Hair that is shaved off often looks coarser than hair that hasn’t been cut because hair naturally grows from the roots with a tapered edge that doesn’t reflect light the same way as blunt, cut ends do.

As independent witnesses to our own experiences, humans are not very reliable. We are easily fooled by our own observations and collect data to support our beliefs more often than learning the truth. It would be truly an amazing phenomena if your hair did grow back thicker and coarser as a result of shaving.

I also notice that coffee ultimately winds up making me feel dehydrated. There may or may not be a scientific reason, but my general approach is to trust the way I feel and drink lots of water because it’s the only thing that makes me feel hydrated.

I think I just generally am skeptical not of experts but of anyone who makes broad, definite statements, especially when they contradict my own experience.