# Body Hair

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-hair/113984>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [June 14, 2002, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-hair/113984 "2002-06-14T05:11:34Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![staticentity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b38774/32.png) [@staticentity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/staticentity)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-hair/113984/1 "2002-06-14T05:11:34Z")

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Ok, sort of strange question, but I am just curious.

Now, the hair on my head is constantly growing. If I had never cut it during my 16 years on earth it is safe to assume that it would be quite the sight. But if I were to stop shaving my legs, the hair on them would grow for a while and then stop. So, my question is, why? What genetically causes this?

Thanks for your time.

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**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\
**Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/body-hair/113984/2 "2002-06-14T05:26:44Z")

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**Cecil Adams** on [How does body hair know it’s been cut and grow back?](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_097b.html)