Wellness
There are certain areas in the body where the growth of hair is unwanted and deemed as undesirable. It is in these body areas where different hair removal methods are often practiced such as shaving and plucking. However, not everyone knows the effects of shaving and plucking on human hair regrowth.
The Myth
Many people actually believe a popular myth about the effect of shaving and plucking on human hair growth. It has been said that shaving or plucking your hair will make it grow thicker, and even at a faster rate. This is simply not true. Shaving your hair will not make it grow thicker or faster. Perhaps, many people still believe this myth because the hair that grows after shaving or plucking has a totally different appearance. An unshaved hair usually has a fine tip, while a newly shaved hair has a sharper and blunt tip, which appears to be a thicker strand of hair. This is because what you see after shaving is the coarse base of the hair, instead of the fine tip that you will eventually see as soon as your hair grows. This is also true when you pluck your hair. The main difference, perhaps between shaving and plucking is that when you pluck your hair, you tend to get even the hair roots out. Thereby, when your hair regrows, you will instantly see the fine tip of the hair instead of the coarse base that you see when you shave. Nevertheless, plucking will not make your hair grow thicker or faster either.
The hair that grows in place of the one that is shaved or plucked may also appear to have a darker color. There are several factors that may affect this and one is due to its thickness. Another cause of this appearance may be because it is still a fresh strand of hair that has not yet been exposed to the chemicals that make up shampoos, conditioners, or any other hair products.
Other Shaving Effects
Shaving indeed has side effects, which are not really directly related to hair regrowth. You may experience skin irritation, razor burn, contact dermatitis, cuts, or even ingrown hair. In other instances, you may even experience blisters, pimples, or itchy skin. These side effects are often attributed to improper shaving methods. Thereby, it is important to properly shave to minimize, if not totally eliminate, the occurrence of these side effects. As much as possible, wet your skin first before shaving or apply a shaving gel or lotion to prevent your skin from getting shaving cuts. It is also a good practice to shave with the direction of the hair growth and not against it. Try to avoid shaving when you are in a rush, because it is not a good practice to shave quickly. This may lead you to press the razor too hard on your skin. Ensure also that you are using razors with fresh blades because dull razors may lead to skin irritation and cuts. After you shave, rinse your skin with cool water to reduce the inflammation, before applying a moisturizer or an aftershave lotion.
Other Hair Removal Methods
Apart from shaving or plucking, there are other hair removal methods. But regardless of the hair removal method you try, your hair regrowth will not really be affected, except probably for one.
Epilating
Using an epilator is another way to remove unwanted hair. The expert contributors of OGLF.org reviewed some of the best epilators and Our Good Living Formula’s short list contains those that have been dermatologically tested and proven to work well on either dry or wet skin. The epilator on top of the list has several features offered that includes exfoliation brushes and even a massage head. Nevertheless, more and more women prefer the use of an epilator over other means of hair removal because aside from being convenient, it is also proven effective.
Waxing
Waxing is another hair removal method that has been used by many people over time, with the aim of removing unwanted hair. Much like plucking, it removes hair from the roots through the use of a sticky substance, which is referred to as the wax. Nowadays, more and more wax solutions are made from organic ingredients to ensure users that what they are using are safe and won’t necessarily cause skin irritation. Nonetheless, it is still best to practice the general precautions even in waxing to ensure that you minimize the risk of skin irritation.
Threading
Threading is similar to plucking, however, the tool used to remove unwanted hair is a thread. Threading is more commonly used around the facial area such as the eyebrows or upper lip. While the process may seem simple, it is a hair removal method that is best done in a salon with trained service providers. This is because you might experience a botched brow, or even a skin infection, if you attempt to thread on your own.
Laser Hair Removal
The advancements in modern technology brought about the laser hair removal. Now this method has a significant effect on hair regrowth because laser hair removal actually inhibits the growth of new hair. Laser hair removal is already considered as a cosmetic procedure wherein highly concentrated light is beamed directly into the hair follicles. This in turn destroys the hair pigments, while leaving the skin undamaged. More often than not, people who undergo at least three laser hair removal sessions experience a permanent hair loss. Thereby, it can be deemed that this is perhaps the only hair removal method which affects the natural hair regrowth.
Different people try various means to remove unwanted hair in several body areas. While some of these methods may prove to work well, other methods may be deemed ineffective. Nevertheless, you should consider the effects of the methods you try in terms of your hair regrowth in order to ensure that apart from being effective, the hair removal method you choose will also save you time, money and effort.
