This week, we set out to answer the ages-old question...
If you shave your body hair, will it grow back darker and thicker?
The theory has haunted women for decades, since the bikini became popular on the beach. For men, the modern practice of "manscaping" has brought shaving back into the forefront of culture.
Even a few weeks ago, several local firefighters who shaved their heads live on
CBS 21 News, as a way of raising money for children's cancer research, were overheard asking, "Is this going to make my hair grow back thicker?"
For the answer, we went to Dr. Richard Herschaft, a dermotologist with Dermatology Physicians Inc, in Lancaster.
The following is his response to our question:
"It would be fallacious to think that it would be thicker by shaving it. So, it is a wives' tale."But we wanted to know why. If this is truly a
LIE, then how did this popular theory get started in the first place?
To that, Doctor Herschaft answered:
"Only maturation will cause the hair to grow thicker and more coarse, in the presence of hormones."
In other words, the Doctor says that because most people start shaving during stages of hormonal changes, or puberty, they start by shaving lighter, thinner hair. Over time, the hair appears to "spread" to other parts of the body, and becomes visibly thicker and coarser. However, while the change is most noticable after one has shaven themselves overa period of time, and allowed the hair to grow back, the changes in the hair are natural, and not a result of shaving.
Lie or Legit can be seen every Tuesday on
CBS 21 News at 10 on the CW15.
We'll try our best to answer and explain any question you can think of, from pesky forwarded email myths, to medical inquiries, and other urban legends.
To submit a question for consideration, email
mikeparker@cbs21.com.
