Does Shaving Cause Hair to Grow Thicker

Hello, I am Dr. Neal Schultz, and welcome to DermTV. Most women are afraid to shave unwanted hair because they are afraid that shaving actually causes the hair to grow in thicker. I assure you that it does not, but I can show why people think that it does even though it really does not. This is the surface of your skin and this is a hair, a natural hair that is growing. As it is growing from below the surface from the hair follicle, it comes above the surface and you see this natural, tapered, wispy tip which all new natural hairs have. But as it comes up, you can then also see the thickness of the hair shaft below the tip.

When you decide to shave or cut that hair at the surface, in a few days the hair is going to continue to grow, and when it does, this is the tip that you have now, it is rectangular. It is coarser than the tip that you originally had. But take a look at the hair shafts, both of those hair shafts are the exact same thickness.

So, the reason that shaving makes you think that the hair is getting thicker is just because the very top of the hair is no longer thin and tapered, but rectangular. But if you are shaving regularly, you are not causing those hairs to get any thicker, and shaving really is a very easy and convenient form of controlling unwanted hair. Please join me again at DermTv.com. If you have a question, please send it to me by visiting: DermTv.com/question. I am Dr. Neal Schultz, and thank you for watching today.