Waxing involves applying warm wax to the desired area, letting it cool and harden, then quickly pulling off the wax to rip the hair out from the follicle. New hair begins to grow back in 4-6 weeks as the follicle is only damaged, not permanently destroyed. Laser hair removal uses highly concentrated pulses of laser light to target hair follicle pigment. The pigment absorbs light, heating follicles and destroying them, so new hairs cannot grow. Multiple treatments are needed, but each session progressively damages the follicles until hair growth is permanently disabled.
Effectiveness
In terms of effectiveness, laser hair removal delivers longer-lasting smooth skin compared to waxing. FDA-approved lasers used by trained technicians permanently reduce hair growth by 90% after approximately 6-8 sessions. Only 10% of hair may regrow over years or decades. Waxing only removes hair temporarily, lasting 3-6 weeks on average before stubble grows back. Repetition is necessary regularly to maintain smoothness. Waxing treats larger areas faster at one time than a laser treatment session.
Pain and discomfort
Laser hair removal involves a minor discomfort, described by most as rubber band snapping sensations on the skin. It is possible to soothe treatment areas with cooling methods. Patients may take over-the-counter pain medicine if needed.
Waxing causes more intense pain during the procedure as hair is ripped quickly from the root. The pain subsides quickly once the wax strip is detached. Anti-inflammatory creams and pain relief medication can help alleviate post-waxing discomfort.
Treatment areas and candidate suitability
Depilazione Laser Treviso works best on light skin with dark coarse hair. All skin types get treated, but results are optimal for fair to medium skin. The laser device must have proper wavelength, settings, and cooling capabilities. The treatment is not available for blondes, redheads, and grayheads.
Waxing removes hair from almost all body areas on any skin type. Thick hair that is at least 1/4 inch long is easiest to wax. Fine facial hair is harder to remove. Accutane users must wait 6 months before waxing. Those with diabetes or compromised skin may not be candidates.
Cost and value
Laser hair removal costs significantly more than waxing per session. The permanent hair reduction results save money over years of waxing. Full legs cost ~$400 per session with 6 sessions recommended. Underarms cost ~$85 per treatment. Yearly waxing costs can exceed laser hair removal over time. It is generally convenient, with full legs taking about an hour. No downtime is required, allowing you to resume normal activities immediately. Some redness may occur for 24 hours. 6-8 spaced-out treatments achieve desired results.
Waxing costs less per session, with full leg waxing starting at around $80 and underarms $20. To maintain smoothness, costs recur every 3-6 weeks long term. So, waxing for decades ultimately costs more than laser hair removal. With waxing, legs may take 15-30 minutes for full treatment, but appointments are closer together. Some limitations in activities for 24 hours are needed as the skin recovers. Waxing requires repeats every 3-6 weeks for lifetime smoothness.
