Quick answer: laser treatment lasts longer, and there are other benefits like no ingrown hair and less pain, but whether it’s “better” for you depends on personal and financial considerations.
There are about ten different methods of hair removal in common use, from shaving and plucking to creams and electrolysis. But two of the most popular are laser treatment and waxing.
Laser treatment is always done by a professional therapist using high-tech equipment. Waxing is usually done by a professional, but some people prefer to do it themselves on certain parts of the body. In this article, we’ll look at the benefits of each method, so you can decide which is better for you, your circumstances and your priorities.
Benefits of laser hair removal over waxing
Laser hair removal needs to be done by a professional in a clinical setting. The equipment is specialised and expensive, and therapists need deep and ongoing training to ensure safety, effectiveness and care for the customer. Overall, the benefits of laser treatment over waxing are as follows:
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Long-term reduction. After completing a full treatment series (typically 6–8 sessions, 4–6 weeks apart), most people experience permanent or near-permanent hair reduction. Note that while some areas of the body may become completely hair-free, other parts might still have some hair growth. The amount will always be greatly reduced, however, and can often be dealt with using other methods. Waxing needs to be constantly re-done, as the follicles will continue to produce new roots.
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Less frequent maintenance. For the most part, after your session is complete, regrowth will be small, so you might only feel the need to come in for another second once a year, or every two years. Some people never have to come back. Again, that compares favourably with waxing, which is a lifelong commitment.
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No ingrown hairs. Laser treatment works by destroying the follicles, which is where new hairs are generated. For that reason, there’s no chance of an ingrown hair in a successfully treated follicle. Ingrown hairs are quite common in waxing, however. Follicles can become blocked or distorted during the waxing process, so the hair can take the path of least resistance and grow sideways rather than outwards. That means it will continue growing under the outer layers of skin.
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Less painful over time. It’s generally agreed that while the first session of laser treatment can be a bit uncomfortable, subsequent sessions get better – and there are plenty of ways to make it less painful like cooling. Waxing is basically plucking multiple hairs simultaneously, so if plucking a single hair hurts, it might not be the treatment for you!
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No need to have long hairs. With laser treatment, the area being treated actually needs to be shaved shortly before the treatment, so clearly there’s no need to have long hair for it to work. Waxing works by having a tacky, sticky substance grip onto the exposed hairs, so hair needs to be about a quarter of an inch (half a centimetre) in length before it will work. Having to grow hair first can be awkward for some people, especially if the area to be treated is visible.
Advantages of waxing over laser treatment
There are two types of waxing – hot and cold. With the former, hot wax is smeared onto cloths or paper strips, and is applied to the skin and allowed to cool, before being whipped off, ideally along with the hairs. Cold waxing is similar, but instead uses a sticky substance that doesn’t need to be cooled to work – it simply adheres to the hairs and pulls them out at the root. Here are the benefits of waxing over laser treatment:
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Lower upfront cost. An individual waxing session is relatively cheap. For example you can probably get a bikini wax for less than half the price of a salon haircut. Laser treatment, with its equipment and expertise, naturally has a higher cost. Bear in mind, however, that waxing needs to be re-done regularly, so the costs will mount up over time, whereas laser treatment is more permanent, perhaps requiring the occasional top-up over the years.
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Works on all hair colours. We’ve written about laser hair removal for blonde hair, so if that affects you, it’s worth a read. In short, laser removal is less effective on lighter hair colours (blonde, light grey and white), so you might need to seek alternatives if you’re blonde. Waxing might be best for you in this case, but other options exist too.
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Immediate results. With waxing, the hair is gone straight away. There could be bleeding and discomfort at first, but after this passes, you’ll have smooth skin. With laser treatment, the hairs remain in place while the follicle is destroyed, but will take a few days to actually fall out.
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No technology or location limitations: Waxing can be done anywhere, as long as basic hygiene is observed. Laser treatment requires specialist equipment in a clinical setting, as well as safety and comfort equipment like goggles and cooling devices.
So which is best for you?
With all the information to hand, you can now hopefully come to a more educated decision on whether waxing or laser treatment is best for your hair removal needs. Without doubt, cost is always going to be a key factor for most people.
A quick waxing session might indeed only cost a few pounds, but you’ll definitely need to go back again and again as long as you want to be hair-free in that part of your body. Laser treatment has a higher up-front cost, but once the treatment is finished, you’ll hardly ever need to be re-treated, if at all. The total cost of laser treatment might be even less if your clinic offers an upfront payment for a complete treatment rather than paying for each session individually, so explore options to save money if this is important to you.
That said, there are benefits and drawbacks to both types when compared to each other. Just remember that these are not the only two options. If you have blonde hair, for example, that doesn’t mean you have to go for waxing or sugaring – epilation, shaving, hair-removal creams or electrolysis might work better for you.