Whether you’re tired of constantly shaving or dealing with the annoyance of plucking, waxing offers a solution not only for hair removal but for many other less-known benefits as well. From minor maintenance and thinner hair regrowth to kissing razor burn and painful cuts goodbye, waxing has become the go-to choice for many people seeking a hassle-free and effective way to remove unwanted hair.
But is waxing better than shaving? Let’s find out. Read on for 10 benefits of waxing you may not have heard about.
1. Your Hair Grows Back Slower
When it comes to getting rid of unwanted hair, many people crave longer-lasting results than they get with shaving. And the great news is, you don’t have to spend major cash for a laser hair removal treatment. This is where waxing comes into play. One of the critical benefits of waxing is the time it takes for hair to regrow.
Unlike shaving, where hair can start to reappear within a day or two, waxing removes hair from the root, resulting in a slower hair regrowth process. This is because waxing disrupts the hair growth cycle, causing new hair to start from scratch at the follicle, thus taking longer to emerge.
The regrowth time after waxing varies from person to person, but on average, experts at the Beverly Hills Med Spa say it can take three to six weeks for new hairs to emerge again after waxing. This means you can enjoy weeks of silky-smooth skin before the hairy furs return.
2. You’ll Notice Less Ingrown Hairs
If you shave, you’ve probably experienced some ingrown hairs in your lifetime. Ingrown hairs occur when hair follicles become trapped beneath the skin’s surface, leading to irritation, inflammation, and pimple-like bumps. The estheticians at Wax & Lash Salon in Denver state that the chances of getting ingrown hairs are less with waxing than with shaving.
However, you have to prepare your skin correctly. To maximize the benefits of waxing and reduce ingrown hairs, it’s essential to exfoliate your skin before and after your session for best results. This removes dead cells on the top layer of your skin so hairs will pluck out easier during your wax and prevent ingrown hairs.
3. Thinner and Finer Hair Growth Over Time
Many people deal with very coarse and thick body hair. And when it comes to shaving, dense hair like this keeps coming back for more–it’s very persistent. With waxing, not only does it give you super smooth skin that lasts longer than shaving, but it can actually change your hair texture with continuous use.
“Because waxing pulls the hair out by the root, it grows back softer, finer, and thinner,” as noted by the Associated Skin Care Professionals. When you remove the entire hair follicle from the root, it weakens it over time. As a result, repeated waxing sessions cause the hair follicles to become less resilient, reducing hair thickness. Of course everyone is different, but for most people, this means with each waxing session, your hair can become finer and more manageable as you go–this is also why many women love facial waxing.
4. No Razor Burns
Traditional shaving razors often cause redness, inflammation, and even painful little razor bumps on the skin–aka the dreaded razor burn. This is because tiny cracks in the top layer of your epidermis can easily get irritated when a blade glides across your skin. Razor burn also happens from dry shaving, dull blades, and shaving against the direction of your hair growth. Plus, some people with sensitive skin are actually more susceptible to razor burn than others. Unfortunately, many women also deal with harsh razor burn around their bikini area. The great news is you can completely cut out this annoying side-effect with waxing. No razors means no razor burn–hello even skin tone and feel.
5. No Razor Cuts
Another thing you can look forward to when swapping the razor for waxing is no more cuts. Nothing stings more than a slice to the skin when shaving. This usually happens when you’re rushing, pushing too hard, or going over bony areas or folds of skin. On top of that, the healing process from a shaved cut can be irritating. Most minor cuts like these take up to a week to heal, leaving your skin vulnerable and painful. Opting to wax is a safe way to eliminate the possibility of those pesky razor cuts.
6. You Get That Self-Care Pampering Feeling
If you make a wax appointment at a salon, you’ll typically get the full spa experience. Smells of essential oils as you walk in the door, calming music, and maybe even a soothing running waterfall prop to welcome you. Not to mention the actual waxing service itself–depending on what part of your body is waxed, most spas will have a dedicated private space just for you to apply that warm, soft wax. This enhances that self-care experience and leaves you feeling pampered as you walk out the door with silk-like skin.
7. Exfoliation of the Skin
One of the most overlooked benefits of waxing is the exfoliation your skin receives. During the process of waxing itself, the wax will cling onto your dead skin cells and rip them away along with the hair. This is one of the reasons why your skin can feel sensitive after a wax–you’ve removed the top layer of the epidermis and revealed a fresh, new, delicate skin layer. With regular waxing, you can keep these dead skin cells away from your skin resulting in a baby-smooth feeling.
8. You’ll See a Reduction in Body Odor
Regular waxing not only helps you achieve smooth and hair-free skin but also plays a significant role in reducing body odor. When you remove the hair, sweat can evaporate quicker and won’t have as much time to interact with bacteria on your skin and create an odor.
Waxing takes it a step further since the entire hair root is removed compared to just the surface hair when shaving. Essentially, less sweat trapped around the hair follicles leads to decreased body odor. Plus, we already learned that regular waxing exfoliates your skin. The process removes dead cells and unclogs pores, allowing your skin to breathe freely (and be less smelly).
9. It’s Less Time Consuming
Unlike shaving, which requires frequent maintenance, waxing allows you to enjoy smooth legs for longer. This is because waxed hair takes three to six weeks to grow back compared to only a few days when shaved. Meaning you can go longer between waxing sessions, saving you precious time that would otherwise be spent in the bathroom with a razor in hand every day or so.
10. You’ll Notice Less Stubble
Get this–natural uncut hair grows with a tapered soft point on the end. But when you shave hair, it’s cut off flat, creating a hard edge. That’s why you feel that sandpaper-like stubble a few days after shaving when hair starts to grow back. But when you totally remove hair when waxing down to the root, the regrowth you feel will be that natural tapered hair. This is much softer than the shaved stubble regrowth you’re used to. Goodbye pokey hair, hello velvety smoothness.
So, to Wax or Not to Wax
Waxing isn’t just a means to an end when it comes to hair removal. It’s a game-changer that offers many benefits beyond what meets the eye. We’ve explored ten compelling reasons why waxing deserves a spotlight in beauty routines, from the convenience of minimal maintenance to the joy of never having to deal with razor burns and painful cuts again. Supporting the decision to wax and taking care of your skin has never been easier until now.
