Waxing is one of the traditional hair removal methods most women have loved till now. It is a simple, quick, and easy hair removal method. Moreover, people believe that this hair removal method reduces hair growth.
Some say they have experienced a reduction in their hair growth after waxing while others believe that it is a myth. So, what do you think? Does waxing reduce hair growth?
Waxing undoubtedly gives you a month-long hair-free body and face, but for details on reducing hair growth, check out the sections below.
Table of Contents:
- Part 1: Understanding Hair Growth and Waxing
- Part 2: Does Waxing Reduce Hair Growth?
- Part 3: How Many Times Do You Have to Wax Before Hair Stops Growing?
- Part 4: Does Waxing Last Longer Than Shaving?
- Part 5: Best Hair Removal Methods to Reduce Hair Growth
Part 1: Understanding Hair Growth and Waxing
A wax sticks to your hair and when you pull it off the surface of your skin, the body hair also gets yanked from the root. As a result, damage occurs to your hair follicles. This prolongs the time for the new hair to grow again. Pulling the hair from the roots also brings changes in the hair growth cycle that are eventually responsible for reduced hair growth. To know how waxing reduces hair growth, let’s understand this hair growth cycle.
Anagen
Anagen is the active growth phase in which rapid cell divisions occur so that your new hair can grow out. This phase lasts for 3-5 years and even 7 years for some people. As the phase continues, your hair keeps growing until you remove it using any hair removal technique.
Catagen
The second phase is the transitional catagen phase. During this phase, the hairs have grown to their maximum potential, and their blood supply is reduced. This phase lasts for approximately 10 days.
Telogen
The next phase is the telogen, or resting phase, of your hair growth cycle. During this phase, the hair stays intact with its roots, but the hair follicles become dormant, which means there is no hair growth.
Exogen
The last one is the exogen phase, in which hair is separated from the follicles and starts shedding. During this phase, you can lose 50 to 100 hairs in a single day. It lasts a maximum of five months, and then the cycle starts again.
Part 2: Does Waxing Reduce Hair Growth?
Waxing reduces hair growth, but if you assume that the technique permanently removes hair, then the concept is wrong. Waxing decreases hair volume and prolongs the period of regrowth, but even repeated sessions cannot give permanent results.
However, if you stay consistent with your waxing schedule, your hair growth cycle becomes more synchronized. This results in sparser hair growth so you will not have to visit your cosmetologist very often.
Consistency in your schedule is important for prolonging hair growth time, but the efficacy is not the same for everyone. The hair growth cycle varies from person to person depending upon genetics and hormonal influences. For instance, hair grows faster in men than in women.
Part 3: How Many Times Do You Have to Wax Before Hair Stops Growing?
If you are looking for a permanent hair removal method, waxing is not the solution. As mentioned above, waxing slows down hair growth, but you cannot expect lpermanent results. You can undergo multiple sessions, and with each session, you will notice your hair getting sparser and finer.
The results are different from one person to the other. Let’s see which factors influence these results:
- Hormonal changes: Androgens highly influence your hair growth cycle and an increase in these hormones may lead to excessive hair on your body
- Genetics: Your genetics play a vital role in determining the results after waxing. Genes determine your hair’s length, color, density, and thickness. Some people have thicker hairs that grow faster than others
- Age: Lastly, the hair growth rate is higher during the teenage years and reduces as you age
Part 4: Does Waxing Last Longer Than Shaving?
Yes, waxing lasts longer than shaving. After shaving, your hair regrows within 3 days and the maximum duration for no regrowth is one rare week. On the other hand, waxing results can last for nearly a month.
This is because shaving cuts the hair just above the surface of your skin and does not affect your roots or hair follicles. Unlike shaving, wax gets rid of your hair from the roots and weakens the hair follicles, so you can expect longer-lasting results with waxing.
Part 5: Best Hair Removal Methods to Reduce Hair Growth
Waxing reduces hair growth for a certain period of time. If you are looking for a method that provides even better results, you can try either of the methods mentioned below.
IPL Hair Removal
IPL hair removal is a technique that uses a broadband light beam to target your hair from the roots. When the light reaches the hair roots, it damages your hair follicles thus preventing hair growth for months to years.
It is nearly painless unlike waxing and with at-home IPL devices like Ulike Sapphire Air 3, you can experience professional results without going out. Its 4-fold ice-cooling technology soothes your skin and the effective light therapy shows you results within 3 weeks. Furthermore, the device is also FDA-cleared.
Note: The results for IPL treatment can vary from person to person.
Laser Hair Removal
Similar to IPL, laser hair removal also uses light to give you long-lasting hair removal results. This monochromatic light source is coherent and targets your hair follicles with more efficacy. This slows down the growth of your unwanted body hair.
Consequently, the results last for nearly 1-2 years with a minimum requirement of maintenance. The process requires multiple sessions, and the pain intensity can differ between people.
Electrolysis
Lastly, you can also undergo electrolysis. It is the most effective hair removal method, and the results are permanent. The thin needle used in electrolysis destroys the hair follicles, completely inhibiting hair growth once and for all.
The technique itself is a bit painful, but electrologists always have options to use anesthesia or numbing creams to minimize the pain. The method is FDA-cleared, so it is completely safe to try as long as you are going to an experienced electrologist.
Conclusion
Waxing is a long-lasting hair removal method that is easy, quick, and effective for all skin types and hair colors. It reduces the volume of your hair growth. However, no research proves the link between waxing and with permanent reduction of hair on your body.
If you want permanent hair removal results, you can try electrolysis. Moreover, IPL and laser hair removal can also provide you with semi-long-lasting results. You can choose any method depending on your expectations and can also ask for a professional’s advice to make your choice.
