Hair Shaving Myths

Hair Shaving Myths

Naked Armor

Ever since shaving began during the dawn of civilization, you would think that it had enough time to set its facts straight.

Published by Naked Armor

However, shaving myths still abound in this day and age, thriving like your familiar urban legends. And in this era of fake news, it’s easy to take them for the truth especially if you’re just beginning your shaving journey.

Don’t worry though. Here in Naked Armor, we’re going to give you a run-down on the most common hair shaving myths. By the time you’re done reading this list, you’ll have enough info to correct all the wrong shaving habits you might have because of these myths.

MYTH 1 - Shaving causes hair to grow faster and thicker

Sorry to disappoint, but no, shaving regularly doesn’t cause thicker hair nor does it cause it to grow faster.

It only looks that way because when you shave the hair strand off, you actually only cut its soft rounded tip off, leaving a blunt end. As hair grows back, it will take time to develop its thinner, pointed tip. What you’re seeing is the cut end giving the appearance of thicker hair.

Hair growth, meanwhile, is determined by your genes and hormones. Unless you have the gene for it, no matter how frequent you shave, you won’t get your beard to grow quicker.

MYTH 2 - New razor blades cause more nicks and cuts than old ones

If you take away the level of skill in holding a razor blade, you’ll be amazed at how new razor blades don’t actually cause nicks and cuts.

New razor blades are very sharp, therefore, they cut hairs quickly while moving smoothly across the skin. This lessens the blade friction so that you won’t get skin irritation from shaving.

A dull razor blade, meanwhile, feels rough on the skin and tugs hair when it shaves, increasing the incidences of razor burn and bumps. And because it’s dull, you’ll also need to exert more pressure on the blade to have a decent result. This results to a lot of nicks and cuts, if one is not careful in handling the blade.

While there are certainly cases of nicks resulting from new razor blades, these generally stem from inadequate skills in holding the blade. Technique plays an important factor in shaving, so learn to hold a razor properly before even attempting to shave with one.

MYTH 3 - The harder you press, the closer the shave you get

Not necessarily. Like what we said in the previous section, if you know how to hold a razor and the blade is really sharp, you don’t need to press harder to get a close shave. In fact, you only need to hold it lightly and let the weight of the razor do the shaving for you.

Now if your blade is dull, then you’d most likely need to press it more firmly than usual. Even then, that isn’t guarantee enough to get a close shave. You’ll probably have to do more passes than usual. So the lesson of this story is: use sharp blades.

MYTH 4 - It’s cool to borrow someone else’s razor for shaving

Definitely, a no. It’s not hygienic to use someone else’s razor. When you’re shaving long enough, a razor becomes an intimate extension of you. Like, for instance, a toothbrush.

Borrowing someone else’s razor increases the chances of you getting their germs and skin cells on your skin. That’s problematic especially when you get nicked or cut because you can get infected by someone’s skin bacteria.

This is also true for couples. Razor companies these days design razors differently for men and women. Razors for men are made to be used for facial hair while razors for women are made to have large and curvier areas for their legs. So there can be issues with how maneuverable a razor can be for the shaving you require.

MYTH 5 - Ordinary soaps will work just as well as shave soaps

Ordinary commercial bath soaps tend to dry facial skin more than shave soaps. While they clean the dirt and oil from your face, they also strip the skin of its natural oils which are responsible for keeping the skin moisture in. Some bathing soaps also have synthetic ingredients added in which can irritate sensitive skin.

A shave soap, meanwhile, is made specifically for shaving. It has extra glycerin in it that keeps skin moisturized while also functioning as a buffer against blade friction.

The glycerin is also what makes it a proper shaving lather: it makes it denser, more cushiony, and longer lasting. You need all these qualities in a lather if you want to get an awesome and luxurious shave.

MYTH 6 - Multi-blade razors are better than single blades

On the contrary, multi-blade razors are just fancy contraptions designed to milk men out of their hard-earned money.

Having more than one blade on a razor cuts more hair than a single blade but it doesn’t necessarily give a close shave. It actually increases skin irritation because there’s more friction because of the number blades.

It also increases the incidence of razor bumps and nicks because the hairs can get caught between the blades. There is also evidence to show that more germs tend to inhabit the gaps between the blades, especially if they are not cleaned well.

That’s why single blades are better because they have less blade friction and they shave quite closely and more efficiently.

MYTH 7 - You can save a lot by using disposable razors

Total baloney, we dare say.

Disposable razors may be cheap but if you’re using a new one for shaving weekly or daily, that’s going to become an expensive routine in the long term. If you’re using a reusable razor, you’re a bit better off by a few cents. Given that the marketing model for these types of razors is designed to keep you buying razors at a regular basis, it isn’t cost-efficient in the long term.

A straight razor though is a different matter. Consider it as a long-term one-time investment; it may be a bit expensive but straight razors are made to last so you can expect to rely on it on for a long time, with the proper care and maintenance. If its expensive enough, you can hand it down as a valuable heirloom piece, increasing its value throughout the years.

MYTH 8 - If you shave your eyebrows, it will never grow back

This one is a particularly widespread myth. It’s for this reason that most medical professionals won’t recommend shaving off eyebrows even when it’s needed due to a scar or a wound on the face.

But in a study, researchers found no evidence that this is true. Hair, when shaven off, will always grow - some slowly and some faster. Perhaps this myth has its roots in some cultural or religious taboo. Whatever it is, this is simply not true.

MYTH 9 - Shaving hair makes them come back more coarse

Like we said before, it’s an optical illusion. Uncut hair looks thinner because the hair strand naturally narrows to a round point at its tip. When you shave the hair at the base, what’s left behind is the actual diameter of the hair strand which is definitely thicker than its endpoint. Naturally, when it starts growing back, it will take a while to reform into a narrow pointed tip. That’s why stubbles or whiskers are coarse. Left to grow into full beard, they’ll be softer and thinner. Especially when they’re groomed properly.

MYTH 10 - Shaving a spot thrice makes for a closer shave

Not necessarily. But it’ll increase chances for skin irritation. That’s because you’re exposing your skin to blade irritation more than what is necessary. It also depends on your technique and the type of razor that you use. Some multi-blades work best with a 3-pass shaving technique but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can get a close shave.

Now if you’re using a high-quality straight razor, you don’t need to do the 3-pass shaving technique. In fact, it might even be an overkill. That’s because a straight razor does the job efficiently and effectively.

Its sharp, single blade easily cuts hair at a single pass. You won’t even need to cut across the grain. This reduces the level of blade friction while ensuring that the skin doesn’t get irritated.

Here at Naked Armor, we take pride in the fact that our straight razors are of the best quality. They’re made from Japanese steel and are crafted in a hybrid design to get the best out of both worlds. Whether for trimming or shaving, our razors provide the luxury in comfortable and easy wet shaving.

Check out our site to see more great razors.


Other Essential Stuff to Read

The Newbie Guide to Straight Razor Shaving
Why A Wet Shave Is Best For Your Sensitive Skin
Is A Straight Razor The Best Shave?

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