Waxing vs IPL Hair Removal: Is Waxing Better than IPL?

Are you accustomed to waxing and want to try out IPL hair removal now? You can’t get yourself to choose between the two?

Waxing is one of the most common and easiest methods of hair removal while IPL hair removal is one of the latest methods famous for its effectiveness and comfort. Both of these methods can provide you with a smooth hairless body but which one should you go for? The confusion never leaves, right? No worries. We’ve got your back.

In this article, we will discuss all the important points you need to know before deciding on the hair removal method better for you. So, let’s get ready to know all the pros and cons of both, waxing and IPl hair removal and make a perfect decision for a perfect body.

Waxing vs IPL Hair Removal

In this session, we will compare the two methods and decide which one is better in which way.

Working Principle

Wax, a combination of oil, resins, beeswax, and some other products is available in the form of cold wax, hot wax, strips, or beads. When you apply any type of wax to your skin, it sticks to your hair. On removing the wax in a direction opposite to hair growth, the wax pulls out your hair from the root.

While waxing uses a sticky material, IPL hair removal uses impulse pulsating light to destroy your hair follicles and stop the regrowth of hair. The light energy travels down your hair, turns into heat, and damages the hair follicles.

Pain and Comfort

Every hair removal method is painful in some ways. Just like shaving gives you cuts, the laser causes a weird sensation in your body, and waxing also causes pain when you pull out hair by force. It can be very painful if you have a less pain threshold.

Unlike waxing, IPL hair removal just causes a snapping rubber band sensation on your body. But, some devices like Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL hair removal handset provide you with cooling technology that won’t let you feel even slight pain. In addition, the auto-glide mode of the Ulike handset allows smooth gliding.

So, IPL hair removal with Ulike Sapphire Air3 handset can be a lot more comfortable and least painful in comparison to waxing.

Time Required

The time taken per session for waxing can vary depending on the area of treatment. If you are going to a salon, it can take 15-30 minutes after starting the procedure. At-home waxing can take anywhere between 10 minutes to an hour. For example, waxing on legs can take up to 40 minutes.

Similar to waxing, IPL hair removal can also take variable time depending upon the area. IPL at salons can take up to 15 minutes to an hour and if you are using an at-home Ulike IPL Sapphire Air3 handset, it will only take between 7 to 10 minutes for full body treatment.

Results

Now talking about the most important point, doing the waxing in the right way can help your body stay smooth for up to 4 to 6 weeks. Also, the new hair that grows is thinner and finer as compared to the previous ones.

On the other hand, after completing your sessions of IPL hair removal, you can enjoy the results for 6 months or even more than that. So, if you want results for a long time and save yourself from the hassle of waxing every month, then go for IPL hair removal.

Cost

The cost of both waxing and IPL hair removal depends upon whether you are going to a salon or doing at-home hair removal. Waxing at a salon can cost anywhere between $10 to $300 while you can buy a waxing kit for $10-$30 for hair removal at home.

IPL hair removal might seem expensive at first but in the long run, it is cheaper than waxing. IPL hair removal at salons can cost anywhere between $50 to $500 per session while you can buy Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL hair removal handset for $329 that can work efficiently for your whole life.

Use for Skin type and hair type

The efficacy some any hair removal treatment like hose which require light energy, depends upon your hair color and skin color. If you have light skin tone and dark hair, they can easily absorb the light emitted by an IPL device but grey or blonde hair cannot absorb this energy.

So, if you have dark skin or blonde/grey hair, then waxing can be a better option for you as it does not depend on your hair or skin tone. Wondering why IPL is not suitable for dark skin? Click Why IPL is Suitable for Dark Skin to know the reason.

Sessions Required

Waxing requires sessions after every 3-5 weeks for the whole life. This means you will have to wax almost every month to get a smooth body for the coming days. As for IPL hair removal, a total of 8-12 sessions are a must, and after completing these sessions including the maintenance period, you can stay worry-free for more than 6 months.

Those who use the Ulike Sapphire Air3 handset need to use it for less than 3 months with 1-2 sessions per week to get long-lasting results.

So, those who don’t want to go through hair removal every week and then maintenance, opt for waxing but if you are sure you can keep up with the recommended IPL hair removal session, then go for it.

Equipment Required

For waxing, you need a wooden spatula, a pot, disposable gloves, a wax warmer, some wax strips, and the wax. These are only small tools you can easily store anywhere and use comfortably. You can get all these tools in waxing kits. To buy the best waxing kits, click Best Hot Waxing Kits for Hair Removal at Home.

For IPL hair removal, just need the hair removal device, polarized glasses, and a shaving razor as you need to shave before using the device. Some brands require you to buy these separately, but the box of Ulike Sapphire Air3 handset has all these things included in them.

Benefits

Both waxing and IPL hair removal are beneficial in their own ways. For instance, waxing not only removes unwanted hair but also exfoliates your skin to get rid of all the dirt and debris. It is inexpensive. Paying $30 a month is easier than paying up to $300-$400.

On the other hand, IPL hair removal using the Ulike Sapphire Handset is faster, nearly painless, and comfortable with long-lasting results.

Side Effects

Waxing is indeed painful and it causes ingrown hair that can add insult to injury. You are also prone to chemical reactions, redness, folliculitis, and painful bumps.

Just like waxing, if you are not experienced then IPL hair removal can cause skin irritation, redness, and slight bruising on your skin. You cannot even use it on dark skin as the accumulation of more heat can cause skin burns.

Is Waxing Better than IPL Hair Removal?

Both waxing and IPL hair removal come with their own good and bad effects. IPL is nearly painless, more comfortable, long-lasting, and faster but requires more care and skills as compared to waxing. Waxing has more side effects and even the pain it causes is unbearable for beginners but it is difficult to pay a hefty sum of money at once for IPL hair removal. So, the decision is totally up to you what you want for yourself. To put it simply, waxing is better for beginners and those with dark skin plus blonde hair, and an experienced one can go for IPL hair removal. After trying IPL once, you can reconsider your decision.

Comparison Table

Conclusion

Hair removal is necessary to wear our favorite clothes, go to beaches confidently, and get a smooth silky body. Among so many methods available, waxing is the safest one for beginners and if you want long-term benefits then IPL hair removal is the best one.

If we compare the two methods, IPL hair removal requires regularity, before and after care, and some precautions during the sessions. On the other hand, waxing requires the least care but then again you can easily get rashes, skin irritation, ingrown hair, and skin sensitivity through waxing.

So, even if you have to pay a large sum at once, and as long as you don’t have dark skin or grey/blonde hair, using the Ulike Sapphire Air3 Handset is better as you can get quick, nearly painless, and safe hair removal with just a little care by using this amazing handset.