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Hair fall is a common issue that affects both men and women. Losing hair can be caused by various factors such as genetics, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and hormonal imbalances.
Numerous remedies claim to reduce hair fall, including the notion that cutting hair short can help prevent hair fall. However, according to experts, this is only a myth.
Cutting hair short does not stimulate hair growth as hair growth is primarily determined by the hair growth cycle and genetics.
Read on to understand more about it.
Why Doesn’t Cutting Hair Short Reduce Hair Fall?
Hair growth is determined by the hair follicles located on your scalp, and not by the ends of your hair. (1) When you cut your hair, it only affects the part of the hair that’s already grown out, not the part responsible for hair growth or loss, which is the follicle.
Therefore, cutting the ends of your hair does not have any direct impact on the growth or falling of your hair. To put it in simpler terms, getting a haircut won’t magically make your hair grow faster or reduce hair fall.
However, trimming off the dead ends helps to keep your hair looking healthy and can prevent split ends from forming. Split ends can usually lead to further damage and breakage.
Benefits of Hair Trimming or Cutting
Although trimming or cutting the hair may not contribute to actual hair growth, you should not give up on getting regular hair trims if you want to grow your hair longer as it has advantages.
1. Helps you get rid of split ends
While trimming won’t directly make your hair grow faster, it does remove split ends, which damage the hair and slow down growth.
When you have split ends, your hair starts to break and split up the shaft, leading to more damage and slower growth.
So, regular trims are essential to get rid of frayed ends and keep your strands healthy.
2. Improves hair appearance
Trimming also helps to make your hair look better, even if it doesn’t stimulate growth from the hair follicles.
When your hair is breaking and splitting, it can look thin and tapered at the ends, making the hair appear shorter. Trimming those damaged ends can improve the appearance of your hair.
Can Shaving Hair Make Them Grow Darker and Faster?
There’s a common belief that shaving your hair can make it grow back faster, darker, or coarser. People often believe this because they notice stubble growing back quickly after shaving. However, this is not true.
Scientific studies from as early as 1928 show that shaving has no effect on hair growth, and recent research confirms that it does not change the thickness or rate of hair regrowth. (2)(3)
When you shave, you’re only removing the dead part of the hair, not the living section below the skin’s surface. So, it’s unlikely to have any impact on the rate or type of hair growth.
Shaved hair also looks different because it lacks the fine taper at the ends that unshaven hair has. This can give it the appearance of being coarser.
Also, new hair that grows after shaving hasn’t been lightened by the sun or other things, so it may seem darker than your existing hair. (2)
How to Make Hair Look Nice Without Cutting It?
If you don’t want to cut off any length of your hair, you can ask your hairstylist to dust your hair instead. This removes the damaged hairs without eliminating any inches, keeping your hair healthy and looking its best.
Most-Asked Questions
Can hair fall be controlled?
Hair fall can be reduced by maintaining a healthy diet, reducing stress, avoiding heat styling tools and chemical treatments, and using hair care products that are suitable for your hair type.
How much hair fall is normal?
It is normal to lose 50–100 hairs per day as part of the hair growth cycle.
Final Word
There is limited scientific evidence that supports the claim that cutting hair short reduces hair fall, although regular trimming can keep the hair looking healthy by getting rid of split ends.
However, it is important to note that hair fall is affected by various factors, such as lifestyle and environmental factors. So, the right way to get healthy hair is by ensuring a healthy diet and hair care routine.
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