Women worldwide deal with unwanted body and facial hair and are always looking for new methods to remove it.
However, the search for silky-smooth skin isn’t easy since there are so many options available.
From waxing and epilation to hair removal cream and laser hair removal, many find it difficult to choose what’s right for them.
The choices can often be overwhelming, especially if you’re new to hair removal or have been using a single method your entire life.
If you’re confused and don’t know which method is best for you, you’re in the right place. We all want long-lasting hair removal methods that save us from having to shave every day or every alternate day.
So, which lasts longer: waxing or hair removal cream? In this article, we’re going to break down these two methods, comparing and contrasting them to learn which one is best suited to your needs.
What Is Waxing?
Waxing is a hair removal method that consists of applying wax to your skin and pulling it off. When the wax is pulled off, so is the hair on your legs.
Because waxing pulls out hair by the root, it is an epilation method. Therefore, it removes the follicle of the hair, which results in a smooth finish and long-lasting results.
There are many different kinds of wax, including hard wax, soft wax, and sugar wax. Hard wax is useful for smaller and more sensitive areas, while soft wax is great for larger areas.
Sugar wax is a type of wax that can be easily made at home, is organic, and is relatively painless compared to other wax forms.
What Is Hair Removal Cream?
Hair removal creams, also known as depilatory creams use specific chemicals to dissolve hair.
However, since they only dissolve hair from the surface and not from beneath the skin, they’re not as long-lasting as other hair removal methods.
Like shaving, hair removal cream only removes hair above the skin and does not remove it from the follicle or root. That’s why it is a form of depilation and not epilation.
Which Lasts Longer: Waxing or Hair Removal Cream?
Now that we’ve spoken about both types of hair removal, it’s time to tackle the all-important question, “Which lasts longer: waxing or hair removal cream?”
While both hair removal methods have their unique advantages and disadvantages, this is definitely one area where waxing shines.
Since waxing is a form of epilation and removes hair from the root, it is much longer-lasting than hair removal creams which only remove hair from the skin’s surface.
With waxing, you can expect to remain hair-free for weeks at a time. Depending on the level of hair growth you experience, this can range from anywhere between two weeks and four weeks.
If you hate shaving your legs every alternate day and crave smooth, hairless skin, this may be the right hair removal method for you.
Hair removal cream, on the other hand, isn’t as long-lasting. While it lasts longer than methods like shaving, it does not hold a candle to waxing.
Using depilatory creams can keep you hair-free and smooth for about three days, but after this, you can expect hair regrowth.
Another major factor to consider when discussing long-lasting hair removal methods is how the hair grows back when it eventually reappears.
Waxing removes hair by the root, and so, with repeated waxing, the hair grows back sparser and thinner.
Those with coarse hair love waxing because it makes their hair much softer. However, hair removal creams provide no such benefit. The hair grows back the same as it was before.
This makes waxing a better option if you want more long-lasting results and want your hair softer and thinner upon regrowth.
Waxing vs. Hair Removal Cream: Which Is Right for You?
You now know the answer to the question, “Which lasts longer: waxing or hair removal cream?” but this isn’t the only factor worth considering when choosing a hair removal method.
Both waxing and hair removal cream have their unique advantages and disadvantages and it’s important to consider these before making a final decision.
Advantages of Waxing
Waxing is used and loved by people all over the world and is one of the most popular hair removal methods out there. It provides many benefits, which we will discuss below.
Exfoliation and Hair Removal
Waxing is known for removing hair, but that’s not the only thing it does. It also exfoliates your skin, leading to the smooth, silky feeling we all know and love.
As the wax removes your hair, it also removes dead skin cells and exposes fresh, new skin.
Long-Lasting Results
We have discussed this before, but it’s worth mentioning again since it’s one of the primary reasons people opt for waxing over other hair removal methods.
Waxing is long-lasting and allows you to go weeks without having to touch up. From two weeks up to six weeks, waxing leaves you hair-free for long periods.
This is especially useful for those who don’t have time for hair removal too often or are going on vacation.
Weakens Hair Follicles and Slows Down Regrowth
Yes, waxing is long-lasting. However, that’s not its only merit. Since waxing removes hair from the root, it weakens the follicles.
Consistent waxing constantly weakens the follicle and hair grows back thinner and sparser as a result.
Therefore, waxing isn’t just a short-term solution – it helps prevent hair regrowth long-term as well.
Disadvantages of Waxing
Waxing is a popular hair removal method, but it does have disadvantages that you should keep in mind. We have listed the major ones below.
Requires Regrowth
One of the most tiresome things about waxing is that hair has to be a certain length before it can be waxed. If it is too short, the wax cannot adhere to the hair and remove it.
Therefore, if you want to get waxed, you have to wait for at least ¼ inch of hair regrowth.
This isn’t ideal when you have an important event coming up or want hair-free legs without having to wait for regrowth.
Painful
There’s no way around it – waxing is painful. Since you’re pulling the hair out from the root and not dissolving or cutting it, it’s bound to hurt.
However, it’s important to remember that people get used to the pain after waxing consistently.
So, while it may hurt a lot the first couple of times, you may end up only feeling mild discomfort after a few sessions when you become accustomed to it.
It’s also important to note that some areas are more sensitive than others. The bikini area, upper lip, and underarms are more painful to wax than your arms and legs.
Side Effects
Waxing results in smooth skin, but this isn’t the case right after your waxing session. Since the hair is pulled out from the root, the skin gets inflamed and irritated.
Those with particularly sensitive skin may even suffer from small bumps. These disappear within a day, and the redness fades within hours, but this does include downtime after your session.
Avoid this by applying aloe vera or a fragrance-free moisturizer after waxing yourself.
Can Get Expensive
Waxing can get expensive when you add up the costs of all the materials you need. In addition to wax, you may require a wax heater, wax strips, and more. Going to the salon instead of doing it yourself makes this even more expensive.
Messy
Some people don’t think the long-lasting results from waxing are worth the mess. Wax is a sticky substance that ends up getting everywhere.
While you can remove it with things like cold cream, this can quickly become a hassle.
Advantages of Hair Removal Cream
Waxing is a great hair removal method, but there are some places where hair removal cream shines. Check out the advantages of hair removal creams below.
No Ingrown Hair
Waxing may be long-lasting but doing it incorrectly can result in ingrown hair. Hair removal creams don’t have this problem and dissolve the hair instead of pulling it out. Therefore, you’re less likely to suffer from ingrown hair when using hair removal cream.
Hair Length Isn’t a Factor
One of the biggest advantages of hair removal cream is that you don’t have to wait for hair to reach a certain level of growth before using depilatory creams. No matter how short your hair, you can remove it using hair removal creams.
Pain-Free
Unless you have sensitive skin and react to the hair removal cream, this option is completely painless.
Methods like waxing and using an epilator cause pain or discomfort but this isn’t the case with hair removal creams. For those with low pain thresholds, this can be a great option.
Quick and Easy to Use
Waxing requires you to use a specific technique, but anyone can use hair removal creams.
They’re not difficult to master and all you have to do is apply the cream, wait for it to work, and gently remove it.
While you have to wait for the cream to work its magic, it is still quicker than waxing and doesn’t take much time.
Not As Messy
No one can deny that waxing is a messy experience. You end up getting wax everywhere and are a sticky mess by the end of the session. Hair removal creams are less messy and only require a quick rinse after you’re done.
DIY and Affordable
You don’t need to go to the salon and pay hundreds of dollars for hair removal. Hair removal creams can be used easily at home and are more affordable than waxing.
Even when done at home, waxing can be expensive because of the supplies. In addition to being quicker, hair removal creams are more affordable and convenient.
Disadvantages of Hair Removal Cream
As with all hair removal methods, depilatory creams aren’t perfect. They have various disadvantages that you should keep in mind when making your decision.
Pungent Odor
Hair removal creams are notorious for smelling unpleasant. In fact, they’re sometimes so strong that people refuse to use them all together. The chemicals used to dissolve hair cause this odor, which lasts throughout the process.
Some newer formulations use artificial scents to cover up this odor, but this isn’t always successful. People have noted that they can still smell the pungent odor.
Therefore, if you have a sensitive nose, stay far away from hair removal creams. If you can bear the smell for a short time, this may be a good hair removal method for you.
Irritation
The chemicals used in depilatory creams aren’t harmful to humans and have been used for years. However, these are quite harsh and may cause redness and irritation.
That’s why it’s important to patch-test your hair removal cream on a small area of skin before applying it all over your arms or legs.
In addition to redness and irritation, there’s a possibility you may be allergic to some of the chemicals.
Not Long-Lasting
Hair removal creams may be more long-lasting than methods like shaving, but they’re not long-lasting in general. The results only last 2-3 days, after which you start to notice hair regrowth.
May Not Be Suitable for Dark Hair
Those with darker hair and lighter skin often find a major problem with hair removal creams. Since these creams only remove hair from the skin’s surface, dark, thick hair can appear through the skin, especially if you have ingrown hair.
If you have dark hair, you may notice a shadow instead of completely smooth, hair-free skin.
Conclusion
Both waxing and hair removal creams are great hair removal methods. However, what you choose to select depends on personal preference, pain threshold, the rate of hair growth, and more.
It can be a tough decision, but a thorough breakdown with advantages and disadvantages is often useful when deciding between the two methods.
We hope that this breakdown helped you answer the all-important question, “Which lasts longer: waxing or hair removal cream?”
Choose the method that suits your lifestyle and needs, and you’re one step closer to hair-free arms and legs.