What's the difference between waxing and laser hair removal?

Question

I want to get rid of my unwanted hairs. Would you recommend "waxing" or "laser hair removal". What's their difference? I don't know exactly about waxing, never tried it before. What is the safest between the two. Thanks..

Answer 1

Laser hair removal uses a laser to "kill" the hair at the root. It can cost thousands of dollars and demands multiple treatments. It all depends on the area and thickness of the hair you are trying to remove. It can also lead to permanent scarring and adverse skin reactions when not done properly.

Waxing uses a hot (or sometimes cold) wax applied to your skin and a linen strip to rip the hair strand from it's follicle. It is not permanent and requires nearly monthly trips to the salon. It does have quicker results though. About the worst things that can happen are burnt skin and allergic reaction.

Personally, I feel that waxing is safer, but not permanent and a monthly hassle (but women are used to that!).

Answer 2

Waxing costs less per session, is way more painful and is temporary.

Laser is more expensive, hurts some and is permanent. You generally need 5-6 treatments to get all of the hair.

Neither causes long term damage. In the case of laser, you just need to make sure that you do not have a tan when you are treated as you want the laser to interact with the hair follicle and when you have a tan, it can heat your skin.

Answer 3

Neither is safe in that both are likely to cause serious damage.
Waxing pulls hair out by the root. Laser burns it off. Both claim to do long-term damage to the roots so that eventually it doesn't grow back strongly or at all.

If there's not too much of it, do you really need to do anything? Most guys are OK about women with, for example, a slight moustache.

If you do decide you have to do something, then there isn't a simple answer.

Facial (and also body) hair on women comes about in the same way as on men because of

1) your body being sensitized, before you were even born, to testosterone -- doesn't happen to all girls, but does to many

2) your body producing high levels of testosterone

The growth rate and coarseness of the hair depends on just how much testosterone is circulating in your bloodstream.

Steer clear of bleaching -- when someone sees you against the light you'll look as if you have a glowing moustache and/or beard.

As far as removing it is concerned it's worth remembering that

* Waxing, plucking, threading, epilating all pull the hair out by the roots and where the growth is hormonally-driven can actually stimulate a dormant follicle into producing more hair quicker. They also distort the root if done repeatedly, leading to hair growing at strange angles. And you've got to let the hair grow to quite a length before you can repeat the exercise. It can also damage the skin and discolor it. Long-term use of waxing also causes bad wrinkles.

* Chemical depilatories strong enough to remove the hair are very likely to burn the skin, cause swelling and cause long-term discoloration of the skin.

* Laser is also liable to cause burning and discoloration and in any case only works effectively on a dark hair/light skin combinantion.

* Electrolysis is very liable to cause scarring and discoloration of the skin.

Which, like it or not, leaves shaving which does not damage the skin. Best done with a men's-style electric razor, the best of which, for women, are probably those from the men's range of Norelco razors (Philishave outside the US). Most women who try a men's Norelco wonder why nobody ever told them about it before.

Answer 4

laser removal removes hair permanently, supposedly and waxing lasts about up to 3 weeks, laser is much more expensive

Answer 5

Laser is permament after a few sessions of treatment, but expensive and is a little painful.
Waxing is way cheaper, but not permanent and is just as painful.

Answer 6

there is no such thing as permanent hair removal. it just hair reduction..

Answer 7

laser is painless

Answer 8

ouch and ouchless.
ooooooh and aaaaaaaaaaaaaargh =)