Is it bad to pluck ear hairs?

Author: Mr. Will Jaskolski  |  Last update: Tuesday, August 19, 2025

Worse yet, plucking can potentially open up the hair follicle to infectious bacteria, although admittedly that's uncommon: “I've never seen any kind of infection following plucking of ear hair, both professionally and personally,” says Mari.

Does plucking ear hair make it stop growing?

No, plucking hair won't stop it from growing back. Plucking hair, also known as tweezing, only removes the hair from the root, but it doesn't help new hair from growing in the same follicle. In fact, plucking can potentially damage the hair follicle, leading to thicker, coarser hair growth.

Do vets recommend ear plucking?

The verdict: Leave dog ear plucking to the vet

Plucking hair out of your dog's ears improperly can lead to tiny, microscopic tears in their ear canal. Bacteria, dirt, and excess wax can then find their way into these open wounds, leading to the same contamination you're trying to prevent.

Can plucking ear hair cause an infection?

What has been determined in recent years is that ripping this hair out can cause microscopic tears in the ear canal. If bacteria are present it's possible for it to cause an ear infection in an injured ear.

What are the benefits of ear plucking?

  • Improved Airflow: Plucking excess hair from the ear canal can help improve airflow, which may reduce moisture buildup and decrease the risk of ear infections.
  • Easier Cleaning: With less hair, it can be easier to clean the ears and monitor for signs of infection or debris.

The Controversy on Whether to Pluck or Not to Pluck Your Dogs Ear Hair

Is it OK to pluck ear hair?

Normal ears with no clinical signs of infection should be left alone.” Barbara Bird, CMG, writes, “Contrary to what you may have been taught, requested, or commanded in the past, the current advice from veterinary dermatologists is that plucking ear hair can do more harm than good.

Is it bad to pull on ears?

Ear pulling or tugging usually isn't anything to worry about. If you think your child is pulling their ears because they're tired, you could try settling your child for sleep or giving your child some quiet time. To get rid of a build-up of ear wax, you could try ear drops that you can buy from your pharmacy.

How to permanently get rid of ear hair?

How to remove ear hair permanently. If you are looking to remove ear hair permanently, laser treatments are your best choice. Laser hair removal treatments are a relatively painless and safe procedure conducted by licensed professionals, which can be applied to various areas of the body, including the ears.

Why do ears get hairy with age?

One theory behind hairy ears is that as men grow older, hair follicles in their ears and nose become more sensitive to testosterone and start to sprout more ear and nose hair.

Do damaged ear hairs grow back?

Hair cells cannot be regenerated in mammals, including humans, because unlike other cells in the body, any remaining hair cells in the inner ear cannot divide and other inner ear cells cannot convert themselves into new hair cells. Species like fish, birds, and reptiles, however, possess this ability.

What is the alternative to ear plucking?

If your pet has frequent ear infections, check with your veterinarian whether the ear hairs should be plucked. A good alternative to ear plucking would be the trimming of excessive long hairs from the ear. This may help reduce the amount of “ear wax” that gets trapped in the ear hairs thereby minimising the ear odour.

Why do groomers pull ear hair?

The idea was that removing the hair would improve air circulation and help prevent ear infections. The process involves using tweezers, hair removal tool or fingers to extract the hair. This practice was most commonly applied to breeds like poodles, doodles, spaniels, Schnauzers and other dogs with hairier ears.

How to get loose hair out of the ear canal?

Gravity and gentle shaking: Tilt your head to the side and gently shake your ear. Gravity may help the hair fall out. Irrigation: Gently flush your ear with warm water using a bulb syringe. Never use a cotton swab to remove hair, as it can push the hair further into the ear canal and potentially damage the eardrum.

Why you shouldn't pluck hairs?

Key Takeaways

Tweezing facial hair can cause hyperpigmentation, inflammation, and potential scarring. Pulling facial hair out near moles, acne, and ingrown hairs can be make inflammation and potential scarring worse. Alternatives range from creams and waxing to laser removal and electrolysis.

Is ear hair removal bad?

When it comes to inner ear hairs, no amount of waxing, tweezing, or plucking is safe. That hair should remain. However, laser hair treatment is safe on the outer ears if performed by a professional laser technician.

What are the little hairs in your ear called?

Once the sound waves reach your inner ear, tiny hair cells called stereocilia transform the vibrations into electrical energy and send it along nerve fibers to your brain.

Do hairy ears mean high testosterone?

This is called lanugo. It can sometimes take a few weeks for it to go away, especially for babies who are born early. Some people get more hair in and on their ears as they age -- especially men. Doctors think it may be because of increased testosterone.

At what age does hair stop growing on your head?

So the thick, coarse hair of a young adult eventually becomes thin, fine, light-colored hair. Many hair follicles stop producing new hairs. Men may start showing signs of baldness by the time they are 30 years old. Many men are nearly bald by age 60.

Does plucked ear hair grow back?

“While plucking lasts longer [plucked hair typically takes at least two weeks to grow back], it's painful, it's time consuming and it's pretty difficult to do at home because you can't see into your own ear,” Mari explains.

What is the best permanent hair removal for ears?

Laser ear hair removal is the most effective option if complete removal is the goal. It doesn't have the same long-term results as electrolysis. But it has a much lower risk of causing damage to the ears.

Can ear hair cause tinnitus?

Your brain interprets these signals as sound. If the hairs inside your inner ear are bent or broken — this happens as you age or when you are regularly exposed to loud sounds — they can "leak" random electrical impulses to your brain, causing tinnitus. Ear infection or ear canal blockage.

Is it OK to pick your ear with your finger?

Some people use their fingers in lieu of Q Tips, but fingers should also not be inserted into the ear canals. Like Q Tips, fingers can push the wax deeper into the canal and cause a cerumen impaction. Also, fingernails can scratch the ear canal, which can lead to an infection.

Why is my outer ear turning black?

Over the course of many years, homogentisic acid slowly builds up in tissues throughout the body. It can build up in almost any area of the body, including the cartilage, tendons, bones, nails, ears and heart. It stains the tissues dark and causes a wide range of problems.

What should you not do to your ears?

Steps to Protect My Hearing
  • Avoid Exposure to Loud Volumes. ...
  • Put on Earplugs When Around Loud Noises. ...
  • Avoiding Prolonged Exposure to Noise. ...
  • Cotton Swabs Expose You to Ear Damage. ...
  • Keep Your Ears Dry. ...
  • Manage and Reduce Stress Levels. ...
  • Consider Regular checkups.

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