No, shaving does not increase beard growth. This is a common misconception. While it may seem like shaving makes hair grow back thicker or faster, this is an illusion.
Understanding the Myth
The feeling of thicker or faster growth after shaving stems from the way the hair is cut. Shaving creates a blunt edge on the hair shaft. As the hair grows back, this blunt edge feels coarser and more noticeable than the naturally tapered end of unshaven hair. This creates the illusion of thicker and faster growth. However, the rate of growth and the thickness of the hair itself remain unchanged.
Multiple sources confirm this:
- Mayo Clinic: States explicitly that shaving "doesn't change its thickness, color or rate of growth." https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/adult-health/expert-answers/hair-removal/faq-20058427
- Reddit (r/wicked_edge): Multiple threads debunk the myth, emphasizing that the perceived thickness is due to the blunt tip of the regrown hair. https://www.reddit.com/r/wicked_edge/comments/1t313t/does_shaving_affect_beard_growth/ and https://www.reddit.com/r/wicked_edge/comments/ousqvg/the_shaving_causes_hair_to_grow_back/
- Quora: Several answers explain that shaving does not affect the rate or thickness of hair growth. https://www.quora.com/Can-I-grow-a-beard-if-I-keep-shaving and https://www.quora.com/Does-shaving-your-facial-hair-make-it-grow-back-faster-and-more
- Other Sources: Numerous articles and studies support the conclusion that shaving has no effect on hair growth rate or thickness.
In short: Shaving affects the feel of hair regrowth, making it seem thicker and faster growing, but it does not actually change the rate or thickness of hair growth itself.
