Fact Check: No, shaving hair does not make it grow faster, thicker

Hyderabad: A tweet on X mentioned an ‘old wives’ tale’ that shaving hair apparently makes it grow back thicker, darker and faster. An old wives’ tale is a phrase used for a widely held traditional belief that is now thought to be unscientific or incorrect.

Even though there are many who don’t believe in this claim, an equal number continue to believe in its veracity.

Fact Check

NewsMeter found that shaving doesn’t bring back hair faster and thicker.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, shaving won’t make hair regrow any thicker or faster. But there’s some logic behind the thinking that it does.

Quoting dermatology resident Taylor Bullock, MD, the report in Cleveland Clinic stated, “When hairs are cut short, they can feel stubbly or stiff because their shorter lengths have increased resistance to bending forces.”

According to Healthline, the myth could be due to the appearance of hair when it starts growing after shaving. While the hair regrows, one might feel a coarser base and hard hair follicles which would eventually settle down with time.

Apparently, new hair looks dark and thick but as hair gets exposed to natural elements such as the sun, soaps and other chemicals it gets a lighter shade.

It should be noted that, for many people shaving might be harmless but for people with sensitive skin or if the shaving is done improperly, it can lead to skin irritation, razor burns, contact dermatitis, in grown hair, blisters and itchy skin.

Mayo Clinic stated, “No — shaving hair doesn’t change its thickness, color or rate of growth.”

A study done on medical myths has found that there is no scientific evidence that proves these claims. The study concluded, “As early as 1928, a clinical trial showed that shaving had no effect on hair growth. More recent studies confirm that shaving does not affect the thickness or rate of hair regrowth. In addition, shaving removes the dead portion of hair, not the living section lying below the skin’s surface. So, it is unlikely to affect the rate or type of growth. Shaved hair lacks the finer taper seen at the ends of unshaven hair, giving an impression of coarseness. Similarly, the new hair has not yet been lightened by the sun or other chemical exposures, resulting in an appearance that seems darker than existing hair.”