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7 Shaving Myths UK Men Still Believe — Debunked | SmartShave
Myth-Busting  ·  Blog Post

7 Shaving Myths UK Men Still Believe (Debunked by Science)

From hair growing back thicker to cold water closing pores — the truth behind the most stubborn shaving myths.
📅 April 2026 ⏱ 7 min read ✍ SmartShave Editorial

Shaving is one of those daily rituals that comes loaded with mythology — passed down from fathers, picked up in locker rooms, or repeated so often online that they’ve taken on the feel of fact. Some myths are harmless. Others actively make your shave worse. Here are the seven most persistent, with the science behind why each one is wrong.

Myth 01

Shaving makes hair grow back thicker and darker

VERDICT: FALSE — comprehensively disproved

This is the most enduring shaving myth of all time, and it has been comprehensively disproved in peer-reviewed research dating back to the 1920s. A 1928 study by Mildred Trotter, replicated multiple times since, demonstrated conclusively that shaving has zero effect on the rate, colour, or thickness of hair regrowth.

Why it feels true: Unshaved hair tapers to a fine tip. When cut blunt by a razor, the cross-section as it grows back looks and feels coarser — but the actual hair shaft is identical. You’re seeing geometry, not biology.
Myth 02

Cold water closes pores after shaving

VERDICT: PARTLY FALSE — pores don’t open or close

Pores don’t open and close like windows. They’re fixed structures — their appearance changes based on how much sebum and debris fills them, but they cannot be mechanically “opened” by warmth or “closed” by cold. What cool water does is reduce redness and inflammation by causing superficial blood vessels to constrict briefly — which is why it feels soothing and looks better.

What to do instead: Keep rinsing with cool water after shaving — it’s genuinely anti-inflammatory. Just don’t think of it as structural. It soothes, it doesn’t seal.
Myth 03

More blades always means a better shave

VERDICT: OVERSIMPLIFIED — depends on your skin type

The blade count wars of the 2000s created the impression that more blades always equals better results. For men with sensitive skin, a 5-blade razor can cause more irritation than a 3-blade — each successive blade passes over already-abraded skin. For men with thick, coarse hair, the reverse applies. The right blade count depends on your specific skin and hair type, not a universal rule.

The real rule: Blade sharpness matters more than blade count. A sharp 3-blade is better than a dull 5-blade every single time.
Myth 04

Shaving against the grain gives a closer shave

VERDICT: RISKY — the cost far outweighs the benefit

Against-the-grain shaving does produce a marginally closer finish — but the cost is significant for most men. Shaving against the direction of hair growth forces the blade to cut hair below skin level, dramatically increasing the risk of ingrown hairs, razor bumps, and inflammation. For men with curly or coily hair, it’s a reliable route to razor bumps.

Better approach: Shave with the grain first, then across the grain if needed for problem areas. Rarely against. The difference in closeness is minimal; the difference in irritation is not.
Myth 05

Expensive razors always shave better

VERDICT: FALSE — price and performance barely correlate

The correlation between price and shaving performance is weak above a certain quality threshold. Once blades are sharp, well-coated, and properly lubricated, additional cost typically goes to branding, marketing, handle aesthetics, and retail margin — not better shaving outcomes. Independent testing by Which? has consistently found that mid-range cartridge razors perform comparably or better than premium brands in blind trials.

What actually matters: A sharp, fresh blade that fits your hand. Not the price tag on the packaging.
Myth 06

You should only shave in the morning

VERDICT: PERSONAL PREFERENCE — no physiological reason

There’s no dermatological reason you must shave in the morning. Some men find evening shaving works better — skin has had time to recover from the day, there’s no rush, and post-shave moisturiser can work undisturbed overnight. The morning advantage is purely social: you look freshest immediately after shaving.

The real rule: Shave at the time that fits your routine and allows you to do it properly — never rushed. A relaxed evening shave beats a frantic 6am one every time.
Myth 07

Single-blade razors are always better for sensitive skin

VERDICT: OVERSIMPLIFIED — technique and sharpness matter more

This advice is partly true but significantly oversimplified. Single-blade razors are excellent for some men with sensitive skin — but a well-designed multi-blade cartridge with a quality lubrication strip, used correctly with a fresh blade, can be equally gentle and is far easier to master. Safety razors have a steep learning curve that causes more irritation during the transition period, not less.

The single most important variable: Blade sharpness. A dull single blade is worse than a sharp five-blade every time — for every skin type.
The pattern across all seven myths: The biggest predictor of a good shave isn’t blade count, shave direction, price, or time of day. It’s always blade sharpness. Replace your blades every 5–7 shaves — and the rest becomes much easier.

SmartShave delivers sharp, fresh blades every month — removing the single biggest cause of shaving problems and separating myth from reality with every shave.

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