Waxing vs Shaving; Which One is the Best for Your Skin?

Waxing is a method of removing hair from the skin using the warm wax technique which removes the hair including the root or follicle. Waxing exfoliates the skin even the intention is only to remove the hair as the wax applied directly on the skin’s surface. Waxing exfoliates more of your skin than shaving and will remove the hair together with the dead skin cell. While shaving, on the other hand, is a technique of removing hair using razor or blade which not include the hair root and it cuts the hair to where it very close to the skin’s surface. Shaving exfoliates lightly compared to the waxing method as the razor passes over the skin. Among waxing and shaving, there are pros and cons between these two methods depending on several factors of consideration

1.Frequency or regularity

Waxing is considered a semipermanent technique of hair removal as it removes the hair along with the root. This can delay the new hair from growing for one or two weeks; much longer than the shaving method. But in order to do the waxing for another round, you will have to wait until the hair grown about ¼ inch long as the wax cannot grab the hair effectively if the hair too short. Shaving is considered the nonpermanent method to remove the hair as it does not remove the root while cutting the hair off from the skin. You may need to shave frequently between 2 to 4 days depending on how fast your hair takes time to grow.

2. Cost

If you do the waxing at home, all you need are the wax applicator sticks which can cost you $30-40 and wax refill for $10-20. In a year, the total cost of waxing will be around $50-80 depending on the wax refill stock as you don’t have to purchase the wax applicator sticks for the next year application. As for shaving, you will have to spend around $20-30 for 6 disposable razors and will cost you around $40-60 a year if you regularly change the razor for every 4 weeks. Shaving clearly low in cost because of the cheap price of disposable razor and shaving cream while waxing is a bit pricey especially if you are getting a waxing service from the salon or someone experienced.

3. Which hurts more?

Shaving is a painless method compared to the waxing. The actual shaving is not painful unless if you are clumsy which you might cut somewhere around the shaving area. The slight cut from the razor blade might heal for a few days.1 Waxing hurts more than shaving and definitely hurt the most when you are a first-timer. Depends on your pain tolerance and if you are not mentally prepared, it will be hurt as you don’t expect how the pain is going to be. Beware of the wax’s temperature as hot wax can burn your skin or cause redness. Besides, waxing also removes the hair in the opposite direction of the hair growth which results in 15 to 35% of hair breakage. If you regularly do the shaving then switch to the waxing, it will also hurt you. Shaving over time will make the follicles and hair shaft thicker with a strong grip with the skin. Ripping off the grown follicles can be much painful than the young follicles.

4. Time to take for waxing or shaving

Shaving during shower will only take 10 to 15 minutes but as the hair grows faster than the waxing, you may need to do the shaving for every 3 or 4 days. Waxing, on the other hand, take more time with some preparation. You will need 5 minutes to warm the wax and full body wax will take about 30-40 minutes each. Waxing cannot be done during shower time as it needs more time but the result will hold the hair from growing for a longer period than the shaving does.1 Shaving can be done in a last-minute, but waxing is a time-consuming practice.

5. Skills needed

Shaving is easier to handle; requires just a smooth handle of the razor to prevent any slight cutting of the skin with help from the shaving cream. Waxing needs more practice to lessen the hurts, and if you do it incorrectly, it may lead to ingrown hairs. If you never had any waxing experience before, try to get it for the first time from the professionals or salon and observe the technique they applied to prevent much pain. On the other way, waxing will not cause you to cut or nick yourself.

All these factors are the best to consider if you are thinking which method is suitable and match with your needs.

Hello Health Group does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.