The male grooming industry is booming. The market is now worth almost £70 million [1] — so it’s clearly important for men to know how to look their best.
So do you know how to take care of your facial hair? Find out the answers to some of the most common facial hair questions.
Does shaving facial hair make it grow back thicker?
Beards have made a comeback of late, and no doubt if you have significant facial hair it can be incredibly therapeutic to stroke your beard, whether consciously or not. There’s also a pervasive rumour that shaving your facial hair can make it grow back thicker.
However, this rumour is actually a hair loss myth — shaving your facial hair doesn’t make it grow back thicker. In addition, too much beard stroking can put increased stress on your hair, causing it to fall out and become patchy. In addition, it also transfers more oil into the hair, which can cause skin irritation beneath the beard and breakouts of acne or oily skin.
Is the skin on your face the same as the rest of your body?
No — the skin on our faces is much more sensitive than other parts of the body and requires a different cleansing and upkeep routine too [2]. Improper treatment of your facial skin can also have an effect on your facial hair too, in both men and women.
Can all men grow a beard?
While most men see the ability to grow a thick, healthy and luscious beard as a natural birth right, for some this isn’t always the case. Some of this can be down to genetic conditions, but there could also be aspects of your daily cleansing routine or habits that can affect healthy facial hair growth too. Many men are now turning to beard transplants to address their slow or patchy beard growth.
Does it matter which razor I use?
If you like the clean shaven look, it’s important to ensure you use sharp razors to cope with the job at hand. Using blunt razors or poor quality ones is a sure fire way to not only cut your face, but also to affect the growth of your facial hair. Hair can actually chip a razor blade — so cheap razors can become blunt very quickly [3].
With a blunt razor, you can put too much pressure on your skin to get a close shave that can cause the skin to become irritated, as well as encourage ingrown hairs. However, investing in a decent swivel head, razor and regularly changing the blades will give you a closer shave and less skin irritation that can affect hair growth.
Read our complete beard grooming guide to learn about the best tools and techniques for styling your beard.
What’s the best shaving technique?
Another factor that can damage facial hair is your shaving technique. You should always shave in the direction of the hair growth, not against it [4]. This will reduce the instances of ingrown hairs and shaving rash and encourage healthier hair growth too.
Can soap cause problems growing a beard?
Another aspect that can affect your facial hair is the type of chemicals you use on your face. While you may think that using a standard soap on your face is fine, it can contain harsh chemicals that can dry out the skin. This in turn can cause facial hair growth concerns, such as ingrown hairs or possibly reduced growth or hair loss.
Can women damage facial hair growth?
Of course, most women don’t want a full beard to contend with, but other areas of the face, such as eyebrows can be more of a concern. Many women with fine, thin haired eyebrows could actually be damaging eyebrow hair growth, making them look even thinner, through over plucking and the use of harsh eyebrow dyes and colourants too.
Have more questions? Speak to a facial hair expert
If you’re suffering from facial hair loss or growth concerns, we at the Wimpole Clinic can help. As specialists in hair transplants, we offer a wide range of services and sound advice to help you get your confidence back. Get in touch to ask us any questions you have about your facial hair growth.
Find out the truth about if shaving makes your hair actually grow back faster and thicker. Most of us have heard the myth shaving makes your hair grow back faster and thicker. You may have even hesitated or decided not to shave certain areas of our bodies as a result.
Does shaving make your hair grow back thicker?
Although you might think your hair is thicker after you shave, it really isn’t. And this is true regardless of whether you shave your bikini area, legs, arms or armpits. When you shave, your razor cuts away the hair from the surface of the skin, but it does not remove the hair entirely, just part of it. The rest of the hair strand and root are still underneath the skin’s surface.
Once the hairs start to emerge back through the surface of your skin, they may look and feel thicker due to the blunt end from where the razor cut the hair, but they really aren’t.
Does shaving make my hair grow back faster?
The act of shaving does not make your hair grow back faster, your genetics do. Hair texture and regrowth are determined by your gene pool. Some people have more hair than others; some people have thicker hair than others; and, everyone’s hair grows back at different rates. For instance, a person with fine, fairer colored body hair might not have to shave as often as someone with naturally dark, thick body hair.
Why does hair grow back faster in certain areas than others after shaving?
Just like how body hair grows back at different rates for different people, the hair on various areas of your body also can grow back at different speeds. For example, armpit hair generally grows back 50 percent quicker than the hair on our legs. This is why if you shave both areas, you may shave your armpits more frequently than your legs.
What other hair removal methods can I try to keep my hair from growing back so quickly?
Since shaving only cuts away a portion of the hair, other hair removal methods may keep hair from growing back for longer periods of time. For example, waxing works to remove hair from the root, which may result in hair taking longer to grow past the skin’s surface. Epilation, which removes hair mechanically, and laser hair removal are both longer lasting solutions.
If shaving is your preferred method, try building your own razor. And, if you’d like to learn more about shaving and hair removal products, click here for the Venus shop.
Selected guides
How Venus Direct Works | Venus
Shaving your legs (or anywhere else) can be a pain. So can remembering when to change your razor blades – or buy more before you run out. Venus Direct takes the inconvenience out of shaving and helps you shave your way.
Here is Why You Should Never Share Your Razor | Venus
Discover why you shouldn’t share a razor for design and sanitary reasons. Plus, learn a few tips for how to avoid the need to share razors in the first place.
14 of The Most Common Shaving Myths Debunked | Venus
When it comes to shaving, it’s important to separate fact from fiction. We’ve debunked 14 popular shaving myths to help optimize your shaving experience.
Explore Venus Direct Shave Plans
Take the inconvenience out of shaving! Get fresh blades delivered to your door with the freedom to update, change or cancel your plan at any time.
The $7 Starter Kit
Smooth skin has never been simpler. You’ll get our most popular 5-blade razor with a mint handle, plus travel-friendly Satin Care Ultra Sensitive shave gel and a convenient shower hook with your first order.
Shop NowDesign Your Own Shave Plan
Your skin, your way. Choose your favorite handle, blades and how often you want deliveries. Our blades fit any handle so you can mix it up at any time. Talk about convenient!