The answer depends on what you’re looking for. Both waxing and laser hair removal are effective at removing small areas of unwanted hair. If you want to remove all the hair from a large area of your body, it’s best to choose laser hair removal. On the other hand, if you want to remove a few stubborn hairs in a specific area, like your face or bikini line, it might be better to try waxing.
Waxing removes hair from its root using strips of pure wax. The wax grabs onto the hair as it cools and pulls it out from its follicle. Waxing works best on hairs that are about 0.5 mm (0.02 inches) long or shorter. It can be painful — but it lasts longer than shaving because the hair isn’t growing back in right away. Waxing also works best on coarse or curly hair because it can grab onto those strands more easily than fine ones.
Read on to learn more about Is Waxing Or Laser Hair Removal Better, The Pros and Cons of Waxing and The Pros and Cons of Laser Hair Removal
Is Waxing Or Laser Hair Removal Better
Laser hair removal consists of transmitting a concentrated beam of laser light energy directly to the pigment (or blood supply with darker skin types) of the follicle. The laser then destroys the follicle which achieves a permanent reduction in hair regrowth. After the treatment, hair will gradually fall out in the following weeks.
Compared to waxing, laser hair removal treatment is a bit more complex. It involves the use of a high-powered laser that attacks the root of the hair and destroys the follicle so that hair cannot grow back. The process usually begins by numbing and cooling the skin. A laser technician then applies the laser to the skin in the area targeted for hair removal.
Several treatments are required, regardless of the area of the body, but results can last for months or even years. Some people need a quick touch up from time to time.
The process of waxing hair is rather simple. With some hot wax, an applicator, and a fabric strip, you can remove hair from anywhere on your body in seconds. An applicator is used to apply the wax to the skin in the direction of the hair growth. Then, a strip of fabric, such as muslin, is applied on top and smoothed down in the same direction as the hair growth. The final step involves pulling the muslin strip off the skin in the opposite direction of the hair growth.
With the proper technique, waxing pulls the hair from the follicle. The result is smooth skin without visible hair on the surface. The follicle, however, remains intact in the dermis layer of the skin.
Laser hair removal is an increasingly popular method of hair removal that uses a laser to target the hair follicles and destroy them. This can be a great option for people who want permanent results, but there are some considerations that you should make before deciding whether it’s right for you.
How Does Laser Hair Removal Work?
The laser targets the melanin in the hair follicle, causing damage to the cells and preventing them from producing new hair. The process usually takes about 15 minutes per treatment, depending on how many areas are being treated at once and how much hair needs to be removed. The effects can last up to six months or more if your skin isn’t exposed to sunlight or other sources of UV radiation between treatments.
Is It Safe?
Laser treatments are generally considered safe if they’re performed by a qualified professional in a clean environment with proper equipment. However, there are some risks associated with laser treatments that you should be aware of before making your decision. These include:
Pain – The sensation of pain during treatment varies from person to person, but most people describe it as similar to snapping off an elastic band against your skin. Some treatments may require numbing cream
The Pros and Cons of Waxing
The two most popular methods of hair removal are laser hair removal and waxing. Both have their pros and cons, but which is better?
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal works by targeting the pigment in your hair follicles. When the light hits your skin, it’s absorbed by this pigment and converted into heat energy. The heat destroys the follicle, preventing any further hair growth in that area.
The best candidates for laser hair removal are people with fair skin who don’t tan easily or at all. This is because darker skin tones absorb more light, making it harder to target only the hairs you want removed. If you have dark skin or tan easily, you might need more than one session before you see results.
Waxing
Waxing involves applying hot wax to your skin and then pulling off the strip quickly — like ripping a band-aid off (which may sound painful, but it’s not). This method can be used on any part of your body, including your face and bikini line (though I recommend avoiding waxing these areas if possible). It doesn’t require anesthesia or any downtime afterward except for some redness that lasts about 24 hours after treatment.”
There are pros and cons to every hair removal method. It’s important to weigh these carefully before deciding if waxing is the right method for you:
Pros
For a single session, waxing is much less expensive than laser hair removal. However, if you get wax treatments regularly for years, it can end up costing you even more than laser treatment.
Waxing is effective for all hair types, skin types, and skin tones. Regardless of the color or texture of your skin or hair, waxing is a good option for those who might not be great candidates for laser removal.
Another benefit of waxing is that it can be done at home. However, it is always best to have a professional do it for you (and that can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars over time).
Cons
If you’ve ever waxed any part of your body, you know one thing:
It hurts!
It can be especially painful in sensitive areas of the body, such as the ears, bikini line, and underarms.
Waxing can also cause ingrown hairs. It does not destroy the root of the hair; it simply pulls the hair from the follicle. The hair will grow back, and when it does, it could become ingrown.
If you want smooth, hair-free skin at all times, waxing is not the best option.
Why?
Because you need at least a quarter-inch of hair growth so that the wax has something to grip onto. You’ll have to endure some stubble here and there, as you’ll need some regrowth in between waxes.
Waxing can be time consuming. For the best results, you’ll need to wax the same area every few weeks.
It can also cause damage to the skin, especially sensitive skin. If you have sensitive skin, you should never apply wax to any area of your face, including your eyebrows or upper lip.
The Pros and Cons of Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal has its own share of pros and cons, though for most people, the benefits outweigh the risks.
Waxing and laser hair removal are two popular methods of removing unwanted facial and body hair. Both methods are effective at permanently reducing the growth of hair in specific areas, but they work differently, and each has its own benefits and drawbacks.
Waxing involves applying a thin layer of warm wax to the skin and then ripping it off with a cloth strip. The wax should adhere to the hair follicle, pulling out the entire root along with it. The process can be painful, especially if you have coarse or thick hair, but it tends to offer longer-lasting results than laser treatments do.
Laser treatments use intense pulses of light to destroy existing hair follicles without causing pain or damage to surrounding tissue. Laser treatments are not as effective on dark skin tones as they are on light ones (since darker skin absorbs more energy), but they have less downtime than waxing does because there’s no need for post-treatment redness or swelling.
Pros
Laser hair removal is the best hair removal method if you’re looking for long-term results. Some people see permanent results, while most enjoy results that last for months or years. If you’re trying to save time, laser hair removal is the way to go. The sessions are quick and easy. Even if you’re having treatment on a large area of the body, you’ll only be under the laser for a few minutes at a time.
Laser hair removal is safe and doesn’t do any long-term damage to the skin. Even people with sensitive skin can use this method, as long as it’s performed by a licensed and certified laser technician. The biggest pro of all is that you can have laser hair removal on any part of the body. It’s impossible to wax your back or your full bikini area by yourself.
As for pain, laser hair removal doesn’t hurt nearly as much as waxing. Most people say that the pulse of the laser feels like a rubber band snapping on the skin.
Cons
Almost anyone can get laser hair removal, but it is most effective on people with light skin and dark hair. If you have dark skin or light hair, consult with a certified laser technician about your options. Laser hair removal is much more expensive than a single waxing session. But as a long-term hair removal method, it can actually be more cost-effective over time.
Plus, many laser clinics offer payment plans and financing options to make payments more manageable.
Laser hair removal is a process. In order for the laser to completely destroy the hair follicle, your hair needs to be in a certain stage of growth. For this reason, multiple treatments are required. You won’t see the instant results you’ll see from waxing, but the results will last longer.