Hair removal is a pain. Be it waxing, shaving, epilators or laser, they are all troublesome. In this universe lies the eternal debate, ‘Waxing v/s Shaving’. Is the painful waxing session worth the pain or should you just resort to the age-old shaving.
To make things easier for you, here is a low-down of what both techniques entail so you can make a more informed decision. Also note that while you compare the two options, homemade wax is also an option worth exploring if you want to stay away from chemicals.
1. Cost:
Cost wise shaving beats waxing hands down. A simple disposable razor can cost you Rs. 50 and a fancier re-usable can be bought for under Rs. 300. While a single waxing session can cost anywhere from Rs. 500- Rs. 2,000 depending on the salon, city and wax chosen.
2. Speed:
If you’re in a hurry, shaving is the best option. It shouldn’t take any more than 10 minutes to rinse, lather, shave and rinse. Waxing on the other hand can take longer. You also have to factor the time it takes to get to the salon and any delays that happen there.
3. Regrowth:
While waxing is only effective when the hair is at least ½ an inch long, you can shave your hair at any length. This means that if you opt to wax, you will have to wait till that period till you can go wax again. But its also better for long lasting effects. Shaving may last for up to 1-3 days while regrowth after waxing takes 3-9 weeks.
4. Side Effects
Both techniques have side effects of their won.
Waxing can cause irritation, redness and bumps. Doing it over a long period of time can also make your skin loose.
The chances of skin irritation is slightly less in shaving because it doesn’t uproot your hair, but it can still cause razor burns and cuts. Prolonged shaving can cause dark spots on your skin, and if not moisturized well it can leave your skin itchy and troubled. Ingrown hair is an issue caused by both methods, but more so after shaving.
5. Pain
If you master the right technique, use the correct moisturizing agent before you shave, it can be quite a painless process. If not, you can end up with cuts and burns. Relatively, yanking dried wax off your skin is way more painful. But this obviously depends on a number of factors like skin type, hair growth, pain threshold etc.
But safe to say, waxing is easily one of the most painful of beauty regimes.
Our expert opinion: To prevent ingrown hair and result in a productive hair removal session, exfoliate your skin regularly. Dry brushing is a good way and has lots of other benefits as well.
So a quick summary of the 2 procedures:-
Waxing
Positives:
- Removes hair from the roots and hence lats longer than shaving
- Can eventually reduce hair growth
Negatives:
- Painful procedure and can cause redness especially if the skin is sensitive
- Doesn’t work well if hair is fine
Shaving
Positives:
- Pain-free process and quick which can be performed at home
- Is usually inexpensive as compared to waxing
Negatives:
- Can irritate the Skin
- Can result in hair growth leading to darker and thicker hair
- Can also result in undergrowth wherein the hair leaves a black mark outside due to hair growth which has happened inside the skin
Which one is better?
In our opinion, since both procedures have pros and cons it boils down to your purpose, skin type and concerns.
Just be careful that the method you choose doesn’t irritate your skin or cause redness.
Now that you’re armed with information, we hope you will find your method of choice.