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Threading vs. Waxing: What is Better?

By: Kunti Patel

What is Threading?

Threading dates back to central Asia and the eastern culture. While some may say it begin in the Middle East or South Asia, we will never know for sure.

But one thing is certain-it has been around for long enough to know that it works.

Basically, a thread is used to isolate the hair and pull it out from the root. This ensures precision and the increases the longevity of the time span before waiting to come back for another session.

You may wonder, is there a special thread?

Well, I have used sewing thread before, to shape my clients' eyebrows, I've even used floss one or twice, but nothing compares to the thread I usually have - a Griffin 40, Art 552M Tkt. 40, 300m cotton thread. Shoutout to my parents for always finding a way to get it to me from India.


Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages:

  • Lasts 4 to 6 weeks, depending on your hair growth and in most cases, it will definitely last longer than a typical eyebrow wax. This is due to the high temperature of the wax, which is likely to sizzle your hair in half and rip off the outermost half.
  • The accuracy of eyebrow threading separates this form of hair removal in comparison to eyebrow waxing and shaving. With the ability to isolate single hairs, eyebrow threading will leave your eyebrows shaped and snatched.
  • Exfoliation is the ultimate underdog. Many people don't realize that their skin is getting exfoliated, but I see it first hand. Ever notice small bumps on your forehead, the ones with tiny white centers filled with pus? Well, sometimes threading exerts enough pressure to press them out. On a personal note, I have one client whose dermatologist recommended her to get her face threaded just to help with continuously and safe exfoliating your skin. The most important part of any hair removal process is post-care. I highly recommend washing your benzoyl peroxide
  • One of the biggest advantages of eyebrow threading - say goodbye to ingrown hairs! I can say at least in my experience, you will get less ingrown hairs from threading vs. waxing. This brings us back to the hair ripping in half. When the hair isn't completely removed from the follicle, new skin begins to grow on top of the hair causing the hair to shift its direction of growth.

Disadvantages:

  • Some may say the pain of eyebrow threading is unbearable, others have left me surprised. In the summer of 2020, I had coincidentally met multiple clients who had never gotten their eyebrows threaded before and most of them barely flinched.
  • If time is of the essence, do not bother going to a threading salon. At least don't come to me, because I really take my time to make sure they are as perfect as possible . Even though that's a plus, some people may not be relaxed if they are in a rush. Some technicians may rush the process and leave your brows uneven, so make sure you at least make them aware of your preferences.

You can get threaded on your:

  • Forehead
  • Chin
  • Cheeks
  • Chin
  • Upper Lips


What is Waxing?

Waxing is believed to have originated in Egypt. According to Flora, the Roman Empire used cocoa shells, resin, and even used bat blood. Evidently, throughout the numerous eras, from Egypt to the Middle Ages, both men and women went through different periods of time where waxing was common. Some of the earlier forms of waxing include sugar wax and beeswax, both of which are still used today.

The process of waxing is rather simple and can be done using various methods. There is a hot and cold method; the cold method involves pre-made waxing strips while the hot method which is more common, starts with melting the wax, which comes in multiple forms. There's soft/strip wax, hard wax, sugar wax, and wax pellets/ beads; there are more out there, but these are the most common. After melting the wax, use a popsicle stick to spread a thin layer of wax over the area you would like to wax. There are usually two different ways to remove the wax:removing it by hand or using an adhesive sheet to pull off the wax. .


When it comes to your eyebrows, this process becomes very tricky. I don't know about you, but I have never gotten waxed before. I would eventually want to get waxed, maybe a Brazilian wax before a vacation but, I will never get my eyebrows waxed.


Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

  • The process is simple and you can do it yourself. Most salons or beauty parlors may end up charging you however much it would be to invest in the materials yourself. If you are waxing any part of your body, I suggest using an old cloth, maybe cut up an old cloth shirt and use that to remove the wax off your body instead of wasting "wax sheets". If you are trying to wax your own eyebrows, map out your shape using white eyeliner or any lip liner and apply the wax to remove it in the opposite direction of your hair growth. Have someone help you pull the skin above and below your eyebrows if you need help to avoid pinching yourself.
  • Using wax will help you achieve a smooth and even surface in minutes. I would definitely recommend body waxing for maybe your legs and underarms, since those are two places people usually shave often. On that same note, I also highly recommend the GRADIENT Collection Booty Scrub to use post-shave for the vaginal area.

Disadvantages

  • Since the hair is more likely to sizzle and break due to the temperature of the wax, you are just as likely grow new skin and get ingrown hairs. Ingrown hairs can cause itchy and sometimes painful bumps. One way to prevent this is through the use of an exfoliator, I recommend using something that won't irritate your skin. I also will be making an eyebrow exfoliator some time in the near future so keep an eye out for that!
  • When it comes to accuracy, threading is by far the best. With waxing, the technician will just "wax your eyebrows", pluck the rest, all of which you can do at home, and you will end up paying a lot more than you should have. Additionally, if I may add, I have seen a lot of eyebrows post-wax and there is just so much I would do differently. Like noooo sis.
  • Have you ever broken out after a wax? Yep. More common than you would think. You should never wax while using retinols and accutane. It turns out a lot of people have an allergic reaction to waxing and their skin either breaks out or stays red for a while. I would say if there's a better way, why not try it?
  • This is something I recently came across and I thought I would add it here. "According to one study in the International Journal of Dermatology, of 28 women who developed folliculitis after waxing, an estimated 100% had waxed their arms" (MedicalNewsToday, 2019). Folliculitis occurs when hair follicles are damaged after rough hair removal. When bacteria naturally found on the outer layer of your skin, infects the hair follicle, it can cause itchy bumps and red rings around them.

MY TAKE...

I have been threading since I was 13 years old. Now I may not be the most knowledge person in the world, but I can say for a fact that threading leaves you feeling different than a typical waxing appointment, at least with me you will. I have only gotten my eyebrows threaded once, but never again. I really applaud anyone who can bear the pain of threading. Some say it's not all bad and you get used to it. Others such as myself, can neither bear the pain nor trust other with their eyebrows.

When you book an appointment with me, I make sure I ask you different questions on your preferences, because that is what it comes down to-are you happy with you eyebrows? If you are not, I will make sure I do them exactly how you want them and make suggestions based on you. Everyone is different, everyone's eyebrows are different, from one another too. I believe everyone was born with feature that are beautiful and unique to you. If you maybe don't like the way some part of your body looks, you have the right to change it. More-so, embrace it. No one needs to change anything about the way they look, but if there's something you have not yet been able to embrace, I'm your man.

I hope to see new faces soon!


That's all for now,

Thanks for your time,

xo,

Kunti