Body Hair Removal Methods Compared: Shaving, Waxing, Threading, IPL and Laser

Shaving: The Daily Method

How it works: A razor blade cuts the hair shaft at the skin surface. The root remains intact; hair regrows immediately.

Regrowth time: 1 to 5 days depending on individual growth rate and the hair area.

Pain level: None, unless the skin is cut.

Cost: Razor blades, shaving cream or gel. £1 to £20 per month depending on razor quality and frequency.

Skin impact: The blade removes a surface layer of dead skin cells with each pass (mild exfoliation). Using a multi-blade razor on the same skin section multiple times causes irritation and contributes to ingrown hairs in areas with coarser, curlier hair (bikini area, armpits, legs in coarser hair types).

Who it suits: Fast, convenient daily maintenance. Works on all skin tones and hair colours. Less appropriate for areas prone to ingrown hairs in your specific hair type.

Best practice:

• Use a sharp blade; dull blades require more pressure and cause more irritation
• Shave in the direction of hair growth to reduce ingrown risk
• Apply a moisturising barrier immediately after shaving
• Replace blades every 5 to 7 shaves

Waxing: The 3 to 6-Week Method

How it works: Hot or cold wax is applied to the skin and removed quickly along with the attached hair, pulling each hair from the root.

Regrowth time: 3 to 6 weeks. The hair needs to be at least 6mm long before re-waxing.

Pain level: Moderate to significant depending on the area. The bikini line, underarms and face are the most sensitive. The pain reduces with regular waxing as the hair becomes finer over time.

Cost: Professional waxing costs £15 to £60 per session depending on area. At-home wax kits cost £5 to £25.

Skin impact: Removes hair from the root, which weakens the follicle gradually with repeated sessions. Common side effects: redness for 2 to 24 hours, potential ingrown hairs as hair regrows (particularly in coarser and curlier hair types), folliculitis (inflamed follicles) if bacteria enter the open follicle.

Who it suits: Anyone wanting longer hair-free periods between sessions. Requires tolerance for the waxing session discomfort.

Ingrown hair management with waxing: Exfoliate the waxed area 48 hours after waxing (not immediately; the follicle is open and exfoliation causes irritation within the first 48 hours). Continue exfoliating 2 to 3 times per week between sessions. Apply a salicylic acid lotion to prone areas.

Threading: The Precision Method for Facial Hair

How it works: A twisted cotton thread rolls across the skin, catching hair in the thread and pulling it from the root. A technique-dependent method; the quality of results varies significantly by practitioner skill.

Regrowth time: 3 to 5 weeks. Same mechanism as waxing (removes from the root).

Pain level: Low to moderate. Less than waxing for most people. A sharp snapping sensation rather than waxing's pull.

Cost: £5 to £25 per session. Significantly cheaper than laser for ongoing use.

Areas suitable for threading: Eyebrows, upper lip, chin, forehead hairline. Not appropriate for large body areas (legs, arms, bikini); the process is too slow for these areas.

Skin impact: Gentler than waxing on the skin surface. No chemicals or heat applied. Suitable for skin that reacts to wax (redness, lifting of skin with wax). Not suitable during active acne; the thread across the skin spreads bacteria.

Who it suits: Facial hair removal, particularly eyebrow shaping where the precision of threading is an advantage. Skin types that react to waxing.

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light): The Long-Reduction Method

How it works: Broad-spectrum light pulses target the melanin in hair follicles, generating heat that damages the follicle and disrupts growth. Not a laser; IPL uses a broader light spectrum.

Regrowth reduction: 60% to 80% reduction in hair regrowth over 6 to 12 sessions spaced 4 to 8 weeks apart. Not permanent; maintenance sessions are needed every 6 to 12 months.

Who it works on: Best results on dark hair on light to medium skin tones. The contrast between dark hair pigment and light skin allows effective melanin targeting.

Who it does not work on:

• Very light, blonde, grey or red hair (insufficient melanin in the hair)
• Darker skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI) with standard IPL devices; the melanin in dark skin absorbs some of the light energy, increasing the risk of burns and hyperpigmentation

At-home IPL devices: Lumea (Philips), Braun Silk-Expert Pro. Cost £200 to £400. Produce comparable results to professional IPL with consistent use but require more sessions. Require a minimum colour contrast between skin and hair.

Pain level: Mild snapping sensation. Significantly less painful than waxing.

Laser Hair Removal: The Most Effective Method

How it works: A single-wavelength laser targets melanin in the hair follicle with precision. More targeted than IPL; produces more effective and consistent follicle damage.

Regrowth reduction: 70% to 90% permanent reduction over 6 to 8 sessions.

Cost: £80 to £250 per session per area. Multiple sessions required. Total investment for full legs: £1,200 to £3,000. Long-term cost comparison with shaving and waxing typically shows laser is cost-neutral over 5 to 7 years.

Who it works on:

The Nd:YAG is the only laser appropriate for dark skin tones (Fitzpatrick V to VI) because its longer wavelength bypasses surface melanin and targets the follicle more safely.

Who laser does not work on: Blonde, grey, red or white hair regardless of skin tone. These hair colours lack sufficient melanin for laser targeting.

Pain level: Moderate. A snapping heat sensation. Topical numbing cream applied 45 to 60 minutes before reduces discomfort significantly for sensitive areas.