by Julie A. Foster, LE, CCE, CME

Unwanted hair has a knack for showing up at the worst possible time—right before a big presentation, just ahead of a beach trip, or exactly where no razor was ever meant to be. For many people, the go-to response is to reach for tweezers, a razor, or wax in the ongoing battle against regrowth.

Permanent hair removal offers an alternative—not as a luxury, but as a long-term solution. But before jumping into treatment, it helps to understand how “permanent” really works, how hair growth cycles function, and why some common grooming methods are likely working against your ultimate goal.

Myth: Shaving Makes Hair Thicker

A longstanding myth holds that shaving causes hair to grow back thicker and darker. In truth, shaving does not affect the size, color, or strength of the hair. It simply cuts the hair at the surface of the skin. The result is a blunt tip that may feel coarser as it grows out, but the hair itself remains unchanged beneath the skin.

Picture a pine tree: thin and wispy at the top, wider at the base. If the trunk is cut halfway down, the newly visible cross-section appears thicker. That’s how shaved hair works—only the feel and look of the hair at the surface has changed.

The Real Culprits: Tweezing, Plucking and Waxing

If the goal is permanent hair removal, methods like tweezing and waxing can backfire. These approaches temporarily remove the hair from its follicle, while also triggering a biological response beneath the skin’s surface.

The base of each hair follicle is connected to a capillary blood supply that nourishes it. When a hair is prematurely pulled out, the body perceives this as damage and begins to repair the area—often by reinforcing the follicle. Over time, the root system can deepen so the next new hair gets more blood supply to regrow stronger. The more often a hair is plucked, the more robust this regrowth response can become.

Dormant Follicles Step In

The body doesn’t stop by just strengthening the plucked follicles, it calls in the backups. Each square inch of skin can contain thousands of follicles, though not all are active. Most remain dormant until stimulated and triggered to grow.

When hair is repeatedly removed from an area, the body may recruit these dormant follicles to wake up and restore their protective skin coverage. Over time, a small patch of stray hairs often turns into a thicker, denser area of growth.

Why Shaving Is Different

Unlike tweezing and waxing, shaving does not disturb the follicle. The root remains intact, and the body sees no need to respond with reinforcements. Hair continues its natural growth cycle with no structural changes. What feels like thicker hair is simply the blunt edge of a freshly cut strand.

After waxing or plucking, newly regrown hair initially appears softer. The top tips of these baby hairs are finer at first. Many people find themselves repeating the cycle—plucking and waxing again just as those new hairs grow long enough to grasp. However, the roots are likely developing deeper below the surface to grow a stronger, thicker new hair.

Breaking the Cycle

If it feels like you’re constantly battling the same hairs—or seeing more of them over time—you’re not imagining it. Your body is likely responding to repeated attempts at removal. Understanding your unique hair growth patterns, skin type, and grooming history is the first step in developing a plan for true, lasting hair removal.

Julie Foster is the owner of A Bare Necessity – Electrolysis & Laser Skincare, located at 6450 N. Wickham Rd., Suite 405, Melbourne. The practice provides personalized, education-focused care. Free consultations are relaxed and conversational, combining expert knowledge, medically sound techniques, and a touch of humor to help clients feel informed and at ease. For more information, call or text 321-367-5128 or visit ABareNecessity.com.