Many women experience facial hair growth and remove the hair through various methods. While waxing and shaving are both appropriate ways to remove unwanted body hair, shaving is not recommended for women who want to remove hair from their faces. For facial hair removal, waxing is a better option.
Methods
Waxing removes unwanted facial hair from the root through the application of a thin layer of wax to the excess hair. A cloth or paper strip is pressed firmly on top of the wax. The wax is removed by quickly pulling off the strip in the opposite direction of the hair growth.
Shaving, on the other hand, removes visible facial hair by cutting the hair off of the skin's surface. You can apply shaving cream before shaving.
Regrowth
Most women will see hair regrowth from two weeks to one month after waxing. On some areas of the face, particularly the eyebrows, waxing can cause hair to appear more sparse, and in some instances may not regrow.
Some women will see some hair regrowth within 24 hours after shaving, and most will regrow hair within a few days. While the commonly held myth that shaving causes hair to regrow darker and thicker is not true, it may appear that way because the razor's blunt cut makes regrowth more obvious.
Cost
While you can wax facial hair at home, it is recommended that you have a stylist do it. A chin or lip wax typically costs between $10 to $15.
The cost of shaving is mostly the cost of the razor. The cost of a razor can vary from a few cents to a few dollars per razor.
Pain
Waxing sensitive areas of the face, especially the upper lip, can be quite painful. Pain from waxing typically subsides within minutes of wax being removed. Some women experience irritation or redness after waxing.
Shaving itself is not normally painful, however there is a risk of cutting yourself while shaving, which can cause pain or scarring.
Considerations
Shaving can cause hair bumps, redness and stubble on the face, which makes it an undesirable option when removing facial hair. Experts recommend waxing and applying a daily hair inhibiting cream to slow regrowth for the best results.
References
Writer Bio
Aja Dorsey Jackson is a writer and marketing consultant. She is class news editor of "Garrison Forest Magazine," has written for several Baltimore-based publications and is author of a blog. She holds a bachelor's degree in mass communications from Towson University.