Waxing, shaving or another method?
We know the answer doesn’t always come easy, so we’ll walk you through the pros and cons of the most common hair removal techniques for the hairy details (pun intended)!
Shaving
Possibly the most accessible of them all. With shaving you remove the hair close to the skin’s surface. Unfortunately, the hair usually makes a speedy comeback as the roots stay put. The time it takes to grow back depends on which body part you shaved, as well as your unique hormonal balance, but expect to see it popping up no later than 2 days after the shave!
Chemical Depilatories
Veet and Nair are popular examples of chemical depilatories that melt the hair away. And, just like with shaving, the roots aren’t removed, meaning that new hair will quickly resurface. Please remember that these lotions can irritate your skin because hair-removal chemicals frequently penetrate the skin.
Tweezing
Another staple of our your beauty routine, tweezing is most commonly used for shaping eyebrows or removing those annoying stray hairs. Tweezing is really great for the latter, such as keeping things tidy between waxes. However, it’s extremely time-consuming and completely unrealistic for the removal of a large amount of hair.
Sugaring
Sugaring (or Persian waxing) is a very old hair removal technique that is often considered to be a more natural alternative. A sugar paste made with water, lemon juice and sugar as the main ingredients is applied with a spatula and removed with a strip of cloth or paper. Some claim it’s less painful than waxing, but the results vary wildly, depending on the composition of the paste and the skill level of beauty practitioners.
Threading
Threading is an ancient technique that uses a strand of knotted cotton thread that tie around individual hairs and pull them out. Threading doesn’t usually traumatise your skin, but it can irritate those with sensitive skin. It’s regarded as a safe method for those who can’t or don’t want to wax.
Waxing
Arguably the most durable and efficient method, waxing usually means applying different types of warm wax to remove hair from the body with precise, quick movements. The most popular types of wax are:
- Hard wax, which is allowed to cool and harden after application. If you’re planning on a bikini wax, this should be your go-to choice. Good quality hard wax doesn’t stick to your skin, but only to the unwanted hair. Great news for those of you with sensitive skin! We highly recommend Lycon wax, which we use at ASPA Den Haag. We have several Lycon options available, depending on the area that needs to be tidied up.
- Soft wax, also known as strip wax, is mostly used for waxing large areas (such as legs, arms and backs), where hair removal with hard wax would take forever. This wax has a honey-like consistency when hot and is spread thinly across the skin before being covered with a muslin or non-woven strip. However, ingrown hairs can be a problem with soft wax, so consult with your beautician on how to avoid this problem.
An ASPA special tip: If you are using retinoids or alpha-hydroxy acids on your face, please mention this to your beautysalon. We generally recommend that your stop using these products in the area getting waxed for at least 3 days before your appointment, and a minimum of 3-4 days post-waxing.
Brazilian waxing
Ok, so this is not a separate method, but a very popular treatment we feel deserves attention. Most beauty therapists perform bikini waxes, but not everyone offers Brazilian waxing. The reason is that during a Brazilian beauticians work with sensitive skin tissue, which increases the risk of tears and burns.
Make sure that your beautysalon of choice is using Lycon wax for delicate treatments, such Brazilian waxing or face hair removal. And read client reviews on multiple websites to confirm a salon’s excellent track record.