Waxing or shaving – which hair removal method is a better choice to get rid of unwanted hair?

Waxing or shaving which is better? That's one of the biggest questions as far as unwanted hair removal is concerned. Unwanted hair growth is a constant point of worry and concern for many and there is always a debate of what is the right way to get rid of it. Here is a list of pros and cons of waxing and shaving, two of the most common methods adopted by women for hair removal:

Waxing

Pros

• It removes hair from the root which results in hair-free skin for weeks
• It leaves the skin feeling soft even if you touch it against the hair growth side
• It is more long lasting than shaving
• New methods like chocolate wax decrease the pain slightly and result in smoother skin
• It is a natural way of hair removal as wax is herbal
• It will eventually reduce hair growth

Cons

• It is a painful procedure and waxing time and again may make the skin loose
• If you have sensitive skin, waxing can cause redness and boils
• If the hair is too fine, then waxing does not help. It works best on full grown hair
• It is time-consuming and you need to keep in mind the hygiene factor of the salon you are getting it done at

Things to keep in mind

• Make sure the salon uses disposable waxing strips
• The wax should be hot but not too hot that it burns your skin
• Apply a cooling pad or ice after waxing to soothe the skin

Also read: Waxing: How to avoid unwanted side effects

Shaving

Pros

• It is a pain-free and quick way to get rid of unwanted hair
• You can do it yourself at home or anywhere, without any assistance
• The arrival of electronic shavers and epilators have further simplified the process as you don't need water or gel to do it
• It is cheap as razors are not expensive and the electronic ones are a one-time investment
• Shaving comes in handy during a beauty emergency when you don't have time to go to a parlour

Cons

• It can irritate the skin and leave it feeling dry and itchy
• It is a very temporary solution and depending on one's hair growth, you will have to shave very frequently
• It can result in a lot of undergrowth, where the hair grows inside the skin and leaves a black mark on the outside
• Shaving may result in thicker and darker-looking hair growth
• You can feel the hard hair growth if you touch against the hair growth side

Things to keep in mind

• Moisturise the skin after shaving
• Do not go out in extreme heat immediately as it may further irritate the skin
• If using a disposable razor, do not use it more than once or twice
• Never use anyone else's razor as it can lead to infections

Whichever method you choose, make sure it does not irritate your skin too much. If you have too sensitive skin then it is better to opt for shaving as waxing will result in a lot of redness. If you have thick hair growth, opt for waxing as it will slower the hair growth and also make it fine gradually.