goal is to permanently get rid of the problem for life, then electrolysis will be the only helper.

The reason for this is the rather complex structure of the follicle and stem cells, which are responsible for the resumption of growth. Only by destroying these structures can you completely stop the appearance of hair forever.

These elements are located in several places, and it is important to find an impact that will cover them all. The alkali formed as a result of electricity is able to spread through the most secluded “back streets”² and process all the details of interest to us at once.

In the future, a micro scar is formed, and the appearance of a rod from this place is no longer possible.

Step by step, the specialist will remove all unnecessary vegetation. But you should prepare both morally (the process is long and unpleasant), and financially (it will require financial investments). But the result will be worth it!

Well, if you want to learn more about research in this area and find out our point of view, you can read the article “Does shaving affect hair growth?”.

Authors:

Medically written and reviewed by: Julia Nicholson, dermatologist, physiotherapist
Published by: Olesya Smagina, Assistant Director of the Universe of Beauty Hair Removal Centers

Sign up for a free consultation at our center and get a 5% discount on your first treatment.

Question: Is it true that shaving makes hair coarse and thick?

If you shave your hair frequently, will it change its texture? Together with the epilation masters of the Mix_lab studio, we answer the most popular questions about shaving.

Is it true that shaving makes hair thicker?

Irina Larionova,

master of caramel hair removal:

– When shaving, the hair becomes stiffer, but the razor does not affect the rate of their growth. The density also does not change. The number of hair follicles on our body is programmed during prenatal development. Therefore, vellus will grow in one place or another (thin transparent hairs that cover almost the entire body. – Note ed. ) or dense hair is a matter of genetics.

However, hormones can affect hair growth. If you have hair where it should not be, this is a good reason to go for a consultation with an endocrinologist and get tested for hormones. Vellus hair can turn into dense due to hormonal failure (in women, this is increased testosterone). It also happens that dense hair turns into vellus due to an increased level of dihydrotestosterone (mainly in men), which is confused with hereditary baldness.

Why do we think that after shaving hair becomes coarser? The fact is that the sprouting short hairs create the effect of a pencil, which tapers at the end. By shaving off the thin part, you leave the wide and coarse.

Is it possible to slow down hair growth?

Zhanna Grigorieva,

laser hair removal master:

– The rate of hair growth depends not only on the hormonal background, but also on the amount of vitamins entering the body (by the way, special vitamins make thicker not only the hair on the head, but also the hair on other parts of the body). Junk food, lack of nutrients in the diet, lack of sleep can slow down the natural growth of hair, this will lead to a general deterioration in well-being.