Hair doesn't grow straight out from the skin—it follows a natural angle that varies by body area. Even within the same region, like the armpits, you might notice opposing growth directions. This matters for effective epilation: pulling against the grain is easier, while going with it risks just stretching the hair.
Illustration: The natural direction of hair growth.
The look of regrowing hair depends on your removal method. Shaving creates a blunt cut, making it seem thicker and darker. Depilatory creams leave a rounded tip that's soft to the touch. Waxing pulls it out by the root, so it takes days to reform and emerge, often finer than before.
Illustration: Hair regrowth after waxing.
Hair cycles through three phases: anagen (active growth), catagen (transition/rest), and telogen (shedding). Cycle length varies from 6 to 15 months depending on the body area and hair type. This explains why waxing results aren't always uniform—hairs are at different stages: some regrowing, others too short to epilate, and some just forming.
Illustration: The three stages of a hair's life cycle.
Insights courtesy of Véronique Planchon, Director of Training at Laurence Dumont.
