What’s The Difference Between Shaving And Waxing?
Before starting to get rid of the hair on any part of your body where there is extreme growth, it’s safe to recognize and understand the difference between the major hair removal methods: shaving and waxing. While both methods are effective at stripping off unwanted hair from any part of the body, each method has its own significance. Nevertheless, you need to have a radical knowledge of these hair removal methods, together with a much more well-versed answer to the question; what’s the difference between shaving and waxing? This article has got the down-low of the shaving method compared to the waxing method so you can have a knowledgeable verdict on which process of hair removal is appropriate for you. Keep on reading to discover further things about these hair removal practices.
What’s The Difference Between Shaving And Waxing?
There are several differences between shaving and waxing. Shaving cut your hair, while waxing pulls your hair out. The advantage of waxing is that it lasts much longer, several weeks compared to a few days for shaving. But waxing takes more time but can be painful. With good preparation you can lower this pain, and you can buy less painful wax.

Shaving and waxing are some of the most common techniques of hair removal. Shaving is an easy and convenient procedure. You can shave repeatedly as you like, you can shave virtually anywhere you want, and shavers and razors are relatively cheap. On the other hand, waxing can last for a few weeks and keep your skin feeling smooth. Each method has its pros and cons. However, I’m going to compare shaving and waxing on 6 distinct conditions – How long each method takes, how long the results last, the skill required for each method, the most convenient hair removal method, the cost of each method and how much each method hurts.
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Shaving and Waxing: The Basics
Shaving is the act of hair removal where you cut your hair on the surface level using a shaving razor or a shaver. This method only takes out hair from the surface level letting the hair grow back rapidly. This is why shaving is acknowledged as a day-to-day struggle that must be continually performed with the aim of maintaining smooth skin. On the other hand, waxing engages the practice of applying a balm or a liquid on top of the skin, whereby a hygienic piece of cloth known as the waxing strip is pasted. After a period, this waxing strip is drawn away from the skin, alongside the hairs that are to be removed. By accomplishing this, the hair is stripped off right from its root, therefore removing the hair totally from the skin. There are two major varieties of the waxes accessible which are known as the hot wax or cold wax.
What Is the Difference Between Shaving and Waxing?
Primarily, waxing has to do with a strip of clothing and wax while shaving makes use of a shaver or a shaving razor. Waxing helps to remove the hair right from its base, which leaves you hair-free for a longer period. Conversely, shaving can only get rid of hair at the surface and does not pull up the hair from the root. For that reason, when shaving, hair is likely to grow back faster and it is very necessary to shave often with the purpose of maintaining smooth skin.
Waxing enhances the regrowth of thinner and finer hair and it is well-known to truly hold back hair growth, making it about 2 weeks before the hair starts to grow again. On the other hand, shaving boosts denser, shadier hair to grow back in a quick way that necessitates continuous and additional deep shaving. Waxing tends to be really hurting as it requires the pull up of hair from the skin bed itself while shaving is a painless process because it only pulls up hair at a surface level.
Waxing is a relatively time-consuming and a wearisome process which can get rather difficult. Frequently, one is expected to go to an expert who does the waxing in order to perform this procedure. This makes waxing a costly method as you are required to pay for the wax, the waxing strips along with the professional that does the procedure for you. In contrast, shaving is rather easy and straightforward and you can still perform it at home all by yourself. Since it entails just a shaving razor or a shaver, shaving is less costly as well. Shaving can be carried out within a shorter period than waxing as it is a simple process while waxing is a complex and tedious procedure.
However, waxing is desired by several people who want a clean appearance that can be attained after waxing. It is more suitable for complex body areas such as the bikini line and also for removing undesirable facial hair for women. Shaving razors can leave bumps, burns and can lead to sting and itching for a longer period. Waxing only leaves an impermanent inflaming of the skin which disappears after a while. For that reason, waxing might be regarded as the best hair removal method for those with delicate skin. Let’s take a look at the 6 major qualities of the two hair removal methods:
How Long Each Process Takes
Shaving can be achieved in a couple of minutes to 10 minutes. This can be determined by the amount of hair you are removing (for instance amount of hair on your underarms or your entire body). Nevertheless, shaved hair develops back rapidly and so you may be shaving your hair every 10 to 15 minutes every three days. If you shave every 3 days, then in a month, you would have shaved more than 8 times. So, you can spend about 1 hour and 40 minutes to 2 hours and 30 minutes in shaving your hair for a month.
Waxing is relatively a fast process, and a session can take up to 30 minutes based on the part of the body. Waxing also entails some preparation time in order to warm the wax, which takes close to 5 minutes. But if your wax is completely warmed up, a full body wax can last for 30-40 minutes. It can take a longer time if you are new to the process and have not got the understanding of waxing. You will also have to consider the time spent in going for an appointment if you are planning on using a professional. The average time for waxing is two weeks which means you can only wax twice in a month. Therefore, if you use waxing as your main hair removal method, you will spend close to 1 hour and 20 minutes every single month in total to wax off all of your body hair.
At first look, shaving might appear to take lesser time but if you consider the number of times you will be shaving in a month, waxing appears to take lesser time because it lasts longer.
How Long the Results Last
Hair growth is inconsistent and can be determined by several factors, taking into consideration the area of removal. For example, the hair on the underarm and bikini line grow more rapidly than the hair on arms and legs. Therefore, it’s vital to use related areas when comparing shaving and waxing. As much as shaving goes, performing it every 3 days is essential for a total stubble-free skin. People with thinner or lighter hair might be capable of fitting in another day or two before shaving again, but normally a couple of 5 days is the max. Hair cultivates in phases (growing, resting, and shedding), so you are only removing an amount of hair at any particular time. The more steadily you wax, the longer you will be able to extend your appointments. A standard wax procedure can last up to two weeks before regrowth shows up again.
The Skill Required For Each Method
Stuck between shaving and waxing, shaving is straightforward. Gone are the times when you could only shave with a blade. These days’, razors have come built-in, angled, fitted and attached to a handle that makes it difficult to cut yourself and it is even equipped with fitted lotion shreds that help prepare your skin while you shave. Undisputable, you can still cut yourself in an uncomfortable body part, but shaving is honestly a simple procedure that very simple to learn.
Waxing is not an easy procedure, but it’s also not rocket science. It takes some little practice for you to become good at this procedure. Waxing mistakenly can cause deformed hairs but there are preventive actions you can take to prevent them. If you have not done a waxing procedure before at an expert salon and you want to begin waxing at home all by yourself, it is advisable to get a professional to guide you in order to see the good practice and care.
Both shaving and waxing can bring about ingrown hairs, notwithstanding the technique; some people are simply prone to them. However, with some consideration to exfoliating frequently, you can conceal them at bay. Shaving is simpler than waxing and entails little skillfulness to do well. Waxing is not hard but it takes some practice to do it well.
The Most Convenient Hair Removal Method
With shaving, it’s as easy as entering the shower each time you need or at whatever time best suits your plan. However, with waxing, a good amount of planning is necessary. Whether you decide to make use of a home product or you decide to visit a spa, it is vital for you to grow your hair to approximately a quarter of an inch, which consumes time and requires a difficult growing-out stage. If you prefer to go to a salon for your wax, you are also required to book an appointment in advance and put into consideration the time it will take you to move back and forth from the salon. Certainly, shaving is straightforward and doesn’t hurt a bit at all, however, waxing saves more time and stays longer than shaving. On the other hand, some people undergo several skin infections that can be peeved by waxing. There are definitely waxes specifically made for sensitive skin however, if waxing is not suitable for your skin, at that time, shaving is the right approach.
Cost of Each Method
You can buy a pack of non-reusable shavers for a few dollars, or spend on a good value razer which costs about $20 to $30 for 6 disposable heads total. You can also get a shaving cream can for less than $5, which will last you for several uses. If you are replacing your razor every 4 weeks as you should, then you can turn out squandering between $40-$60 on shaving razors every month. Shaving is a more cost-effective alternative initially, but if you factor how often you shave and the cost of the blade refills, then, we can assume that shaving is also costly in the long run.
To wax in your house, you need a small number of gears like the wax, a wax warmer or wax applicator sticks to get started. In addition, these basic waxing gears can run you an average of $30-40. If you are waxing your entire body, a can of 8-ounce wax can last about 5 sessions. Assuming you are waxing every two weeks, then a can of wax will last you 2 months and a few weeks before you need to expend another $10 for a wax fill-up. For your earliest year of waxing at home, with the primary tools, you will spend approximately $80 a year waxing at home. In the following years, you will basically spend about $50 a year because you don’t need to rebuy those basic waxing tools. If you are doing a professional full body wax, then you will likely spend nearly $300-400 for each session. If you are performing this every two weeks, you will be squandering several thousands of dollars in a year on just hair removal.
How Much Each Method Hurts
No matter what you sort out to get ready for the process, waxing is excruciating, and waxing your pubic area is even more painful. Clearly, the shredding of the hair out of the follicle is not a pleasurable feeling, but also bear in mind the painful temperature of the wax and the lasting soreness of the skin that arises. Waxing shreds out your hairs from the hair follicle, and it certainly provides more discomfort than shaving. It’s also subjected to your pain tolerance. For some certain individuals, the pain of the wax removal is actually the same as a tickle, and while for some people, it is more painful. It certainly hurts more during your first session because you are not psychologically ready for how much the process can hurt and you don’t know what to hope for. This is a normal psychological reaction.
On the other hand, shaving is painless when performed properly. If you have correctly exfoliated the area to be shaved, you can use a strident razor and a relaxing shave cream, along with a moisturizer, your odds of shaving scratches and razor sting are considerably minimal. Since shaving merely slices the hair at the surface of the skin, the real shaving is not really hurting. However, if you are gawky, you might start out cutting yourself in body parts that are difficult to shave. Some individuals also experience extreme goosebumps, which makes it hard to get a firm shave and soft skin.
If you get your hair waxed after shaving your hair, it hurts more than the first time. This is because when you shave your hair for a period, the follicles and shafts of each hair strand get relatively strong and are denser underneath the surface of your skin. Shredding by their follicles is a little more painful than shredding out hair with undeveloped follicles.
Waxing extracts hair completely and it will grow back better. There is a myth that assumes waxing decreases your hair. However, in genuineness, your hair grows better and in great phases. So instantly after waxing, not all your new hair will grow at once. Reasonably, the hair develops in various phases that stimulate at diverse times, so to say, 2 weeks, you may just be seeing the hair that was triggered into its developing phase. With shaving, since you are just cutting the hair anywhere around its shaft, the total grown hair at your skin surface keeps on pushing up and so it appears like you have further hair regrow after shaving.
Generally, the best choice of the two hair removal methods is completely up to you and your subjective preference. For some people, the pain of waxing is sufficient to accommodate all the tiresome period of shaving. While for some people, the concept of shaving every day or every three days is too much for them. However, when it comes down to shaving and waxing, there is no better or worse choice—basically what is suitable for you.