Hair removal is a dreaded part of life for many. This is especially true for women who spend time removing facial, underarm, leg and bikini hair. Shaving is the most common way to remove hair, but it doesn't last very long. Waxing and epilating are two forms of hair removal that have become more popular in recent years. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages.
Explanation
Wax is available warm and cold. Warm wax is heated and then spread on with a spatula. You then press cloth strips down on the wax and peel them off. Cold wax comes on pre-made strips that you just press on and pull off. Epilating works with tiny rotating tweezers that pull the hair out by the root. Epilators come in small sizes for areas like the face and bikini, as well as larger models for legs.
Ease
There isn't a lot of skill involved in waxing. It's pretty easy to get a handle on pressing down and pulling off the strips. Epilating can be a bit more tricky when you first use it. You need to be in the right position with the device and go over areas more than once. A rechargeable epilator that can be used without a cord is a little easier to maneuver.
Cost
In the long run, epilators will cost a lot less. You can buy an epilator from $20 to $100 depending on the size and the model. Though you can buy a wax removal kit in the drugstore for under $10, it can't be used over and over. You will have to pay for hair removal wax each time you use it, while an epilator is purchased once and lasts for years.
Pain
Let's face it, neither epilating or waxing is a pleasant experience. Both methods of hair removal can cause pain because you are tugging the hair out of your body. Taking an over-the-counter pain killer like ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help. As for which method causes the most pain, there's not a definitive answer. It appears that the pain tolerance is similar whether using an epilator or hair removal wax.
Timing
A large strip of wax can remove a lot more hair than a hand-held epilator. Epilating usually requires multiple uses to remove all the hairs while waxing will get more off at once. In the long term, both epilating and waxing last about the same amount of time because both pull hairs out by their roots. You can expect four to six hair-free weeks from the areas you've treated.
Considerations
There are a lot more options available with waxing than using an epilator. In addition to having the ability to choose between warm wax and cold wax treatments, you can choose to do it at home or have someone else do the waxing for you. Facial and body waxing is readily available at many spas and salons. Epilators are available in different brands and models, but it is not something that is done as a service. If you want to epilate, you have to do it yourself.
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