Shaving regularly makes it grow back faster?! Caveman's tale or Truth?

[Newkenyanguy]

I dont think it grows any faster after shaving or not, its just more noticable after shaving

 

[thethingthatlurks]

From purely subjective experience, it appears to be true, but it doesn't make any biological sense.
Anyway, let's get Mythbusters on it!

 

[reg42]

It makes it grow back thicker and darker, because the hairs go a while without contact with the sun, but faster? I don't think so.

Ah, Cracked. So funny, and so informative.

It's the first one down, although the others are also entertaining.

Fixed.

 

[Alex The Rat]

I believe this is an old wives' tale that exists so mothers (and other people) can encourage their adolescent sons to keep shaving the ugly-ass tufts of hair that spring up on their faces during puberty. Aging and genetics are the real determining factors of increased facial hair growth.

Then again I think I read this in a Cracked.com article...

 

[Doitpow]

I dont think it grows any faster after shaving or not, its just more noticable after shaving

He's right. it's a common misconception that shaving makes hair grow back faster. It grows back neither faster nor 'thicker'. However, the ends of your hairs that have been bleached by exposure and age are removed so when your hair grow back it will be more visible (until those ends too are bleached)

 

[Jinx_Dragon]

myth...

It only seems to grow back faster or thicker because the new growth hasn't been 'bleached' by age. This makes it darker and creates the illusion that hair growth has changed. Hair growth isn't constant, but it isn't dictated by shaving.

Damn, too slow by just a minute.

 

[Booze Zombie]

I wouldn't know, I've never shaved.

It seems like if you shave, you get bristle like hair and if you don't, it stays soft and manageable, from what I tell from having felt my father's beard and comparing it's amazing "ow" factor with my own soft beard.

 

[JanatUrlich]

True unfortunately! Which is why I only shave when I know I'm gonna have my legs/arms out or I'm gonna get laaaaaiiiddd.

I'm a lazy, lazy woman ;D

 

[Newkenyanguy]

thing that gets me is why the hell is their ginger hiars in my stuble? Ive got black hair so where does it come from?

 

[knhirt]

True unfortunately! Which is why I only shave when I know I'm gonna have my legs/arms out or I'm gonna get laaaaaiiiddd.

I'm a lazy, lazy woman ;D

No, it's false. Read the rest of the replies in the thread, shaving has no effect on the rate of growth or the thickness of the hairs.

 

[soaplady]

I think growing hair is just more noticeable the shorter it is. Going from shaved smooth to a tiny bit of stubble is far more noticeable than going from a full growth of hair to slightly-more-full.

 

[JanatUrlich]

No, it's false. Read the rest of the replies in the thread, shaving has no effect on the rate of growth or the thickness of the hairs.

But it becomes coarser and darker which basically means that it gets out of hand more quickly and you have to shave it more often, which I cannot be arsed doing

 

[Picosaurus]

I don't think its true, I think people believe so due to the fact that as you shave the hair grows back stiffer so you just notice it more not it growing back any faster

Also, as you start to shave regularly you just become accustomed to paying more attention to your facial hair

 

[TheRightToArmBears]

I really don't know, perhaps it's just more noticable. However, my girlfriend used to straighten her hair for 3 years, and now it grows incredibly slowly.

 

[Meemaimoh]

I dont think it grows any faster after shaving or not, its just more noticable after shaving

He's right. it's a common misconception that shaving makes hair grow back faster. It grows back neither faster nor 'thicker'. However, the ends of your hairs that have been bleached by exposure and age are removed so when your hair grow back it will be more visible (until those ends too are bleached)

This exactly, combined with the fact that hairs taper to a point, and that shaving cuts off the thinner end of it - leaving the thicker base to grow through until it falls out, as it would normally do. Makes the hair look darker and thicker when it grows out, for a little while at least.

 

[Doitpow]

I dont think it grows any faster after shaving or not, its just more noticable after shaving

He's right. it's a common misconception that shaving makes hair grow back faster. It grows back neither faster nor 'thicker'. However, the ends of your hairs that have been bleached by exposure and age are removed so when your hair grow back it will be more visible (until those ends too are bleached)

This exactly, combined with the fact that hairs taper to a point, and that shaving cuts off the thinner end of it - leaving the thicker base to grow through until it falls out, as it would normally do. Makes the hair look darker and thicker when it grows out, for a little while at least.

*Shakes Meemaimoh's hand.
Well we've solved this one, lets go fight more crime!

 

[ninjapenguin981]

I don't know about shaving, but whenever I get my haircut it seems to grow back REALLY quickly and then slows down after it's got longer.

 

[TotallyFake]

You hair grows faster when it's hurt.So shaving regularly should make it grows faster.Mine grows faster after I shave it.

This is about as wrong as you can get in one sentence. Hear is inanimate, it cannot be "hurt"

 

[mip0]

Caveman's tale.
It's not true just bullshit.

 

[Icecoldcynic]

I can't say I've noticed really. I shave every couple of days. My hair grows back fast, but it always has.