Women in pursuit to look good indulge in a lot of beauty rituals on a regular basis. Unwanted body hair can be quite unsightly and it is one of the many things that women dread. Hectic lifestyle, multiple roles make it difficult for women to follow lengthy and cumbersome procedures in order to enhance their looks. Therefore, women succumb to shaving and before they know it, it becomes a habit. Although it is convenient, women always fear that long-term shaving would make their hair grow faster and coarser.
Does shaving really lead to thicker and darker hair?
It is believed by women all over the world that shaving results in faster and coarser hair growth. Although, the belief is not backed by any scientific evidence, women display full conviction. The fact is that shaving has nothing to do in deciding the rate and texture of hair growth. Hair growth is determined by hair follicles that exist underneath the skin. Given that shaving only removes the outer most part of your hair that is already dead and does not extract hair from roots, it is unlikely that the procedure would affect hair growth in any way. The reason your hair may look coarse is that shaving creates an illusion of thicker and darker hair. Longer hair is softer because it has flexibility. Shaving results in a stubble effect which may look coarse. Hair looks darker because of the in-grown hair and black dot like spots that appear as a result of regular shaving. However, if you let your hair grow, it will be the same as before.
Shaving vs Waxing
Because of the above stated preconceived notions, waxing is often construed as a better and safer option as compared to shaving. However, both shaving and waxing have their pros and cons. Some of them are listed below:
Pros of shaving
1. It is an inexpensive method to get rid of excess body hair.
2. It is least cumbersome and less time consuming as opposed to other conventional methods like waxing, hair removal creams, etc.
3. It is a flexible and portable means of getting rid of unwanted hair. You can shave even when you are on a vacation.
4. You do not have to wait until hair grows longer in order to shave. It ensures you are hair-free all the time.
Cons of shaving
1. If you are careless or do not shave it in proper way, shaving can cause cuts and injuries.
2. You have to be regular with shaving because the result is not long lasting.
3. Shaving often causes the problem of ingrown hair.
4. Razors can get contaminated and cause infections. Razor burns or bumps may even irritate the hair follicle, making the condition worse.
5. Dull blades need to be replaced often.
6. You have to be always careful about storing your razors, if you have kids and pets at home.
Pros of waxing
1. Waxing definitely gives long lasting results. You get to stay hair-free for at least a couple of weeks.
2. Waxing does not result in unsightly razor bumps or burns.
3. It is a proven fact that long term waxing does result in lesser hair growth because the hair roots get traumatized.
Cons of waxing
1. Waxing is more expensive than shaving. Also, it is recommended that unless you know it too well, you should always get it done from a professional.
2. Waxing may result in break-outs at some places. So it is not really foolproof.
3. Waxing hurts. People with extra sensitive skin might be totally averse to waxing because it sure pains a lot.
4. You have to wait until your hair grows back long enough to be waxed again. And if you have a date or a party to attend during this time-period, you are left with no choice but to shave.
The BeautyRamp verdict
Over all, waxing has more long-term benefits. Shaving should be used as a quick fix when there is an urgent need. For rest of the time, it is better to stick to waxing. The results are great and long lasting. Your skin feels soft and supple after waxing.