Does Shaving Make Hair Grow Thicker and darker? The jury always seems to be out on stuff related to shaving. What razor one should use ?, what gel, whether or not aftershave is a good idea and everything else about shaving has several conflicting opinions about it pasted on the internet by zealous experts. And so everybody remains confused, despite all the wisdom freely accessible.
So really, does shaving make hair grow thicker? Whether it be the beard, arm hair, back hair, the armpit bush or more sensitive regions of one’s anatomy, hair is largely the same in structure and growth. Depending upon the environment hair is exposed to, it might be a better idea to keep it trimmed, if not shaved. Whether it grows back thicker will depend on several factors. I’m going to talk about some of them in this post.
Why shave at all?
For most people, shaving is about grooming. We do it so we look presentable. With time, of course, trends change, and beards on various styles and lengths go in and out of fashion. And yet shaving blades and razors are in constant demand. Contemporary standards of beauty tilt towards being hairless. And many cannot bear having hot wax pull out hair follicles from their body, so shaving remains the most sought after method.
But shaving is not just about fitting in an artificial and transient definition of beauty. Body hair in general (and not just facial hair) can trap body heat and make it harder for sweat to get out. These are amazing conditions for bacteria to thrive. Facial mites, lice and all sorts of ugly creatures don’t really need all the extra surface area that body hair provides them.
But perhaps the most compelling reason to shave out hair is body odour. Your entire body produces sex pheromones, which is a kind of musk that attracts people of the opposite sex to mate. Many think this is the stench that sweat carries, but it is not. Pheromones are produced in tiny amounts, and our brains don’t consciously notice them in most cases. Foul body odour, on the other hand, is caused by sweat. That is why you smell worst in places where there is little ventilation, such as your armpits.
The issue with body hair in such locations is that not only does it host bacteria that cause the stench with sweat, but also that it traps in the moisture and the odor. Shaving can be an easy way to keep this in check.
Possible perils of Shaving hair
Apart from the obvious threat of shaving nicks and cuts, there are things to watch out for if you decide to shave. Let me quickly list some concerns.
1. You need to make sure your shaving cream, foam or gel is ok for your skin. You shouldn’t run it all over before you’re sure you’re not allergic to it.
2. Razor burns can leave you itching and uncomfortable for the entire day. Avoid going over the same region repeatedly with your razor to prevent it.
3. The thinner the skin, the less shaving is recommended. Not only are cuts likely to hurt more, but the stubble will prick you for several days afterwards.
But Does Hair Grow Thicker and darker After Shaving?
Well, yes and no!
The hair can often feel like it’s thicker, but it’s not really thicker if you look at it objectively. Confused? Let me explain.
When you shave hair out, the cut tip is blunter than what it was before. When the hair grows out, you feel the blunt tip, which is pricklier than the pointed tip which felt softer. This makes people think that their hair has grown back thicker. Checking the diameter of your beard hair before shaving and after it grows back after a shave can show you the real picture; you are unlikely to see a significant increase in the diameter.
Truth is that even if you were to keep your hair unshaved, it is going to get thicker as testosterone works its magic on your body little by little after puberty. This is why women’s hair often doesn’t get that thicker with time.
Can hair thickening be prevented?
Unfortunately, Shaving will unavoidably blunt your hair. There is no way to stop hair thickening due to testosterone either unless you have a bad idea to mess with your endocrine system. Hair removal methods other than shaving can be of help, especially waxing. The problem with Waxing is that it pulls out hair follicles, and with time, you might end up with no hair at all, which is not what everyone wants. Hair removal creams aren’t going to help you either. YAG Lasers and Biofreeze can help, but Laser procedures are expensive and Biofreeze isn’t recommended by doctors.
The easiest way out of shaving trouble is to accept your body as it is. Get a good shaver. Groom yourself and maintain hygiene, but there is no need to fall for every beauty trend. Self confidence is what makes someone attractive.
