Laser Hair Removal VS. Waxing

Do you find yourself wishing for skin that’s smooth, hairless, and razor-burn free? 

Removing unwanted hair is a never-ending battle. Your hard work doesn’t last long; after you shave or use depilatory creams, it’s only days before visible hair shows up again. 

You need professional treatments to slow hair growth and give you long-lasting results. Have you tried waxing or laser hair removal? While both are effective, they aren’t quite equal; waxing and laser hair removal have unique pros and cons.

So, which one should you choose? We’ve written this blog post to help you decide. Below, we’ve listed the benefits and drawbacks of each hair removal method, so you can select one that’s right for you: 

How It Works

You can achieve smooth, hairless skin by waxing or booking a laser treatment. But depending on which you choose, the mode of action (and your results) will be quite different. 

With waxing, your esthetician will spread hot or cold wax over the treatment area. Once it hardens, they’ll remove it using a strip of fabric or by pulling the wax itself. The downside to this method is while it removes hair, it leaves the follicle intact.

On the other hand is laser hair removal. The device we use emits a high-powered laser, which targets the hair follicle. The laser is converted to heat, which damages and destroys the follicle. Once it’s eliminated, the hair will grow back thinner, and will take longer to grow back. You can schedule maintenance treatments in the future to maintain your results.

Now that you know the basics, let’s get into why you might choose one method over the other.

Waxing

It’s time to weigh the pros and cons of waxing:

Pros

You can wax nearly every area of the body. From your upper lip to the bikini area, almost any body part can be waxed. That being said, laser treatment is safe for nearly any body part, too.  

It’s more affordable. One waxing appointment will cost less than a single laser hair removal session. But keep in mind that with hair removal, you get what you pay for; waxing doesn’t last forever, but laser hair removal can. 

Cons

Very painful. As you can imagine, applying hot wax to sensitive skin and then ripping it off doesn’t feel great. It’s pretty painful, to say the least.  

Results don’t last. After your waxing appointment, you’ll have smooth, satiny skin. But it won’t stay that way. Depending on which body part is treated, you can expect hair growth within a week or two. For some clients, there is visible new hair growth in just a few days. 

You need to grow out the hair before waxing it. The wax needs enough hair to grab on to, so you can’t shave between appointments. Each waxing session is typically spaced 3-8 weeks apart (or however long it takes to grow a quarter-inch of hair). That means you won’t always be hairless.

Laser Hair Removal

How does laser hair removal compare to waxing? Let’s take a look:

Pros

No more ingrown hairs! Do you have sensitive skin? After shaving or waxing, you might deal with razor burn, irritation, or worst of all, ingrown hairs. Laser hair removal skips all of the unpleasant side effects while still getting rid of every last hair. 

It only causes mild discomfort. When compared to the pain of waxing, laser hair removal will feel like a breeze. Most clients say it feels like a rubber band snapping against your skin. 

Permanent results. How many times has this happened to you? You show up to the gym, beach, or park, only to realize you forgot to shave. You’re stuck feeling self-conscious about unwanted hair growth. With laser hair removal, your results last a lifetime. That means you’ll never have to worry about shaving or waxing again.

You can shave before your treatment. If you dread growing out your hair before waxing, laser hair removal is the treatment for you. It’s best to shave 24 hours before your appointment to ensure no hair gets in the way. 

Cons

It takes multiple treatments. You won’t get perfect results with just one session. That’s because of the body’s hair growth cycle. If you aren’t familiar with it, here’s the gist:

Laser hair removal is most effective when hair is actively growing; in other words, when it’s in the anagen growth stage. If it’s in a transitional or resting phase, the follicle won’t be destroyed completely. Not every hair follicle is in the same stage at once. To completely get rid of hair growth, each treatment is spaced a few weeks apart. 

More expensive than waxing. The upfront cost of laser hair removal is higher than other methods. But think of it this way: You’re investing in a permanent hair removal solution. It’s more cost effective down the line as, you’ll never have to buy razors, shaving cream, or waxing strips again. 

Book Your First Appointment Today!

So, which hair removal method is right for you? If you’re searching for a permanent solution, try laser hair removal in Burnaby. 

At Spotless Laser Medical Aesthetics, our experienced estheticians can help you get rid of unwanted hair for good. We tailor our laser treatments based on clients’ skin and hair types. For example, we use different lasers for those with light or dark hair. 

It’s time to get rid of your unwanted body hair for good. Book your first laser hair removal appointment today!