Shaving has been around for thousands of years. While no one claims shaving is permanent hair removal, there’s a common myth that it makes hair grow back thicker. The papers below dispel this myth and discuss other scientific topics related to shaving.
Human clinical trials
Trotter (1928): The first paper that clinically demonstrates shaving has no effect on hair growth
Saitoh (1970): This paper cited in the hair growth cycle section also demonstrates shaving has no effect on hair growth.
Lynfield (1970): Also demonstrates shaving has no effect on hair growth.
Klein (1988): A brief overview of depilatory and shaving products
Riley (1989): A letter estimating the average male spends 40 hours a year shaving, and 100 days in a lifetime.
Richards (1990): A study of 271 hirsute patients showed shaving to be the most useful and common method.
Plantin (1998): Recommends shaving as the simplest treatment for hypertrichosis.
Shaving side effects
Blackwell (1977): Discusses the treatment of ingrown hairs, a common side effect of shaving.
Halder (1988): A discussion of especially severe ingrown hairs called pseudofolliculitis barbae, especially common with shaved Black male facial hair.