Anyone who is used to shaving their legs, armpits and bikini area knows the upkeep can be required as much as daily! If you’re tired of the constant upkeep, waxing is your better option. In this article we’ll discuss the difference you should expect for hair regrowth from waxing versus shaving.
How the hair is removed
When you shave hair, you are only taking off the top-most part of the hair follicle, which is the part you see above the skin. You will experience smoothness and hairlessness, but the affect is short-lived. The hair is ever growing, and will lengthen in only a day or two, protruding above the skin line again, requiring repeat shaving. And if you have faster growing hair, you can get a “five o’clock shadow” by the end of the same day you shaved!
Waxing actually removes the hair from the follicle below the skin’s surface, pulling it out at the root. In order for the hair to be visible again, it must now grow all the way through the follicle to the skin’s surface. This gains you more time with smooth skin.
How long will it take to grow back?
When the hair is removed from the follicle completely, the body jumps into gear to reproduce that hair follicle again. However, since it is basically starting from scratch, most people experience hair-free skin for two to eight weeks, depending on your individual body. On average, frequent waxers will see their aesthetician every four to six weeks. Of course, how often is determined by whether it’s bikini season or not! But when you think about having to shave every few days (if not daily), the reprise is well worth it! And certainly in colder months when pants are worn the most, time between waxing can be stretched out a bit, depending upon your own personal preferences.
Does waxing hurt?
There have been enough sitcom and movie plots around the pain of waxing. If you want it done safely with the least amount of pain, don’t try this at home! Go to a licensed aesthetician. She will know the proper methods including how to remove the wax strips, how hot the wax should be, how to handle sensitive skin and so on. She can also direct you to products to prepare your skin prior to the first waxing. Most people wince the first visit, but realize it’s not that bad. Veterans to waxing don’t even blink anymore!