10 facts about shaving that you don't know yet

Are you looking for a fun fact to impress at a boring party? Or would you like to quickly gain some extra knowledge for your next pub quiz? This list of shaving facts will help you get started and make you the king of shaving trivia. 

1. Shaving has been going on for 60,000 years

Although the first signs of hair removal date back to 100,000, this was still done by pulling out hairs one by one. Shaving is slightly newer, but as a concept it is already about 60,000 years old. Before razor blades existed, they used shark teeth or shells for that purpose. 

2. Shaving your legs does not make you a faster athlete

Look at the average male top athlete who relies on speed (say: a cyclist or swimmer), and you will see that they shave their entire body. The idea is that this means they experience less aerodynamic resistance and are therefore faster.

But testing has never shown any benefit, so it seems mainly a myth. That does not mean that it does not provide other benefits: for example, wounds are easier to keep clean if your legs are bare. In addition, it can also produce a placebo effect. If you FEEL faster, you might perform better.

3. Hair grows about 6 inches per year

On average, hair grows about 0.5 to 1.7 centimeters per month. There is no proven way to accelerate hair growth: it is genetically determined how fast your hair grows. The only thing you can do is ensure that you avoid delays. 

You do this by living as healthily as possible: sufficient sleep and relaxation, little stress, not smoking and as few heavy chemicals in your hair as possible help your hair stay healthy.

4. Hair does not grow back faster or thicker after shaving

One of the most common myths surrounding shaving is that your hair will grow back faster or thicker. This is not true. The growth rate and thickness of your hair is genetically determined. When you shave your hair, it gets a blunt end (a stubble). This may feel harder, but will go away the longer your hair grows. 

And the same applies to pubic hair growth !

5. Super hairy: There is a 'werewolf syndrome'

Although the official name of extreme hairiness is 'hypertrichosis', it is best known as werewolf syndrome. This syndrome means that you suffer from extreme hair growth all over your body, even in places where no hair should grow. There is no treatment for it. Fortunately, the disease is very rare: there are only about 100 people worldwide with the hereditary condition. They often suffer enormously psychologically. 

6. Boys start shaving between the ages of 14 and 17

Although some boys experience the first beard growth around the age of 9, for most teenagers this does not occur until between the ages of 12 and 17. The average age at which boys start shaving is between 14 and 17 years. 

We are talking about the face but also about pubic hair . And butt hair . Because that all starts to grow around that age!

7. As a soldier you are not allowed to wear a beard

In many army units you are not allowed to wear a beard. This rule dates back to the time of Alexander the Great, who not only thought it was inappropriate, but also considered beard growth a weakness in a fight. This is because the enemy could grab your beard during battle and injure you. In England, on the other hand, until 1916 it was mandatory to have a mustache if you were part of the army. 

In the Dutch Royal Army you are only allowed to grow a beard after obtaining permission. You can always grow a mustache. Nowadays, many soldiers grow their beards when they are on missions, as a way to bond with each other (and sometimes the local population). 

8. The first razor blades date back to ancient Egypt

Although shaving has been around for ages, it wasn't until the ancient Egyptians that it became clear why men (and women!) did it. The Egyptians thought hair was dirty. They shaved all their body hair, even their heads. 

They mainly did this to prevent bugs and unpleasant odors, and so shaving also became a status symbol. If you were completely bald, that meant you had the money and time to go to the barber every day. The first razor blades found were found in ancient Egypt. They were made of copper and gold.

9. There is a fear of beards

Did you know there is such a thing as a fear of beards? Of course. Pogonophobia is the fear of beards, and it leads to nausea, sweating and palpitations in sufferers. Fortunately, it is a fairly rare phobia.

10. The longest beard ever was 5.33 meters

The longest beard ever measured was 5.33 meters and belonged to the face of Hans Langseth. That was a Norwegian who emigrated to the United States in 1867 and traveled with the circus. At the time of his death in 1927, he was the official world record holder for the longest beard in the world. 

It is said that he died when he tripped over his own beard and broke his neck. But that's not true (he was 81 when he died, by the way). What is true is that his beard is now in the possession of the National Museum of Natural History in Washington DC.

Do these hairy facts also give you the creeps? Then shave your body hair with The BushBuster 4.0 and feel completely fresh again.