Shaving Hair

767 Words2 Pages

Certain people believe that shaving the hairs on your body will force the hair to grow back faster, darker, and thicker. However, this is not the case, according to professionals. According to Dr. Vreeman, “Shaving hair will not cause it to grow back in a darker or coarser form or to grow back faster. This belief is often reinforced by popular media sources and perhaps by people contemplating the quick appearance of stubble on their own body.” She believes that the power of coincidence can make the belief seem obvious to some as well. “This assertion is also rather difficult to persuade otherwise simply because human perception can be quite deceiving…” says Amy McMichael, chair of the Department of Dermatology at Wake Forest Baptist Health. …show more content…

According to a study done in 1928, a clinical test showed that shaving did not have an effect on hair growth. The study involved four men who agreed to measure the hair on their faces once it regrew. Using the same brand of shaving soap, fresh razors, and water at a constant temperature, they shaved a portion of their face. One hundred individual hairs were measured; before and after the shave. The study concluded that the facial hair that was regrown was no different than the hair pre-shave. Recent research also proves that the thickness, color, or rate of growth is not affected due to shaving. Furthermore, shaving only removes the dead portion of hair, which is the hair that has come out onto the skin. The living section of hair, which lies below the skin’s surface, is not affected when shaving so it is not likely to affect hair growth after shaving, according to …show more content…

Each of the five men shaved one leg weekly for several months during the study period. The study, which was published in 1970, had found no drastic differences in the hairs on both legs. The width, coarseness, and rate of growth were evidently unaffected. This data drives dermatologists when they see patients with these issues, says Melanie Grossman, a dermatologist in New York City. Grossman exclaims, “Women shave their legs all the time- they would look like a gorilla if the hair was coming back thicker or darker!” Another thing to note would be the face that humans would never need to worry about hair loss if we could simply pull it out to make the hair grow

More about Shaving Hair

Open Document