Does hair grow back thicker after shaving? 6 shaving myths debunked

If you shave your hair, it will grow back thicker and faster – fact or fiction?

We’ve all heard some sort of myth about shaving before. For me, it was the warning that hair would just be more unruly when it makes its return.

I later found out that this was nothing more than a rumour. But it’s not the only myth surrounding this hair removal technique.

Here are six shaving myths debunked by FINO Cosmetics.

1. Shaving makes your hair grow back thicker and faster – Fiction

Shaving removes the hair on the surface of the skin, and does not have any effect on the hair’s colour or thickness – that’s controlled by your genes. What you may be noticing is the trimmed, blunt angle of the freshly cut hair that may make it seem thicker. Once it grows out again, it will take on it’s original appearance.

2. Shaving removes your tan – Fiction

Tanning occurs in the body’s pigment cells, in the lower levels of the skin where a razor blade cannot reach. So will shaving remove the golden glow you got while on holiday? No. But, if you have a fake tan, which sits on the skin’s surface, shaving may have an effect on its longevity as the razor tends to remove dead skin cells on the surface of the skin.

Safety note: make sure that you’re always protecting your skin with sunscreen when you are out and about. While we all love getting that golden glow, it’s important to be safe as the sun’s rays can be damaging to our skin.

3. A new razor causes nicks and cuts – Fiction

The opposite may be true, actually. A sharp, new razor is best for shaving, while an older blunt one is more likely to catch on the skin, leading to cuts. This happens because the duller the blade, the more pressure you need to exert to get a close shave, and the blade may tug on the skin.

4. You shouldn’t share your razor – Fact

Sharing is caring, but when it comes to your razor, it’s okay to be a little selfish. It is common to get nicks and cuts when shaving, and when you use someone else’s razor, you may be putting yourself at risk of infection. Razor blades may spread infections like warts, fungal infections and staph bacteria.

5. You should shave in the direction of hair growth – Fact

Urgh, razor bumps and ingrown hairs – not only are they unsightly, but they can be quite uncomfortable, too. To help avoid them, it’s important to shave with the grain of the hair and not against it. This means shaving in the direction that the hair grows.

Not only does this ensure a more comfortable and closer shave, but it will also lessen the chances of developing skin irritations.

6. Soap works just as well as shaving cream – Fiction

Confession – I normally turn to soap as a cheap and convenient alternative to shaving cream, and if you’re like me, according to the FINO team, we’re doing it wrong.

Shaving creams, oils and gels are designed to moisturise skin and help your razor glide across your skin more easily. Whereas regular soap is designed to cleanse and is more likely to dry out your skin.