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To help you decide, we reached out to dermatologists and a skincare expert for their advice and tips.

Meet the Experts

Keep reading to learn whether waxing or shaving works best for you.

Woman in white bathing suit with arms on hips

Lucas Ottone / Design by Cristina Cianci

Many people choose to forgo this method of hair removal to avoid the frustrating grow-out period.

just yourunderarmsor your whole body).

Waxing will leave you smoother longer asunwanted hairs become thinnerand in some cases dont grow back at all.

Many people have noticed less irritation after waxing, especially decreasedingrown hairsand breakouts."

Two blades are just enough."

Which Areas Do Waxing and Shaving Work Best For?

Waxing is a method that can be done all over the body.

However, Shays recommends avoiding the head or very coarse hair on the face.

“Avoid using heavily perfumed shaving creams as they can irritate these delicate skin spots.

Unscented, moisturizing cleansers and non-soap cleansers are preferable.

Waxing requires less preparation, but hair should be visible above skin level.

Trim bikini hair down if it is longer than an inch.

Wax will not take up hair that was shaved a few days before, says Shays.

Right before your appointment, take a warm shower or bath to soften the follicles.

Shaving, on the other hand, is relatively painless when done correctly.

Nazarian agrees and says shaving towards the end of your shower or bath is best.

Use a gentle, unscented gel or cleanser before shaving to decrease tension on skin or hair.

Side Effects

As with any beauty treatment, the possibility of side effects is imminent.

In rare cases, people may have an allergic reaction or break out.

see to it that you are going to a professional who is trained in the art of waxing.

However, neither change the size or appearance of your pores,” says Nazarian.

Which Results Last Longer?

On average, a wax lasts around four weeks before regrowth appears.

you’re free to extend the time in between appointments by waxing consistently.

There are alsoshave club subscriptionsavailable to ensure you have everything you need on hand at all times.

Just be careful to read the directions before applying or you could be spending more money to fix mistakes.

For some, thepain of waxingis enough to put up with all the tedious parts of shaving.

For others, the idea of shaving every day is much too high-maintenance.

There is no better or worse processonly whats right for you and your skin jot down.