Is waxing better than shaving? Essentially, it all comes down to your personal preference. Waxing and shaving are two very different hair removal methods. Some people prefer waxing while others favor shaving.
That said, there are a few other factors to bear in mind when it comes to the waxing vs shaving debate.
Waxing vs Shaving
To find out is waxing better than shaving, let's look at the pros and cons. Waxing your hair is a process that involves applying warm wax to remove the hair follicle from the root. You can get this done by a professional or use an at-home wax product. First, you'll need to grow your hair to around a quarter of a inch in order for waxing to be effective.
Waxing is a fairly quick process that lasts up to 30 minutes. However, it does depend on the area you're getting waxed. Waxing your underarms or bikini line will obviously take less time than a full body wax.
Shaving requires a razor blade to trim the hair from the surface of your skin. It usually takes anywhere from 2-10 minutes depending on how much hair you're removing and where. For instance, the underarms will take much less time than shaving your legs or entire body.
Benefits of Waxing vs Shaving
A major benefit of waxing is how long it lasts. You can expect to stay smooth for at least three weeks. Alongside this, hair comes back less coarse and thick when you wax. Because waxing removes hair from the root, unwanted hairs become thinner over time and sometimes don't grow back at all.
With shaving, you don't have to deal with any pain or discomfort. It's a pain-free process that only takes a few minutes. You can also shave every day in the shower to maintain your smoothness. On top of that, you don't need to plan a shave like you do a waxing session, which makes it more convenient for people with tight schedules. Shaving is also a lot less expensive.
Is waxing better than shaving? Let's take a look at the disadvantages of waxing too.
Cons of Waxing vs Shaving
Waxing is painful, especially on sensitive areas like the bikini line, underarms, and upper lip. Your skin will get used to it over time but it's one of the factors that put a lot of people off waxing.
In addition to the potential discomfort, waxing tends to come with a high price tag what with the materials needed. If you're getting a professional wax, this'll add to the cost of waxing.
And finally, because you need to grow your hair before waxing, not everyone likes feeling stubbly for weeks. This can be a big disadvantage for many women.
Shaving also comes with its own set of disadvantages. For starters, results only last 1-3 days. Then there are the common side effects like cuts, razor burn, and ingrown hairs which can be incredibly frustrating and at times, painful.
Is Waxing Better than Shaving?
Should you wax or shave? Overall, the better choice of the two hair removal methods is completely up to you and your personal preference.
If you can tolerate the pain in exchange for longer lasting smoothness, waxing might be your better option. If you don't fancy putting up with stubble between wax sessions and you'd like a pain-free choice, opt for shaving.
There's really no right or wrong answer when it comes to is waxing better than shaving?
Should I Switch From Shaving to Waxing?
If you're happy with your current shaving routine and the results you get, there's no reason to switch. However, if you'd like to try waxing in a bid to stay smooth for longer, book yourself an appointment or invest a high quality at home waxing kit.
Is Waxing Painful?
Waxing is painful, but it isn't agonizingly painful. It hurts most in sensitive areas like the underarms and bikini line. That said, you won't notice it as much over time as your skin adjusts to it.
You may experience bumps, redness or even bleeding after waxing. These are rare, however. There can also be increased skin sensitivity for a few days after waxing.
Reasons NOT to Wax
If you're wondering is waxing better than shaving, here are some reasons to avoid waxing and stick to shaving.
You've Got Sensitive Skin
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If you wax with sensitive skin, you may end up with a body full of nicks, rashes, and redness. Try shaving instead.
Shaving can also cause skin irritation like razor burn when done incorrectly. Provided that you exfoliate beforehand, prep with a hydrating shave cream, and use a high-quality razor, you shouldn't experience any unpleasant side effects from shaving your underarms, bikini line, or legs. The only side effect you should experience is smoother skin.
You Have a Low Pain Tolerance
Is waxing better than shaving? Not if you can't stand pain! Since waxing removes hair at the root, people generally report more pain with waxing than shaving. So, if you're not good with pain, you may want to consider making shaving your primary hair removal method.
You may experience increased sensitivity to waxing if you're taking antibiotics, hormone replacement therapy, birth control, Accutane, or retinol-based creams.
The only time shaving can be painful is when you haven't prepped skin properly. For example, shaving without shaving cream can trigger razor burn, bumps, and ingrowns.
You're a Busy Babe
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Waxing is relatively time consuming.
Whether you're going for a Brazilian wax, leg wax, or upper lip wax, you'll need to grow your hair to least a quarter of an inch long before a waxing appointment. In addition, dermatologists recommend avoiding drinking caffeine or alcohol and wearing self-tanning products or lotions. Then there's the aftercare to bear in mind. Waxing can leave skin feeling sore and inflamed, which means you probably won't feel up to much for the hours that follow.
If you're a busy babe, this just isn't practical. So if you're looking for the answer to is waxing better than shaving? The answer is no.
That's why shaving might be your best mode of going hairless. Unlike with waxing, you don't have to wait for hair growth in order to shave. You can do it anytime that works for you. Alongside this, shaving (when done properly) shouldn't leave your skin feeling uncomfortable, which means you can eliminate all your body hair and continue getting on with your day. Pain-free!
You Don't Like Feeling Fuzzy
Like we just mentioned, waxing calls for hair to be a certain length in order for it to be effective. If your hair isn't long enough, it won't be possible to wax it off.
So, if you're the kind of person who likes feeling smooth all the time, waxing probably isn't your best choice.
With shaving, you get to decide when and where you shave. You can do it every day if you like. The benefit of shaving over waxing is that it works every time, regardless of hair length. You can always expect smooth, silky skin post-shave.
You're On a Budget
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Is waxing better than shaving? Not if you're strapped for cash.
Waxing appointments don't come cheap. You can expect to pay anywhere from $30-$40 for a bikini wax and $45-$100 for a full leg wax. While regrowth isn't as fast as that from shaving, with most people seeing regrowth in around 3-4 weeks, it's still a large sum of money to put aside each month simply to stay hair-free.
That's why shaving is a much more viable option if you're looking to stretch your budget. You can still achieve smooth skin, without giving up a weeks' worth of your salary for a full body wax.
It's Your First Time
If you are new to hair removal, you're probably wondering which method to start with. We'd have to say shaving.
Shaving is an easy and painless method of hair removal that's ideal for beginners. Whether you're removing facial hair, bikini hair, or leg hair, shaving is suitable for all skin types and very easy to do.
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Is waxing better than shaving? There are pros and cons to each. When all is said and done, it's all down to your personal preference.
