When it comes to the subject of facial hair removal, everyone seems to have a different opinion. Some say that shaving makes the hair grow back faster and ruins your skin, others claim it's a lifesaver. If you grew up in the brow-plucking frenzy of the early 2000s then you've heard that you should never pluck above the brow, but what if your brows merge into your hairline if you don't? Does waxing your face really make your skin sag? Like all things beauty-related, the right method for you will depend on several factors. Let's talk about some of the most common issues associated with each method:
Will shaving my face make the hair grow back faster or thicker?
The short answer is: no and no
Shaving the face only affects the hair at the surface level, whereas how fast or thick your hair grows back depends on several factors beneath the surface like genetics and hormones.
The hair might feel like it's growing faster than when you wax it because waxing pulls the hair out from the roots, which is why it takes longer to grow back.
The hair might look thicker when growing back after shaving because you are cutting it off at the thickest part of the hair, which means it will start growing back from the thickest part making it appear thicker at the start.
Is waxing better than shaving then?
Not necessarily, many people find waxing to be too harsh and painful for their skin. For some, skin sensitivity prevents them from being able to wax, making shaving (when done correctly) the better option.
The other benefit of shaving over waxing is that it removes the fine hairs (or "peach fuzz) that grow all over the face, not just in areas like the upper lip and sideburns. This allows your makeup to go on smoother which is how most people achieve a glass skin look. As someone with very oily skin that gets clogged easily, I have found that shaving my face has reduced the amount of acne and congestion I get.
The benefit of waxing is that it takes longer for the hair to grow back, however if you have PCOS or Hirsutism then here are some issues you might have with waxing:
You have to wait for the hair to be long before waxing, which is not ideal if your hair grows back quickly.
You cannot wax the skin more than once a month because it might cause rashes or skin sensitivity.
It is important not to wax over active acne or inflamed skin.
There is also very little evidence that waxing makes your skin sag, so if this method works for you keep doing it!
What about tweezing and epilation?
Not many people know that facial epilation devices exist, and they are great if your skin is too sensitive for waxing.
Epilation is essentially tweezing at hyperspeed. Epilation devices use small tweezers to pluck out individual hairs. This means that you don't need to wait until the hair is long for the epilator to find it and pull it out.
What makes this better for sensitive skin than waxing is that it only pulls out the hair, it doesn't affect the skin around the hair. That being said, the hair is still being pulled out so you might still experience redness and irritation.
What's the downside? Epilation is painful. Whereas with waxing the hair is removed with one pull, epilation takes longer and many people claim it is more painful.
Can I combine hair removal methods?
So we've established that shaving is the best way to get smooth, glass skin, but epilating is the best method for long-lasting results. How can you combine the two?
In my experience, experimenting with timing is the best way forward. Trying shaving one week and epilating the next for example could give you great results without making your skin sensitive.
As someone with sensitive skin and extremely dark hair that grows back quickly, I usually epilate my upper lip, chin and sideburns every other week. When I notice that my skin looks dull and congested I know that it is time to shave my entire face. I usually wait at least a week after epilating to make sure that my skin is strong enough, however, experiment with the timing between epilating and shaving to find the right routine for you.
If you are concerned about acne or skin sensitivity, here are some tips and products that will help:
Shaving with a cleansing oil like ISDIN Essential Cleansing, if your skin is normal/dry, or Uriage Hyseac Cleansing Oil, if your skin is acne-prone, will protect your skin while allowing you to get a close shave.
Using a face mask like Apivita Express Beauty Propolis Mask after shaving or epilating will disinfect the skin without drying it out.
Using face masks like Apivita Express Beauty Avocado Mask or Apivita Express Beauty Aloe Mask will soothe your skin and prevent redness.
If your skin is sensitive and acne-prone use skincare like Uriage Bariederm-Cica Daily Serum and Gel-Cream to soothe, protect and prevent irritation.
ALWAYS apply sun protection! Use a sunblock like ISDIN Fusion Water SPF 50+ or Apivita Dry Touch SPF 50+ for lightweight protection that won't clog your skin. All hair removal methods make your skin more sensitive to the sun, so keep your skin protected at all times.
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