Waxing and shaving are arguably two of the most popular methods of hair removal, however, they each come with their own set of perks and disadvantages <link: are there any side effects to waxing?>. Waxing involves the removal of hair by application and swift tugging removal of either hot or cold wax; extracting hairs and their roots in entirety. Shaving, by contrast, involves merely cutting the hair to skin level with the use of a blade. Although both are effective at removing hair in their own way, waxing is commonly understood to be the superior method of hair removal, with numerous benefits that are not experienced to the same extent
- Longer lasting results
While shaving must be done every day or every other day to maintain smooth hair-free skin, waxing involves removing the entire hair, root and all. Given the length of time it takes for regrowth to appear, it is possible to remain hair-free for 3 to 6 weeks before requiring a second waxing session. This is, of course, dependent on your personal rate of hair growth.
- No cuts or nicks
While shaving exposes you to the risk of cutting your skin with the razor, waxing naturally poses no risk of this kind. Cuts lead to an increased risk of skin infection in addition to being painful and bleeding; waxing avoids this problem altogether.
- Smoother skin
Waxing has an exfoliating effect on the skin; removing any excess dead skin cells and clearing clogged pores along with hair removal. In addition, because the entire hair shaft and root are also removed, this adds to the smoothened sensation.
- Less risk of ingrown hair
Because waxing removes the entire hair, regrowth occurs with a tapered tip and often a finer hair strand. This allows it to break through the surface of the skin easier than the blunt hair tip that comes from shaving. In addition to this, the exfoliating effects of waxing can assist with allowing regrowth to break through the surface of the skin with relative ease.
- Hair grows back thinner
With repeated treatments, waxed hair grows back thinner and finer each time. As this occurs, many people find that the time between treatments can be extended, as hair is less noticeable with each regrowth.
- Ideal for hard to reach places
Waxing is ideal for areas that are hard to reach (such as full Brazilians, or one’s back, thighs, and shoulders), as it can be performed by a professional. By contrast, shaving these areas can be cumbersome and tricky if attempting to do at home.
- Good for sensitive skin
Requiring a blade to be dragged over the skin, shaving can cause irritation and razor burn on sensitive areas. While this negative side effect is manageable with aftercare creams and cooling cloths, waxing avoids a lot of these issues by removing the hair in one swift, tugging motion, with minimal trauma to the skin by comparison. The length of time between waxing treatments also allows skin the opportunity to recover and revitalize, resulting in overall less damage to the skin when compared to shaving.
- Convenience
Based on the long-lasting results and the low time investment required, waxing is a very convenient option; with a 20-minute treatment session resulting in hair-free skin for three to six weeks. When the time spent shaving is collectively added up, the time it takes to wax is comparatively very short, and thus considerably more convenient.
The benefits of waxing can be felt multiple times over, and provided treatment continues, regrowth reduces further and further until hair is almost nonexistent. While shaving remains widely accessible for most people as a hair removal method, waxing undeniably has longer-lasting results, is more convenient, and poses less risk for skin irritation.