Beauty expert debunks myths about shaving: Does hair grow back thicker and darker?

Many people believe shaving causes hair to grow back thicker, darker, and faster. However, experts say this is one of the most widespread myths about hair removal and body care. Shireen Forster, founder of a laser hair removal clinic, addresses common misconceptions.

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Shaving actually does not affect the hair root. It only removes the visible part of the hair on the skin's surface, while the follicle, the part from which the hair grows, remains intact.

Shaving removes only the visible hair above the skin's surface, leaving the root and follicle untouched. This process does not alter the hair's natural thickness, density, or color. The illusion of thicker hair stems from the blunt, freshly cut tip of the hair as it regrows. This blunt edge can feel coarser and appear darker because it hasn't been exposed to sun or external factors, creating a visual and tactile effect rather than a structural change.

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The reason many have the impression that hair is stronger and denser after shaving is actually very simple. When hair begins to grow again, its tip is flat and sharply cut. Such a tip can feel harder and coarser to the touch, creating the impression that the hair is thicker than before.

Methods like waxing or epilating remove hair from the root. This leads to regrowth that can appear thinner over time because the new hair has a finer tip. Unlike shaving, these methods take longer for hair to become visible again. Ultimately, different hair removal techniques yield different results based on how they interact with the hair and its root, not because shaving inherently promotes stronger or altered hair growth.

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The impression that hair is stronger and darker after shaving, and thinner after depilation, is a result of the way it regrows, specifically due to the flat and sharp tip created during shaving.