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I am actually terrified of pain. The mere thought of needles, medical procedures, or anything like that basically makes me nauseous. However, I’ve actually had laser hair removal treatments before. But, for some unknown reason, the thought of getting waxed scared me to death. Like why? That makes no sense but that’s how my brain works. For all of you that have been curious about waxing vs laser hair removal, I finally got waxed and can share my opinion and experience about both. A good old compare and contrast for ya! I won’t be covering the at-home laser treatment devices that use IPL laser technology. I was never really interested in trying it because I figured it would be a waste of money and time. If I’m going to do something like this, I want to do it right! Know what I mean?!
How does laser hair removal work?
I’ve been to two different businesses that specialize in this service and have nurses on staff performing the hair removal sessions. These places use powerful lasers that targets the unwanted hair follicle. According to Mayo Clinic, “During laser hair removal, a laser emits a light that is absorbed by the pigment (melanin) in the hair. The light energy is converted to heat, which damages the tube-shaped sacs within the skin (hair follicles) that produce hairs. This damage inhibits or delays future hair growth.” The laser is quick and doesn’t just do one unwanted body hair at a time. Something like your upper lip takes less than a minute. Large areas, like your legs, can take up to an hour. Afterwards, they put aloe vera on the treated area to help possible inflammation. The treatment plan is 7-10 sessions. That gives you 95-100% hair-free skin and near permanent hair removal.
Can anyone get laser hair removal?
Most laser hair removal providers can safely service anyone with any skin color without burning. That is the main reason it is important to go to a reputable provider. But not everyone is a good fit for laser hair removal. Those with light skin and dark hair types tend to have the best results though. Don’t worry though if you have dark skin because the lasers have become more advanced and can accommodate any skin type (even sensitive skin). If any of your hair is grey, white, or blonde, it probably won’t work unfortunately. So, make sure you go for a free consultation ahead of time to see if you are a good candidate. I have heard of people wasting their money because they weren’t told beforehand.
“My advice is to pick a place that offers a lifetime guarantee where touch-ups are free if you can, because new hair can grow back over the years due to hormones, aging, or pregnancy.”
Does laser hair removal hurt?
In case you were wondering if you could get some numbing cream, the answer seems to be no. Even though I would see topical anesthetic discussed as an option when I was researching this topic, no one ever let me have it. Believe me; I begged! At the beginning, it didn’t really hurt. It feels like a rubber band being snapped against your skin. Towards the end of my treatment though, I remember it hurting pretty bad. The laser light gets stronger each time. I didn’t need the nurse to stop or anything (she always offered). But I was cracking up the whole time because I couldn’t control my mouth or volume. I was yelling every curse word with no filter. I promise that I’m a quiet and shy person out in society, but I couldn’t help it. It hurt like a mother !&#@! You know everyone heard me too.
Can hair grow back after laser hair removal?
At this point, I have basically lasered everything from my bikini area up through my face! I can’t wait until I can afford to laser the hair off my entire body and be like those hairless cats! I just kept thinking about why on Earth I didn’t do this 100 years ago. The difference is night and day…even after like the first two treatment sessions. I highly recommend. No more ingrown hairs or shaving. It’s supposed to provide permanent results, but I do get see new hair growth from time to time that I will shave. It’s not a big deal at all though because the hairs are very fine. My advice is to pick a place that offers a lifetime guarantee where touch-ups are free if you can, because new hair can grow back over the years due to hormones, aging, or pregnancy.
How does waxing work?
If you’ve ever had your eyebrows waxed, you probably know the drill. Typically, hot wax is applied to the surface of the skin and then a fabric strip is placed on top of that. Then they rip that strip of fabric off going in the opposite direction of hair growth.
Well, I still didn’t know what to expect when waxing other sensitive areas. So, I finally got the courage to try it so I could have hairless skin for a big anniversary vacation. I also feel like I must shave my legs every five seconds, which is so annoying. My legs literally never feel smooth (Oh hey goosebumps!). And yes, I went ahead and got a Brazilian wax for any fine or blonde hairs that are still around after lasering a few years ago.
There are several different types of wax, and it depends on what the salon near you offers. The one I went to offered hard and soft wax. They used soft wax on my legs (typical for larger areas) and hard wax on my underarms and bikini area. Before your waxing session, you can’t shave the treatment area for like two weeks. They want your hair to be long as hell, like the length of rice. That drove me nuts because it was warm out, I kept wanting to wear shorts, and I have darker hair.
Does it hurt to get waxed?
I’ve done my eyebrows and upper lip and know it hurts for just a second. However, I wasn’t prepared for the pain that came from waxing my lower legs during this first session. Holy shit! It hurt so bad! I’m not gonna sugar coat it. The upper leg wasn’t as bad, thank the lawd. I had read (and knew from my eyebrows) that hard wax hurts less. They used that for both the Brazilian and my underarms. The pain was tolerable on my underarms; it’s quick and they’re small areas. The most surprising part was the brazilian wax portion did not hurt at all. I thought that would be the worst. I suspect it’s because I don’t really have hair there (so if you roll in full bush, my guess is that it will probably hurt). The waxer did confirm though that lower legs are the most painful of all.
How long does waxing last?
I would love to continue to get waxed on a regular basis if I could afford it. But, it basically lasted for a week and then it was back to normal, which is a bit disappointing. Obviously, I knew smooth skin wouldn’t last. I was just sad to have to go back to shaving my legs constantly because I am lazy. I also really LOVED how smooth everything was! But, it wasn’t cheap to get waxed.
Waxing vs laser hair removal: What’s the best method?
So, if I have to wax every month, I would rather spend that money on the laser hair removal procedure because its a more permanent solution. That also means it’s probably cheaper in the long run (even factoring in that both involve maintenance treatments). I realize for most people though, laser hair removal is a big commitment and waxing may be a better choice. And remember, waxing would definitely be the better option if you have blonde hair or another light hair color that wouldn’t work with laser removal!
Safety should be a top priority. Periodt.
No matter which route you choose, do your homework on waxing vs laser hair removal and pick the best option for you. For the best results, research and make sure you go to a reputable hair removal provider too. I am typically one who looks for the best deal and wants the cheapest price, but not when it comes to this type of stuff. Safety should be a top priority!