Waxing Vs Shaving: Which is Good and Safe Hair Removal Method?

Waxing vs Shaving

This is an age-old fight in the hair removal world. Waxing gives you pain. And, shaving is tiresome. So, which one to choose?

Actually, there’s no direct answer. Everyone has his or her own preferences. Finding one hair removal method that satisfies you is really tough.

Today, a lot of hair removal processes and tools are available. But among them, these two are the most popular. To come to a concrete conclusion, let’s compare both of them and see what’s coming on top.

What’s the Process of Waxing?

Waxing is a semi-permanent method to remove your body hair. A thin layer of wax combination is spread over your skin. Take a strip or cloth and press it on the wax layer. Then, rip the strip on the opposite direction of hair growth. Do this ripping quickly so as to lessen the pain.

What’s the Process of Shaving?

Wet the area you’re going to shave. Apply shaving cream or gel on that area to lather it up. After that, wet your razor. Use the razor to shave off the hair in the opposite direction of their growth. If you’re using an electric shaver, hold your skin tight enough to get a smooth glide.

As compared to ordinary razors, electric shavers provide a more satisfied shave.

Comparison Chart

Features	Waxing	Shaving
Things Needed	Wax cream, strip or cloth	Razor
Effort	Requires effort	Easy
Hair Regrowth	Hair grows back softer and thinner	The newly grown hairs are coarser and thicker
Skills	Needs a little bit of practice	No skills required
Cost	Pretty costly affair	Less expensive

Areas Good for Shaving and Waxing

Both shaving and waxing are effective in removing hair from different body parts.

As compared to waxing, shaving is easy to perform. Many girls prefer to use it to remove hair from their bikini area, underarms, and legs. However, it is mainly good for larger areas. As the bikini area is delicate, using razor can lead to bumps. To avoid growing bumps, exfoliate the area beforehand.

On the contrary, Waxing gives long-term effects and is more precise, especially when dealing with bikini area.

How Long Both the Processes Take?

Oftentimes, people prefer to shave before taking their shower. A full body shave consumes about 10-15 minutes. As it doesn’t involve any prep time, go for it when in a hurry.

Waxing, on the other hand, requires little preparation. Warming the wax takes up to 5 minutes. Once the wax is ready, take it and apply its layer on the body. The whole process takes 30-40 minutes minimum. If you’re a novice, it may gobble up some more time.

Which Gives More Flawless Results?

The short answer is, waxing gives more accurate result. Waxing pulls off the hair from its root. Therefore, you can expect to get desired outcome within a quick turnaround time. Whereas shaving removes only the hair appearing above the skin. Plus, some hairs may get missed while shaving. If you want to have precise result, waxing is your solution.

How Long the Results Last?

Dr. Melissa K. Levin, founder and dermatologist of Entiere Dermatology, NYC, commented that hair growth depends on many factors. Consider the area of removal. For instance, hair on underarm and bikini area grows rapidly as compared to legs and arms. Therefore, when you’re comparing the time period of new hair growth, take same areas for that.

Averagely said, a wax lasts as long as two weeks before the new hair starts to appear. And, a shave doesn’t last long. You may have to shave every alternate day to get stubble-free smooth skin. However if you’ve thinner hair, shave after every two days. But, definitely waiting for some more days will make the areas full of hair again.

Which is More Painful?

Unlike shaving, waxing requires some preparation (as already discussed). Even then, waxing is more painful, especially at the pubic areas. The uncomfortable temperature of the wax makes the process even more traumatic. Ripping the hair manually out of its root is definitely not what you’ll enjoy. But, I would say it’s safe and the pain is bearable.

Shaving doesn’t cause much pain unless you cut the skin. And, if you cut the skin while shaving, take tetanus without delaying. Exfoliate the area properly and use a sharp razor to shave smoothly. Also, don’t forget to apply moisturizer after the job is over.                                

Which is More Hygienic?

Waxing can be little bit unhygienic. Many parlors use low quality paper strips, which can cause irritation ad redness. On the other hand, no hygienic issues come into play with shaving. Here, maintaining the hygiene is in your hands. Use warm water, a good shaving gel, and a disposable sharp razor. And, go on shaving without worrying about infections.

When it concerns pubic hair, shaving is safe. Girls who don’t want to show off their girly bits to a salon professional, can remove the stubble at home. To avoid blisters and painful nicks, shave in the direction of hair growth. Dispose the razor after using. Otherwise, bacteria may stick to the blade and can affect you. Also, never share the razor with anyone for hygienic purposes.

Which is Recommended for Sensitive Skin?

If you’ve sensitive skin, avoid waxing. Waxing tends to cause irritation. Applying too hot wax can lead to skin burns. Apart from it, use of poor quality strip can also cause red patches on your skin. Many people say that pulling off the strip wrongly loosen the skin.

Shaving, if done correctly doesn’t lead to any skin irritation. As the process doesn’t pluck out the hair from its root, the effect remains only on the skin. Therefore, the chances of causing skin irritation with shaving is almost zero.

 Advantages and Disadvantages of Waxing

Advantages

• The result lasts for 5-6 days.
• Waxing is the best air removal method to get permanent result.
• It is extremely effective to clear large and thick stubble without much effort.
• The newly grown hairs are sparse, delicate and fine.
• Waxing exfoliates the skin. As the strip sticks to uppermost layer of the skin, it removes dead skin cells.

Disadvantages

• Not suitable for sensitive skin.
• The preparation time is long.
• The process is painful.
• It is costly in comparison to other methods for a stubble-less skin.

Shaving Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages

• Shaving is a huge time saver. You can get a hairless body with it in just 10 minutes.
• The process is super easy. No professional skill is needed to learn the technique.
• This is the painless way to kiss the unwanted hair goodbye.
• Affordable, cheap, and can be done anywhere and anytime.

Disadvantages

• Shaving is not effective in removing ingrown hairs.
• Repetitive use of razors can cause dark spots on the skin.
• You may have to shave a bit frequently as the result does not last for a long time.
• A little bit of negligence can lead to infection.

Risks Associated with Waxing and Shaving

Both types of hair removal methods have some risks associated with it.

Risks with Shaving

• Cuts or nicks
• Ingrown hairs
• Bumps
• Itching
• Folliculitis
• Razor burns

Risks with Waxing

• Redness
• Rash
• Sun sensitivity
• Infection
• Scarring
• Allergic reactions

Who Shouldn’t Go for Waxing or Shaving?

People taking medications for the following conditions should avoid waxing.

• Retinol-based creams
• Hormone birth control
• Antibiotics
• Accutane
• Hormone replacement therapy

The Takeaway

When it comes to waxing vs shaving, the choice is completely yours. Whatever process I prefer may not match with your needs or skin type. In case, you cannot decide between these two, ask a dermatologist or waxing technician before selecting one.