Can shaving stimulate hair growth? What about making it darker or thicker?
The are plenty of misconceptions about hair and how to shave that continue to spread on social media, especially among women worried about the possible ramifications of removing their facial hair.
"If I shave my upper lip, will it grow back darker and thicker? I’m a girl," one concerned user on Quora asked.
Here's what to know about how shaving affects hair growth, color, thickness and texture.
Does shaving your hair make it thicker?
Dr. Natalie H. Attenello is a facial plastic surgeon and hair restoration specialist in Beverly Hills. Speaking to TODAY.com, she explains that shaving does not and cannot alter the thickness of hair.
“Oftentimes when (hair) starts to regrow, it does seem coarser, maybe a little darker," she says. That's because the base of the hair that first emerges from the skin when it starts to regrow is newer and healthier than the older hair you're used to seeing, which is thinner and softer.
Hair changes in thickness, texture and color as it grows away from the root and becomes longer, Attenello explains, so "if you continue to let that hair grow longer, it starts to become a slightly thinner, softer version of itself."
When you shave your hair, you're removing the fine, softer ends, which can make it seem thicker because only the blunt end is left in its place. Additionally, newly shaved hair can seem thicker because it's more noticeable against the skin.
Does shaving stimulate hair growth?
No, shaving your hair cannot stimulate growth.
As Attenello explains, hair growth is determined by genetics, hormones and overall health, and it starts beneath the surface of the skin, in the hair follicle.
"There's the part of (hair) that we see on the outside of our body, and then there's a part that's embedded underneath our skin," she explains. "A lot of the hair regrowth happens underneath the skin."
Shaving only removes the hair above the skin’s surface. It does not change or enhance the hair follicle’s growth rate beneath the skin.
Does shaving make hair grow back darker?
No, shaving your hair does not make it grow back darker. According to Attenello, it turns the end of the shaft into a flat edge, making it appear darker and coarser in comparison to the narrowed ends of hair that haven't been cut.
And, as Attenello points out, the ends of our hair are often worn down by environmental forces like the sun, chlorine and heat products.
"This hair is not as young and healthy as the baby hair that comes out at the root," she adds. "So it seems like 'gosh, I shaved my head, and the new hair that's coming in feels thicker, coarser, darker.' And really, it's not. That's just a difference between touching older hair versus the kind of younger baby hair that's closer to the skin."
Does shaving facial hair make it grow faster for women?
Dr. Attenello emphasizes that shaving your facial hair won't make hair grow faster for anyone, man or woman.
Besides genetics and health, major hormonal changes — like puberty, pregnancy or menopause — are the only other factors that can change the rate of hair growth.
"Hormonal changes affect (our bodies) but also notably affect hair and hair growth or hair loss or hair texture or hair," she explains.
It's a common misconception that starting to shave facial hair at too young of an age can make it grow back faster or thicker, but this too is a myth, Attenello says. In many cases, the hair is growing back faster or thicker due to the hormonal changes in puberty, or because of the way shaving can make hair appear darker or thicker.
