Waxing or Shaving? Which is Better for Your Skin? : Hair removal can be quite a boring chore. It is messy, painful, and repetitive. Unfortunately, no matter what you try, the hair still keeps growing back! A lot of women keep looking for the best way to get rid of unwanted hair. However, it can be difficult to strike a balance between something that is long-lasting, effective, and relatively painless. The most common methods that women opt for are normally either waxing or shaving. The debate between waxing vs. shaving and which one is better is as old as the methods of hair removal. So if you are confused between whether to go for shaving or waxing, you have come to the right place to clear your doubts! Here’s everything that you need to know.

How Does Waxing Work?

Shaving gets rid of the unwanted hair by cutting off the hair present on the skin’s surface using a blade or a razor. Even though shaving does not remove the entire hair from the follicle, it does cut the hair extremely close to the skin’s surface.

Shaving is Best For…

Light, finer hair that is easy to remove, mainly hair on the legs and underarms.

Shaving Tips

1. Protect shaved skin from the sun – After shaving, your skin may feel quite raw and sensitive. The sun’s harmful rays may cause a great deal of damage and therefore it is advisable to use a sunscreen at all times.
2. Use soothing treatments after shaving – To prevent razor burns or to soothe skin irritation, treat your skin to products such as baby oil, aloe vera gel, honey, or cold compresses as it will help calm it down.
3. Perfect your technique – When you have mastered the art of shaving, it is unlikely that you will cut yourself. Just remember to pull your skin taut while shaving and make use of short strokes, especially at the tricky areas.

Shaving Myths and Facts

Myth: After shaving, the hair grows back denser, pokier, and thicker.

Fact: Shaving cuts off the portion of the hair that is above the surface. Thus, it basically gets rid of the tapered, finer section. Once the hair starts to grow back, the cut-off part will emerge as a stubble, giving it the appearance that the hair is denser, pokier, and thicker.

Myth: Dry Shaving is okay.

Fact: The skin is rather delicate and having the blade run over the surface may have an abrasive action. Even if you do not have a shaving cream or gel at your disposal, use water as a lubricating agent to allow the blade to glide over your skin smoothly.

Myth: Shaving adversely affects your skin

Fact: As a matter of fact, shaving improves the quality of your skin as it has an exfoliating effect. Once the layer of dead cells has been removed, your skin will be healthier, softer, and look younger. Women can even shave daily to maintain their hairless skin and even that would not damage your skin.

Myth: New Razor Blades can cause more nicks and cuts

Fact: On the contrary, it is the dull and old blades that will catch your skin more than the new ones. This happens since we tend to apply a greater amount of pressure while using a dull blade.

Myth: Sharing razors is quite normal (especially with your husband)

Fact: Sharing razors with other persons is not only extremely unhygienic, but it can also put your skin at risk. You may easily contract communicable rashes or infections. Additionally, what may work for a certain person with a specific skin type may not work for you at all. This is especially true if you plan on sharing or using your husband’s razor. Men’s razor is designed to tackle coarse and tough hair, unlike a female’s hair.

Waxing vs. Shaving – What Works Best?

When it comes to Waxing vs. Shaving, I have broken down the comparison between the two into various individual factors. Everyone has different requirements and expectations, which is completely reasonable. Someone may be looking for a quicker hair removal technique while someone may want the hair to regrow after a longer duration. Keeping that in mind, you can decide for yourself on the basis of the factors given below:

Paraphernalia and Professional Intervention:

Shaving:

While shaving, to have a seamless experience, all that you will need would be a sharp razor and some shaving cream or gel. Since it has minimal requirements and is a fairly simple process, you can even shave at home.

Waxing:

To carry out waxing, you need to have wax, wax heater, and waxing strips (if you are soft waxing). You may also keep lotion or powder handy to prep your skin and to soothe it. Considering that waxing requires an assortment of items, it is wiser to visit a parlor instead.

What Wins: Shaving

Hair Regrowth and Turnaround Period:

Shaving:

Shaving basically cuts your hair as close as possible to the skin surface. Hence, the hair regrowth takes about a turnaround period of 7 to 10 days.

Waxing:

Waxing pulls out the hair from the root. Hence, the hair regrowth takes a long while considering that the turnaround period is of 21 to 28 days.

What Wins: Waxing

Hair Regrowth Type:

Shaving:

It is commonly believed that after shaving, the hair grows back thicker. However, this happens since the hair is pulled out from the root. Rather, the hair is snipped at the head and the basic structure of the hair remains as it was. Therefore, it may appear as though the stubble that has grown back thicker but it is not the case.

Waxing:

While waxing, the hair is pulled out directly from the root. Due to this, periodic waxing results in the regrowth of finer and thinner hair.

What Wins: Waxing

Degree of Pain:

Shaving:

Needless to say, shaving is extremely painless. If you seek the aid of additional accessories and product accessories and products, such as using shaving cream or gel as a moisturizing agent, shaving will be a piece of cake.

Waxing:

If you have even witnessed waxing, you will know that waxing is not only painful but it is also agonizing. The pain is even more unbearable for first-timers. The pulling of the hair in the direction of its growth results in intense pain. Even after waxing, a lot of people experience angry red spotting on their skin.

What Wins: Shaving

Also check: 10 Best Epilators to Buy for Legs and Face

Long-lasting Effectiveness:

Shaving:

Shaving removes only the superficial hair and the root remains unaffected. Furthermore, the hair grows back quicker and retains its natural structure.

Waxing

With time, waxing reduces the hair growth rate and also the density. Hence, as a long-term effect, you can expect finer hair with stunted growth.

What Wins: Waxing

Time Taken:

Shaving:

Shaving is a terrific alternative if you are to attend an event or a function at the last minute. To make shaving faster, all you need to do is use long strokes, through which you will cover a large area in lesser time. Furthermore, it needs no prior preparation and is easy to clean up once you are done, making shaving a more efficient option.

Waxing:

Waxing can be rather time-consuming considering that it takes a while to get the wax hot enough. Additionally, you may have to go over certain spots more than once if you haven’t been able to effectively remove the hair. Thus, waxing is not an ideal last-minute solution for your hair woes.

What Wins: Shaving

The extent of Exfoliation:

Shaving:

Shaving offers a medium amount of exfoliation. If you use some kind of shaving cream, the razor basically glides over your skin and does not come much in contact. However, it does get rid of some dead skin present on the surface.

Waxing:

In addition to hair removal, waxing also acts as a great way to exfoliate your skin. The hot wax binds to the topmost layer of the skin and when it is pulled off it also takes with it the dead skin cells along with the hair.

What Wins: Waxing

Cost:

Shaving:

Shaving has always been cost-effective since you only need a razor and the shaving gel or cream. Even though a razor could be quite a steep purchase at the beginning, it is a one-time investment that lasts a long while. Razor blades do not cost a lot and have to be replaced after every 4th use.

Waxing:

As previously mentioned, waxing requires a number of items such as wax, wax heater, applicator, strips, etc. Even if you wish to bypass making the purchase and would rather visit a parlor, it could still cost quite a sum. Even calling a parlor lady at home would not be a cheap or easy bargain.

What Wins: Shaving

Suitability to Sensitive Skin:

Shaving:

Once you get the hang of the technique to use while shaving, there is hardly a thing that could go wrong. Considering that shaving does not tug at your hair or uproot it from the follicle, it is less unlikely to cause any kind of skin irritation. Thus, it could be a great option for those with sensitive skin.

Waxing:

Waxing is definitely not suited for everyone. The aftermath of waxing involves red inflamed dots, and skin irritation, especially for those with sensitive skin. Furthermore, since waxing involves hot elements, if the temperature of the wax is too high, you could burn your skin. On the incorrect removal of the waxing strips, you will notice patchy redness in the affected areas as well. Finally, waxing purportedly also leads to loose skin.

What Wins: Shaving

Hygiene:

Shaving:

The commonest hygiene mistake that anyone makes while shaving is to not change the blades frequently. A dull and rusty blade will definitely lead to a disaster. Also, the nicks and cuts, if not treated could turn into a breeding ground for infection.

Waxing:

Getting waxing done from shady parlors merely to cut costs could be a great risk to your personal hygiene. Quite often, those offering their services at subsidized costs could be making use of low-quality waxing strips that will amplify the pain experienced.

What Wins: No clear winner

Final Appearance:

Shaving:

Even though shaving gives quick results, it also leads to the growth of stubble in almost no time. Thus, the appearance in the first few days could be pleasant but in a couple of days, the hair begins to reveal itself.

Waxing:

Since waxing gets rid of the topmost layer of dull and dry skin it results in the exposure of the younger-looking skin. However, to get the perfect appearance, one would have to calm their skin down using cooling lotions (such as aloe vera lotions) as waxing aggravates skin.

What Wins: Waxing

Parting Thoughts

On the whole, if one is to consider the comparison carried out above, you can notice that shaving tends to have a greater advantage over waxing. Being faster and painless hair removal technique, shaving is quite an attractive option. But what really tips the scales in the favor of waxing is the 3-4 hairless weeks when you choose to wax. So finally, it again boils down to personal preferences based on the factors mentioned above. As for me, I prefer scheduling waxing appointments from a trusted beautician in advance for days when I already have plans. As for last-minute preparations, I prefer shaving as a backup for the spontaneous outings and for days when I cannot wait for my hair to grow back to the ideal length for waxing.

So, pretty much like me, you could strike a perfect balance between waxing and shaving!

Thanks for reading. Do let me know what technique works for you in the comments below.

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