Brow Talk: Threading Vs. Waxing
I’ve been at war with my friends about eyebrow shaping technique over the past few years. Three of us are religious waxers, while the others have become faithful threaders. I have given the threading technique a go about 3 times and I just can’t get with it. Waxing looks more polished in my opinion.
What do you think? Is waxing or threading better? Check out some of these differences and let us know in the comments!
| Appearance: | About the same | About the same |
| Time Required: | Waxing typically takes 20 minutes each time. | Threading for the first time can take 10 to 20 minutes; touch-ups generally 5 to 10 minutes. |
| Cost: | Around $8 to $20, depending on location. | Generally $7 to $20, depending on location. |
| Pain: | Waxing is a quick, shocking pain that soothes within minutes after. | Threading pain is comparable to tweezing pain because the constant pulling of the hair follicles from the sensitive skin around the eye. Soothes within 10 minutes. |
| Technique: | Waxing involves applying wax underneath and over the eyebrow following the desired shape. Slight pressure is applied to allow the wax to stick to all the hair around and then with a firm tug the hair is removed. | Ancient technique from the Middle East and Asia. Technician twists threads together and pulls out the hairs caught between them, catching several hairs at once. |
| Risks: | Less control; mistakes are more common. May not be a good option for sensitive skin. | Regarded as unsanitary b/c thread is in place in technicians mouth. Also, pulls hair against the grain. |
| Hair Growth: | Hair reappears within a week. | Slower than waxing; hair appears after a week or two. |