Getting a head shave and sporting a bald look serves more as a style statement than a move to boost hair growth. Sporting a shaved head has been popularized and glamorized by pop culture to no end. While for some people it is also a great cover to conceal their hair woes by camouflaging it as a fashion makeover, getting a head shave will not ensure that you get a head full of thick and luxurious new hair!
An age-old common belief is that shaving head benefits hair growth and results in healthier and thicker hair. Very often toddlers have their heads shaved in the hopes that the new hair that will replace their peach fuzz hair will be thick and strong.
If you want to know whether there are any head shave benefits and if it really does make sense to get one, we bring you facts that will help you decide.
Read on!
Understanding How Hair Grows
Each human hair is made up of a hair shaft and a root. The root of the hair extends below the surface of the skin while the shaft extends itself above the skin’s surface. Around the root under the skin, the continuous blood flow leads to the formation of new cells. These cells combine and harden and push themselves above the skin’s surface forming a strand of hair.
When you get a head shave, you are eliminating only the part of the hair that is in its shaft and not the portion that goes through the root. Whatever is done to a hair strand outside of its follicle (the opening in the skin through which the shaft of hair emerges) does not alter the way it will grow back or its texture and color. A head shave will not give you thicker hair than before as your hair will still grow at the same rate and in the same way as it is conditioned to by your DNA.
Your hair goes through these cycles that decide your hair growth:
- Anagen – This is the active phase where your hair grows from the follicle and may last up to 2-8 years.
- Catagen – In this phase, your hair grows at a slower pace. Also, your hair transitions to a phase where hair follicles shrink, and it may last up to 2 weeks.
- Telogen – This is the resting phase of your hair when your hair neither grows nor falls out. It can stretch up to 3 months.
- Exogen – Your hair sheds from the scalp in this stage, and losing 50-100 strands is quite normal during these days.
Primarily, your genetics determine if your hair has the potential to grow as desired. Not everyone can leverage the benefits of shaving head for hair growth. Also, it may affect the appearance of your hair, but not the growth cycle. For a safe solution, you can consume hair growth tablets as per your doctor’s consultation.
Benefits of Shaving Your Head
If you have long been thinking shaving head advantages and getting it done, let us give you a quick and closer to look into it:
Improves Scalp Hygiene
This is one of the best advantages of head shaving. It gives you freedom from taking care of your scalp hygiene regularly. It is easier to clean your scalp and mitigates the risk of dandruff and infections.
Better Absorption of Hair Care Products
The benefits to shaving head allows your scalp to absorb haircare products more easily. Whether you apply hair growth serums, oils, or take any other treatment for hair growth, shaving increases the effectiveness.
Encourages Scalp Health
In the queue of advantages of head shaving, you experience better air circulation. If there will be any scalp issues like dryness, infections, or itchiness, you can address them timely.
Reset for Hair Care Routine
Those who shave their head for the first time, it gives you an opportunity to start fresh to take care of your hair health. It eliminates the damage caused by over-styling, chemicals, or heat.
Psychological Benefits
The advantages of head shaving aren’t confined to just hair and scalp health, it also boosts your confidence if you suffer hair loss. It just simplifies your hair and grooming routines.
Myth Busted: Shaving Head Does Not Lead to Hair Growth
When you get a head shave and the hair starts to grow back, you tend to notice it more carefully and closely. This makes you think that hair that is growing back is healthier and is growing at a faster rate. Due to the shorter length of hair, each millimeter of hair growth makes a dramatic difference in the appearance of the hair and thus, the misconception.
Moreover, the newly emerging hair will have a coarse and thick base which is much different from the softer tips of the hair you shaved off. This adds to the misconception. But this coarseness is temporary, and your new hair will soon resume the texture of your earlier hair.
Newly growing hair may look dark too. But this because it hasn’t been exposed to sunlight and pollution which tend to slightly lighten the color of your hair.
The benefit of shaving your head is definitely eye-catching but not really thicker or stronger. The only way in which the new hair growth can be considered healthy is because of the fact that it is brand new and thus not weathered or damaged making it look shinier and healthier.
Tips for Maintaining a Shaved Scalp for Better Hair Growth
Even if you take the advantages of head shaving once, it is important to maintain it. So, here are some easy tips to do that:
- Hydration: Use a moisturizer or oil to prevent dryness and maintain the benefits to shaving head.
- Sun Protection: Always apply sunscreen to protect the scalp from UV damage.
- Gentle Exfoliation: Regularly exfoliate the scalp to remove dead skin cells and last the benefits of a shaved head.
Exploring Alternatives to Promote Hair Growth
If the advantages of shaving your head don’t work for your hair growth goals, you should definitely try other alternatives. You can start with these:
- Scalp Massages – Scalp massages can help extend the advantages of shaving your head for hair growth. You can use coconut, olive, or almond oil for a nourishing massage. It helps increase blood circulation, reduce tension on the scalp, prevent hair fall, and grow them back.
- Nutrient-rich Diets – What’s on your plate also decides what nutrition goes into your hair health. There are several foods like eggs, salmon, berries, sweet potatoes, oranges, leafy greens, and more to help grow healthy hair. You can also add omega 3 capsules to boost the process after consulting with a doctor.
- Hair Growth Oils and Treatments – You can also rely on some doctor-recommended oils and treatments to revive your hair health. They may suggest biotin tablets and collagen supplements that primarily focus on your scalp skin, giving your hair the right texture, and promoting hair growth.
Conclusion
No matter the reason behind you getting a head shave, sporting the shaved head look can be an interesting experience. What you need to keep in mind at this time is the practicality behind the move. It is said that shaving head benefits hair growth. If you want to notice the benefits of a shaved head in terms of thicker hair, then getting one may disappoint you.
Despite the advancement in the field of medical science, there is no medication that can ensure a healthier hair growth post a head shave. You may not completely get the benefits of shaving head for hair growth, but it can help you maintain scalp hygiene, restart your haircare routine, and keep hair issues like dryness or infections.
To complement your shaving head advantages, you can add some supplements to your routine while owing to a healthier lifestyle.
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