Almost every guy has heard the sayings “Cutting your hair short makes it thicker” and “Shaving makes your stubble harder.” But the truth is, whether you trim your hair with scissors or hair clippers, the thickness and growth rate of your hair remain unchanged. The perception of thickening is simply a visual and tactile illusion.
Why does hair look thicker after a cut? 3 sources of this illusion
Many people feel that their hair is “harder” when they touch it and has “more volume” when they look in the mirror after getting their hair cut. But in fact, this is just an illusion after the trimming.
- New hair is undamaged and has a darker color.
Long hair exposed to sunlight and heat for a long time will damage the hair scales, and the color will become lighter, making it look thinner. However, short hair that has just been cut is “new hair” that has just emerged from the hair follicles. It has a saturated color (darker black) and naturally appears thicker. - hair
gradually taper and evenly split, resembling a “sharpened pencil.” When cut short, the ends become flat, like a “straight-cut pencil head,” naturally appearing thicker. - The “hardness” of short hair is a tactile illusion.
Long hair has weight, so it naturally falls and feels smooth. Short hair (especially 1-3 cm) is light and upright, and with intact cuticles, it feels pricklier. However, this doesn’t mean your hair has actually become thicker.
Simply put: the thickness of your hair is determined by genetics and hormones, just like the thickness of a tree trunk is determined by nature. If you use hair clippers to trim the branches and leaves, they won’t suddenly grow thicker when they grow back.
2. Why doesn’t cutting hair affect growth? Understanding the “Logic of Life and Death”
The hair we can cut is actually “dead.” Hair is divided into two parts:
- Hair follicles: They are living cells under the skin and determine the thickness and growth rate of hair.
- Hair shaft: This is the part that is exposed on the outside. It is made of keratin and is dead like nails.
You cut the hair shaft, which doesn’t send the “message” back to the hair follicle saying, “grow thicker faster.” So, whether you trim your hair short or shave every day, the new hair that grows back will be the same thickness.
As early as 1928, scientists verified this: they asked a group of men to shave with the same razor and in the same way. After a few months, they found that their beards did not grow thicker or faster. The so-called “thickening” was a complete illusion.
3. Want to make your hair look thicker? Hairdressers recommend two practical tips
Since cutting your hair won’t change its diameter, how can you make it look thicker? You can actually do that by styling your hair.
1. Choose the right hairstyle to enhance your hair volume
- a Fade Cut
, use hair clippers to shorten the sides, leaving 3–5 cm on top, and then use scissors to create layers. Shortening the sides can enhance the top of the head, creating immediate volume and flattering the face shape. - Textured cuts
Allow the hairdresser to break up layers, creating an “airy” feel and preventing the hair from sticking to the scalp. They are particularly suitable for fine hair, creating a natural volume effect. - Part your short hair to
the side and leave it slightly longer on top (4–6 cm), use the side parting to divide your scalp, and add a slight texture to make your hair appear thicker.
2. Use styling products
- Fluffy powder: After washing your hair, sprinkle a small amount on the roots of your hair and rub it with your hands to make your hair stand up.
- Matte Wax: Use a small amount to avoid a greasy look. Easily create a tousled texture and make hair look fuller.
- Although these tips won’t make your hair “actually thicker,” they can create a visual effect. For guys with fine hair, “making it look thicker” is enough.
Conclusion
Don’t be fooled by the myth that cutting your hair makes it thicker. It’s your hair follicles and your genes, not your scissors or hair clippers, that truly determine your hair quality. But with the right hairstyle and styling products, you can literally double your hair’s thickness.