Waxing and epilating are two of the most effective hair removal methods. However, both of them vary in many aspects.
For example, while the hair is uprooted in epilating using an electronic device known as an epilator, in waxing, the hair is removed using strips of heated wax that need to be pulled off manually.
Want to know more, then keep reading! Because in this article, we will compare both waxing and using an epilator. We will list their advantages as well as disadvantages so that you may decide which one would work the best for you. So shall we begin?
What is Waxing?
The history of waxing traces back to the 60 B.C. The Egyptian Queen Cleopatra used honey and oil to remove the unwanted hair from her body. Today, waxing outshines the other hair removal methods.
In waxing, heated wax is spread evenly onto the skin and pulled off in the opposite direction using a cotton cloth. Then, a lightweight oil or moisturizer is applied to clean any wax residue from the skin.
In this way, the hair is uprooted from the skin and what is left behind is buttery smooth skin. Usually, waxing can be done for any part of the body, including the arms, legs, belly, face, eyebrows, and, sensitive areas, etc. Nowadays, there is a variety of wax available in the market. For example, many hair removal brands manufacture ready-to-use wax strips that are affordable and convenient to use.
Advantages Of Waxing
Now that you know what waxing is, here are some of its advantages are:
1. It Gives Long-Lasting Results
The results of waxing can be long-lasting, usually for up to 2 weeks since the hair is pulled off from the roots and take time to grow back. However, the results can depend upon the hair growth and skin type.
2. The Hair Regrows Smoothly & Slowly
Waxing helps your hair to grow smoothly since the hair is removed from the roots instead of breaking from the surface. Therefore after waxing, the hair regrows softer and sparser over time. According to a study, the hair count decreased by around 46% with waxing.
3. It Exfoliates The Skin
Waxing helps in exfoliating the skin. During waxing, all the dead cells are removed and what is left behind is smoother softer skin.
4. It Removes Hair Quickly
Waxing can remove your hair very quickly. In fact, it can remove an entire section of hair in just one go, making it a faster and effective hair removal method.
5. It Can Even Be Done At Home.
Nowadays, you can do waxing at the comfort of your home as there are many DIY waxing kits and strips available in the market.
Disadvantages Of Waxing
Now that you’re aware of the advantages of waxing, let us also tell you why it won’t be suitable for you. So here are some disadvantages of waxing:
1. It Can Irritate The Skin
Waxing can irritate the skin and cause redness, blood slots, rashes, and bumps, especially if your skin type is sensitive. Moreover, it can also cause an allergic reaction in some individuals. Therefore, it is a wise idea to conduct a patch test before using any wax on your skin.
2. It Can Be Expensive
Waxing can be quite expensive if you wish to get it done professionally. Therefore if you have a low budget, then waxing isn’t the best option for you.
3. It Can Be Painful
People who have sensitive skin often find waxing painful. This pain is caused when the waxing strip or cloth is pulled off from the skin. Moreover, how painful waxing can depend on the area being waxed. For example, sensitive areas like the underarms experience more pain as compared to other areas of the body.
What Is An Epilator?
Just like waxing, the hair is removed by the roots with an epilator as well. However, the use of wax is not involved. Rather, the hair is pulled off from the roots while moving a device all over the skin.
It is the same as an electrical shaver and comprises a rotating head of tweezers that pluck off from the hair from the roots while the device moves across the skin.
Epilators are usually of two types: dry epilator, which you can use without water, and wet epilator, which you can use on wet skin, especially during a shower.
Epilators work best for arms, legs, and sensitive areas of the body, depending on how much pain you can tolerate.
Advantage Of Using An Epilator:
Here are a few reasons why you might consider using an epilator:
1. It Gives Smooth Skin
One of the biggest advantages of using an epilator is that it will make your skin smooth for up to a month. However, the results can be different for each person, depending upon their skin type and hair growth.
2. It Removes Even Shorter Hair
For waxing, the hairs must be of a specific length (½-¾ inch) to get removed. Nevertheless, you can use an epilator whenever you want as it can even remove short hair.
3. It Slows Down The Growth Of Hair
Using an epilator will make your hair grow back smoother and thinner. Moreover, your hair will regrow slowly because of being pulled off from the roots. The longer you epilate, the fewer hairs you will see on your body.
4. It Is Quite Affordable And Convenient
With an epilator, there are no additional costs and it can last longer. So if you have a tight budget, we recommend you go for an epilator. With an epilator, you won’t have to spend your money in saloons every once in a while. Moreover, you can remove your body hair with an epilator quickly and easily.
Disadvantages Of Using An Epilator:
Here are a few disadvantages of using an epilator:
1. It Can Cause Ingrown Hairs
One of the biggest disadvantages of epilating is that it can lead to ingrown hairs if you don’t know how to use an epilator properly. This happens because instead of being uprooted, the hair breaks down from the surface of the skin.
2. It Can Be Painful
Another disadvantage of using an epilator is that it can be quite painful for some people, especially those who have extremely sensitive skin. However, you don’t have to worry since the pain decreases with each use.
3. It Can Cause Skin Irritation
After using an epilator, your skin may get red, irritated, and bumpy due to the hair being uprooted individually. However, this redness and irritation often subside after a few hours.
4. It Needs To Be Charged
While some epilators have non-rechargeable batteries, others need to be charged after each use. The battery can die out in the middle of your waxing session, and you may end up with a half-shaved body part.
Waxing or Epilator: Which One Is Better?
Both waxing and epilators have their own advantages and disadvantages. If you still can’t decide which one would be the better option for you, then consider these 3 things:
1. Price:
When it comes to affordability, an epilator is less expensive than waxing. So if you’re not willing to spend a lot of amount on removing your hair, we recommend you opt for using an epilator instead of waxing.
2. Pain Tolerance
Although both waxing and epilating are painful, the pain decreases over time with using an epilator. Also, Epilating can be painful for sensitive skin, if you have a dry to normal skin type, then waxing might be the best option for you!
3. Convenience
Unlike waxing, epilation is quite convenient. Apart from the portable size of an epilator, it doesn’t need any initial preparation or use of any other tool or setup.
FAQs
Do I need to apply a moisturize my skin after waxing?
After waxing, we suggest you use lightweight oil such as olive oil, jojoba oil or baby oil, etc., as it may help to remove the wax residue and keep your skin radiant as well as hydrated.
Can I shave my hair between waxing sessions?
Waxing can make your hair grow slower. Moreover, the hair also becomes thinner which makes it easier and less painful to remove. However, shaving in between waxing just once in between waxing sessions can irritate the hair follicles, and lead to ingrown hair.
Conclusion:
By now, we hope that you know the main differences between epilating and waxing and thus, will be able to make a better decision for yourself.
Remember, while both waxing and epilating are among the most effective ways of hair removal, epilating will not be the right choice for you if you’re skin is very sensitive. Whereas, if have a better pain threshold and a normal skin type, then waxing would be your way to go!
Just be careful with your hair removal method and flaunt that smooth skin! If you have any more questions, post them down in the comment section. We will get back to you very soon!
