Shaving vs Waxing: A Guide

The holiday season is on its way, and with it comes the promise of Christmas and New Year parties that give you the freedom to throw on an effortless velvet dress, adorn stylish sparkly stilettos and transform your legs into the star of your outfit. 

We all dream of achieving smooth, polished skin. Of gaining that lustrous leading lady look that gives you the confidence to wear whatever you want, whenever you want. 

Luckily, RMUK has all the tips and tricks on how to make your skin look its very best. That’s why we’ve created this guide to help you decide whether waxing or shaving is the best option for your skin this winter. 

Shaving

Benefits Of Shaving

1/ Easy to do at home

Shaving is easy to do at home, at your own convenience. It can be easily slipped into your daily routine or as part of your self-care ritual.

2/ Shaving is painless

Compared to waxing, shaving causes very little discomfort for your skin which means it also doesn’t require as much aftercare.

3/ You can shave hair of any length

When you shave body hair, you’re not confined by an ‘ideal shaving length’. You can remove it whether it has a few days of growth or you haven’t shaved in months, making it convenient to do at a moment’s notice.

How to shave comfortably 

How to wet shave:

1. The best time to shave is immediately after you’ve taken a shower. The water will soften your skin and hair, making it easier for the razor to cut through
2. Lather the area with shaving cream or gel 
3. Shave your hair with the grain without pressing the razor into your skin - applying too much pressure can cause irritation and risk of cuts
4. Rinse your blade in between each stroke to remove the hair and keep it moist for a clean, comfortable shave
5. Rinse your skin to remove excess shaving cream/gel or lingering hair 
6. Finish by moisturising the area thoroughly 

A wet shave leaves your skin glossy and silky.

How often do you need to shave?

If you wish to maintain perfectly smooth legs then you may need to shave every 2-3 days.

This is because shaving trims the hair on the surface of your skin rather than pulling it out at the root, meaning regrowth occurs quickly. 

For longer lasting results, you may wish to consider a professional wax.

RMUK offers waxing treatments of all types, from a full leg wax to your choice of bikini wax, that provide long-term protection against hair growth. 

     0113 243 6842      |       info@rm-uk.com      |      57 Great George St, Leeds, LS1 3BB

Drawbacks of shaving

Whilst waxing is a fantastic quick fix for hair removal, it doesn’t provide a reliable solution to gaining long-lasting smoothness. 

When you shave body hair, you may experience: 

• Irritation and inflammation of hair follicles 
• Results that last for as little as a day 
• Cuts and ingrown hairs from dull blades 
• Shaving rash
• Hairs that grow back with stubble-like texture
  

Waxing

Benefits Of Waxing

1/ Smooth skin for 3-4 weeks

One of the greatest benefits of waxing is that your hair will take 3-4 weeks to grow back giving long lasting results. This removes the hassle in summer when you want to have your legs out, all month long.

2/ Waxing can remove dead skin cells

It’s true! When you remove the wax from your skin, it doesn’t just take away the hairs; it takes dead skin cells and grime build-up with it too. Your skin will be clean, fresh and silky smooth after a salon wax.

3/ No more shaving rash

If you’ve tried shaving with a blunt razor, you’ll be familiar with the itchy irritation that comes hand in hand with this method of hair removal. And it’s not just blunt razors that cause shaving rash; the inflammation occurs as a result of friction against your skin. 

With waxing, you’ll be able to safely wave goodbye to shaving rash for good.

4/ Wave goodbye to ingrown hairs

Ingrown hairs are just as uncomfortable as shaving rash and occur more frequently. When you invest in a professional wax, your beautician will be able to remove the hairs swiftly from the root which leads to fewer, if any, ingrown hairs.

5/ Subtle, not stubble results

When you shave hairs on your body, you cut them bluntly which leads to thicker regrowth. This is why your body hair feels like stubble when it regrows after a shave. 

With waxing, your hair is removed at the follicle, making it grow back with its natural fine quality. Say goodbye to waxing and make stubble a thing of the past.

6/ Subtle, not stubble results

Professional waxing is a fantastic hair removal treatment for people of all genders, in all areas of the body. Whoever you are, wherever you want to remove hair, waxing can work for you.

How To Prepare For A Wax

Before you attend your waxing appointment, it is likely that you will be advised to:

1/ Grow your hair:

It needs to be ½ inch long for the wax to grip correctly. Hair that is too long will also complicate the treatment 

2/ Exfoliate:

Exfoliating 48 hours before your appointment helps release any trapped hairs and lingering dead skin cells

3/ Give your skin a wash:

Dirty skin can be oily and prevent the wax from sticking to your hairs properly

How Long Will My Wax Last

A salon fresh wax will last up to 3-4 weeks, allowing you to eliminate all thoughts of body hair from your mind for up to a month.

RMUK offers waxing treatments of all types, from a full leg wax to your choice of bikini wax, to give you the carefree spirit you desire throughout the party season. 

 0113 243 6842      |      info@rm-uk.com      |     57 Great George St, Leeds, LS1 3BB

How often do you need to wax? 

It takes a few days for hair to grow to the required ½ inch in between waxes, so it is recommended that you leave at least 2-3 weeks between each wax. 

However, different types of hair grow at different rates, so you may want to adjust your waxing schedule depending on the area you regularly get waxed. 

Bikini wax - You should aim to get your bikini area waxed every 2 weeks 

Legs - Leg hair can be waxed every 3-5 weeks  

Arms - Arm hair can be left for 4-8 weeks before it needs waxing again  

Underarms - Underarm hair is more noticeable when it grows back, so you should consider getting it waxed every 2 weeks

Waxing Aftercare

Although waxing is an effective method of removing hair, it can still cause pain. Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to reduce tenderness and soothe your skin:

1/ Avoid getting sweaty: Sweat can easily irritate your hair follicles after a wax, so keep away from saunas, gyms and other steamy environments.

2/ Soothe your skin: Natural oils and butters such as tea tree oil, aloe vera and shea butter will encourage a smooth texture, hydrate your skin and soothe any irritation.

3/ UV exposure isn’t your friend: Your skin will be delicate after a wax and exposure to UV rays can penetrate your skin easier. 

4/ Take cold showers: Cold water can be particularly soothing for your skin after a wax. 

5/ Be careful with deodorant: If you’ve had your underarms waxed, try to avoid using deodorant for 24 hours. Instead, wash with sensitive, unscented soaps.

Can You Shave After Waxing?

The short answer is yes. 

It is perfectly safe to shave after waxing, however we wouldn’t recommend it. This is because shaving your skin will reset the smooth appearance of your skin and create a stubble-like appearance. 

For best results, book your follow up waxing appointment after your initial treatment to ensure you retain your lustrous leg look for longer.

When Should You Not Get A Wax

You shouldn’t get a wax if:

You have a skin condition:

It can be unsafe to get a wax if you have a condition such as eczema, psoriasis or chronic acne in the treated area

You have a rash at the time of treatment:

Even if you are experiencing an outbreak of hives, wax will cause more damage to rashes. You should also never get a wax if you’re sunburnt

You have skin imperfections present: Avoid waxing an area if you have warts, moles, skin tags, raw scar tissue or open wounds in those areas

You’ve recently had an aesthetic treatment: Botox, dermal fillers and other aesthetic treatments make your skin too sensitive for wax for up to 3 months following treatment 

You’re on your period: Although you are still able to receive waxing treatments on your period, hormonal changes may cause additional discomfort and sensitivity, so you may wish to avoid it at this time

If any of these apply to you, then it might be safer to shave from home, whilst carefully working around the impacted areas.

At RMUK, our waxing treatments are guaranteed to leave you feeling fierce, fire and fearless. So why wait? Book your appointment today.

0113 243 6842      |      info@rm-uk.com      |     57 Great George St, Leeds, LS1 3BB