Thread: Do shaved hairs grow back stronger?

Someone once told me that hair grows back stronger when you shave it, therefore you should avoid shaving places where you don't want to encourage growth (e.g. "unibrow" between the eyebrows, fur on ears, etc). Is there any truth to this?

Originally Posted by booga

Someone once told me that hair grows back stronger when you shave it, therefore you should avoid shaving places where you don't want to encourage growth (e.g. "unibrow" between the eyebrows, fur on ears, etc). Is there any truth to this?

People say that is an old wives tale but I am not sure. I used to get two full days after a str8 shave. I am now getting one. Hummmm

I was told by a doctor that the hairs don't grow back any thicker (at the skin level) than they were before the hairs were cut off. The only difference is that an uncut hair is actually tapered to a point. Once the hair is shaved or cut off, it has a blunt or squared end versus an uncut hair that's gradually tapered. Because it's blunt and isn't gradually tapered anymore, the shaved hair gives one the look and feel of a thicker hair. Although I'm not an expert (nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night), this is just my $0.02.

Jeff

that is entirely too much TV watching on your part

nor did I stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night

I believe that the hair will eventually grow faster if it is shaved regularly. So, if you don't want a thicker, heavier beard you should pluck it not shave it.

That might hurt a bit, but just think you won't have to strop that razor and it will pluck for you.

Tim

It's truely fascinating the things you learn in these forums!

No offense, Tim, but I have to disagree with you on two levels. First, I work way too many hours to spend my non-office time watching the boob toob. If I do, however, it's mostly sports and news.

Secondly, this isn't really a disagreement with you since you said that you heard this, but, hair doesn't grow any faster because it's shaved. Facial hair grows at a rate of approximately 6" per year much like finger/toe nails as they are made of the same matter. What I've heard from a stylist friend of mine is the follicle will produce growth at the same rate whether there is hair above the skin or not. However, I'm no expert so if I am incorrect, someone please tell me and I'll stand corrected.

I do agree that not stropping your razor will indeed perform the "plucking" required to extend the time between depilatory needs. In fact, in reading the history of shaving, I believe there was one of the Kings of England...Henry I II III IV V....etc, whatever, actually had this done. His servant would pluck his beard with tweezers.

I think I'd rather take the risk of passing a keen straight razor across my face everyday and leave the plucking for the chickens...

Jeff

Originally Posted by RichZ

People say that is an old wives tale but I am not sure. I used to get two full days after a str8 shave. I am now getting one. Hummmm

Thats only because your razors are getting dull and not shaving the way they used to so you should immediately gather all of them and begin a marathon honing session and get them back into shape.

Thats another one of those old barbers tales that keep getting propagated around here.

I Gotta weigh in with the "Those're Ol' Wives Tales" crowd. I did however pluck my mild unibrow completely years ago and it never grew back. What does that mean?

X

It was proven scientifically in 1928 that there is no correlation
between shaving and hair growth. It might be hard to find but
here is the reference

Hair growth and shaving
Mildred Trotter
The Anatomical Record
Volume 37, Issue 4, 1928. Pages 373-379

If you actually find it I'd like to have a scan

I agree that shaving, in and of itself, doesn't make hair grow faster. I might give some credance to the fact that the massage from working up a lather on one's face, warm towels, etc., etc. might stimulate increased blood flow to the hair follicles enough to stimulate them a little. But that's just...