The Real Cost of Shaving and Waxing vs Laser Hair Removal in Mackay

No matter whether you’re a man or a woman, you no doubt have unwanted body hair that you’d love to treat with a permanent solution. While there are many ways to attain that hair-free look, you need to consider the real costs involved in each maintenance treatment before deciding which option will work best for you. 

What is the real cost of shaving?

Depending on the body part you’re shaving, you can choose from a variety of shaving tools including handheld razors – both disposable razors and shaving systems with replaceable blades – and electric shavers. 

While disposable razors can cost as little as $0.20, you won’t be benefitting from as good a shave as with a more expensive multi-blade razor, or an electric razor. This means having to tend with potential cuts, ingrown hairs, razor burns, rashes, and other skin irritations. This then prompts the need for further skincare products at even more costs. And don’t forget the cost of shaving creams, shaving brushes, aftershave, and other shaving paraphernalia. 

Electric shavers can range from around $60 to $600, but these will need to be replaced after a few years. Choosing a higher-priced razor might result in a better shave, but at the end of the day, you are going to be paying for this equipment for years to come as this isn’t a long-term solution. 

What is the real cost of waxing?

The next hair removal treatment to consider is waxing, which can be performed at home or by a professional. While waxing may be somewhat longer lasting, it’s in no way permanent and will require regular sessions – often monthly – to achieve that desired look. The cost of professional waxing treatments is dependent on the area being waxed, and where you have it done, but you’re usually paying around $12 for eyebrows to $20 for a half-leg wax.

You can opt to wax yourself at home, paying around $6.00 for a 100g DIY wax pot, but this can be quite difficult to do. If you find waxing painful, you might have to consider the cost of numbing creams or other pain relief medication, as well as aftercare lotions. Once again, this is not a long-term solution and the costs add up quickly. 

What are the other costs of shaving and waxing?

It’s not just the financial costs you have to consider when choosing a hair removal method, waxing and shaving have other costs you might want to factor in before making a final decision. 

• Your time

You might be happy to pay the ongoing costs related to waxing and shaving, but when you realise how much time you’re spending on these activities, you might change your mind. On average, shaving takes you 7 times longer than waxing and 24 times longer than laser. And often you’re shaving in the morning when you’re rushing, or evening when you’re tired – that’s valuable time! 

• The pain 

Shaving can be fairly pain-free when you’re not suffering from cuts, razor burn, rashes and more. Waxing, is generally quite an uncomfortable experience, even painful depending on the body part. Laser hair removal is not completely pain-free, but it’s a moderate level of discomfort – such as being flicked by a rubber band – and it only has to be tolerated for a few sessions. 

What is the cost of laser hair removal?

Laser hair removal using intense pulsed light (IPL) will range from around $25 to $250 per session, depending on the body area being targeted. You would generally require around four to six sessions of treatment before enjoying the final results. This is a form of permanent hair reduction whereby the light targets the pigment in the hair follicle, damaging or destroying it to prevent further growth. This means that, in the long run, you’re saving thousands of dollars when opting for laser hair removal over waxing or shaving. 

What are the benefits of laser hair removal?

Beyond the significant cost savings involved in laser as a hair removal treatment, you can enjoy several other benefits over waxing and shaving. 

• Speed: While you might have to go for up to six sessions, each laser hair removal session is incredibly quick. It will only take a few minutes of laser time for each session.  
• Precision: Laser technology is also incredibly precise, with the heat targeting each hair follicle rather than being applied to a wider area. This makes it ideal for areas such as the upper lip, nose, bikini line, or hairline.  
• No ingrown: Laser hair removal will work to prevent ingrown hairs as it destroys the hair at the root, preventing it from curling into the body. 

Get your laser hair removal treatment from Mackay’s most trusted medical cosmetic clinic – Allure Laser and Skin Studio.