Waxing Vs Shaving – What should you choose?

Among the several hair removal techniques out there, we have broken down the pros and cons of waxing vs shaving to help you make an informed decision.

When it comes to temporary hair removal, there is no fixed method. There are a wide range of options to choose from, such as waxing, shaving, depilatory creams, threading, and plucking. Everyone has their own preference depending on pain tolerance, skin type, and convenience. If you’re crunched for time, shaving is probably wiser, considering it’s not as time-consuming as waxing. On the other hand, when you wax, your hair growth is much slower, and you don’t have to do it as often as shaving – which is great considering how painful it can be! 

Unless you opt for laser hair removal, which is a permanent solution to your hair growth, consider choosing between two of the most popular temporary hair removal solutions: waxing vs shaving. While both these methods are effective, they follow entirely different processes. Let us break it down for you further. 

Waxing vs Shaving: Which one is best suited for you? 

When you’re debating on waxing vs shaving, there are several factors that you need to consider so that you can make the right decision for your skin.

1. If you’re in a hurry to head somewhere and, really, you just have peach fuzz all over your hands and legs or even in your underarm area, a quick shave should do the trick. Waxing, even if done at home and by yourself, can be quite time consuming.
2. Similarly, waxing is also a lot more painful than shaving because it literally plucks the hair from its roots. For those of us who have a low threshold for pain, shaving may well be our only real option. Of course, it would mean that we have to do it more regularly because shaving is not as effective as waxing.
3. There’s also the matter of money. Waxing remains one of the more affordable ways to get rid of body hair but it is by no means as inexpensive or convenient as shaving. So if you don’t mind having to shave every few days, the razor is your friend.
4. However, the one place where waxing scores over most forms of hair removal is the effectiveness. A single waxing session should sort you out for at least a month. Which is more than what you can say for shaving.

Here are a few other things you need to remember before you decide between waxing and shaving for your skin. 

Waxing vs Shaving: Method 

Waxing needs time and patience. It also burns a bit of a hole in your pocket but is a lot more beneficial in the long run in terms of hair growth. During a waxing treatment, hot wax is applied on your skin and ripped off using wax strips to remove hair from the roots. For this technique, soft wax is used, which is typically made of rosin, oils, and other additives. On the contrary, hard wax doesn’t require additional strips to pull it off since it is thicker than regular wax and is made of rosin, beeswax, and oils. It hardens on the skin and is also a lot less painful. Waxing can be done on most skin types but requires pre and post-care. 

Shaving is a process which is quick and easy and can be done using a razor anytime. It is hassle-free, utilizes minimal tools, and can even be done with minimal hair growth. All you need to do is apply a shaving cream or gel on hydrated skin – it is best recommended to shave right after a shower – and use a sharp blade in light and steady strokes along the direction of the hair growth. You will experience minimal to no pain in this process. When you have a last-minute date, a razor is your best friend. But ensure you don’t make it a habit, because razing too often could make your skin feel rough, especially if you have sensitive skin. 

Waxing vs Shaving: Results 

If you’re someone who likes to plan and stay organised, waxing is for you. Waxing requires proper planning as you need to exfoliate your skin 48 hours prior to the treatment to remove any dead skin cells and drink ample water to keep your skin hydrated, thus ensuring a smooth process. Shaving, on the other hand is for the last-minute girl and can be done anytime – you can literally carry a razor and shaving gel with you anywhere you go. Before waxing, you must ensure your hair is grown about the size of a rice grain, whereas shaving can be done even with minimal hair growth. 

Since waxing pulls your hair out from the root, the results last longer – it takes about 3-4 weeks to witness hair regrowth. Shaving, on the other hand, only removes your hair from the surface of the skin, and hence the results don’t last as long – you will see tiny strands of hair growing back as early as 3-4 days. Due to this, the frequency of waxing is a lot less, which is a good thing, considering it’s more expensive than shaving and hurts a lot more. 

Waxing vs Shaving: Potential side effects 

Waxing can be done on most skin types. Post your waxing treatment, you might tend to experience redness or slight inflammation, especially if you have sensitive skin. Some other post wax side-effects could be skin irritation or rash, sun sensitivity, allergic reaction, ingrown hair, scarring or burns. However, there’s nothing to worry about since most of these concerns should disappear within a couple of hours and can even be avoided altogether if pre and post care regimes are followed religiously. We’d suggest you make plans to step out 48 hours after your waxing session, to avoid sun exposure and to give your skin some time to settle down. 

Shaving can be done on almost all skin types. However, it comes with its own set of potential side effects such as itching, razor burns, cuts or scars, and ingrown hair. It is important to keep your skin soaked in warm water and always hydrated before shaving. Another important side effect of shaving is strawberry skin – the prickly, textured brown or black spots on the surface of your skin that resemble strawberry seeds. This condition occurs due to regular shaving. They typically appear on your legs and are a result of clogged pores. We’d say, if you prefer shaving over waxing for ease or comfort, keep your sessions to a minimum, since the latter is better for your skin in the long run. 

Waxing vs Shaving: Post care 

Depending on your skin type and requirements, both these temporary hair removal methods come with their own set of pros and cons. No matter what you pick between waxing vs shaving, follow these after care tips to ensure best results. 

1. For the next 48 hours, avoid sun exposure, hot saunas or steams as this could cause skin irritation. 
2. Avoid exfoliation as scrubbing your skin hard right after a waxing or shaving session could cause friction and result in skin burns. 
3. If you have sensitive skin and tend to experience redness or inflammation, ice the affected area or apply cooling agents such as aloe vera gel to calm your skin. 

Now that you have the lowdown on waxing vs shaving, try both these techniques to decide which is best for your skin. Remember: Both waxing and shaving can be DIY treatments. Ensure to read the instructions on the manual and have all the tools handy before you begin. But if it’s your first time and you’d much rather book a professional waxing appointment, you can do so right here.