Hairs growing back thicker, skin becoming drier, ingrown hairs... shaving is not without its skin-related inconveniences. Let's separate fact from fiction!
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Misconceptions about shaving.
Summary
- Shaving makes hair grow back faster
- Shaving makes the hair grow back thicker and coarser
- Shaving promotes ingrown hairs
- Shaving against the grain leads to ingrown hairs
- Shaving dries out the skin
Published May 24, 2022,
updated on October 4, 2024,
by
Maylis, Chemical Engineer
—
5 min read
Shaving makes hair grow back faster.
False. Shaving in no way influences the speed of hair regrowth. However, the rate of hair regrowth can vary from one individual to another.
In fact, when you shave, the hair is removed at skin level. However, this does not halt regrowth. The hair is still there and continues to grow normally. Waxing, on the other hand, pulls out the hairs beneath the skin's surface, leaving only the hair follicle that will create a new hair.
In essence, whether it's after shaving or waxing, hair always grows back at the same rate. It just seems to grow back faster after shaving because its journey is shorter!
Shaving makes the hair grow back thicker and coarser.
True and false. It is important to distinguish between vellus hair and terminal or adult hair. Indeed, shaving vellus hair is a bad idea because it will transform into terminal hair, which is generally thicker than the initial vellus hair. However, shaving does not make terminal hair coarser. It is generally the act of cutting them cleanly that gives this "prickly" feeling to the touch.
Shaving promotes ingrown hairs.
True. When you shave, you cut the hair flush with the skin. As it regrows, it may struggle to penetrate the stratum corneum, which is composed of dead cells. Its path can then deviate, causing it to become ingrown under the skin.
To reduce the risk of ingrown hairs, it is recommended to exfoliate before shaving. Typology has developed three exfoliants based on micro-grains derived from ground apricot kernels. The facial exfoliant is less concentrated in abrasive particles than the body exfoliants, in order to respect your skin.
The radiant facial scrub is recommended for unclogging pores and promoting cellular renewal.
Thenourishing body scrubhelps to soften and smooth the skin. It is particularly suitable for dry and uncomfortable skin.
Theinvigorating body scrubcontains organic green coffee macerate (draining) as well as essential oils of lemongrass and organic cedar (anti-cellulite). It is recommended for smoothing, firming, and toning the skin while reducing the appearance of cellulite.
Shaving against the grain leads to ingrown hairs.
True. Shaving against the grain can yield a satisfactory result but may twist the hair. When the hair is twisted, it deviates from its path and curls back on itself to become an ingrown hair. It is preferable to shave in the direction of hair growth to reduce the occurrence of ingrown hairs. Moreover, avoid passing the razor multiple times over the same area to prevent skin irritation.
Shaving dries out the skin.
True. During shaving, the hydrolipidic film present on the skin's surface, composed of water and fat, is disrupted. Without compensation from a moisturizing product, the skin becomes dry. This is why one should never shave dry and should use a foam or gel during shaving. After shaving, don't forget to apply a moisturizing and/or nourishing care product. Moreover, since the horny layer is thinner, it's the ideal time to provide the skin with active ingredients and nutrients that will be more easily absorbed, such as nourishing, firming, slimming treatments, etc...
To rehydrate your skin after hair removal, you can apply one of our body creams:
The nourishing cream Squalane 10% + Shea Butter is enriched with nourishing active ingredients. It restores the skin's lipid barrier, reduces feelings of tightness, and protects the skin from external aggressions.
The firming cream Caffeine 2% + Guarana extract contains firming active ingredients and helps to tighten skin tissues and reduce the appearance of cellulite.
The moisturizing cream with 10 ingredients is a minimalist formula that allows for hydration of all skin types, even sensitive ones. It is formulated with 99% natural origin ingredients.
On the face, following the shaving of the beard for instance, prioritize the use of a nourishing cream containing 1% Hyaluronic Acid + Shea Butter. Enriched with lipid-replenishing and moisturizing active ingredients, it restores suppleness to the skin and reduces feelings of tightness. If you prefer a more minimalist, fragrance-free formula, the 9-ingredient moisturizing cream would be more suitable. Its light and non-greasy texture is suitable for dry, normal, and combination skin, even sensitive ones.
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