By now we have all experienced some sort of over-tweezing accident. Whether we plucked one too many hairs, or shaped our brows to look like a comma, we’ve all been there. We can’t all be good at everything, and for some of us doing our brows is impossible. Luckily those who have been blessed with the ability to carve perfect eyebrows exist in almost every city, so you have options if you want your eyebrows to have that perfect manicured look.
There are two options if you want to get your eyebrows done professionally: threading and waxing. Which one you should go with will depend on personal preference, and what you’re most comfortable with. Here is everything you need to know about each so you can put down the tweezers and get the eyebrows you’ve been dreaming of.
Threading
Threading is a method of hair removal that originated in Asia, but has gained quite a lot of popularity in western countries over the years. It uses a cotton thread that has been doubled and twisted. The thread is then rolled over the unwanted hairs, forcefully removing them. Unlike tweezing, which only removes one hair at a time, threading gives you the ability to remove an entire row of hairs at once. (source)
One of the pros to threading is that it does not use any harmful chemicals that can damage or burn the skin. It just requires a cotton thread, so it’s a great option for those who are sensitive to waxing. For those who are in a hurry- threading is a much faster option than waxing as you don’t have to wait for the wax to cool and harden. With threading you are able to get a much better shape, as it is more precise. The results can last from 3-4 weeks (which is longer than waxing) (source)
Of course, threading isn’t a perfect process by any means. It has its cons too, such as being much more expensive than waxing (and hurting like hell!). Threading also does not require a license in order to practice, so you may be getting your eyebrows threaded by someone who has not been thoroughly trained. If they thread the eyebrows incorrectly, this could cause the unwanted hairs to grow back quicker as they are only breaking the hair instead of removing it. You aren’t able to repeat threading as soon as your eyebrows start growing back, because threading requires at least a sixteenth of an inch of hair. Otherwise, the thread is not able to wrap around it.
Waxing
Waxing is the most common way to remove unwanted eyebrow hair. It is a process that involves hot wax (which is usually hypoallergenic) that is applied to the skin around the brow. Before it cools, a special type of paper is put over it, and after it hardens, the wax is pulled off using this paper. The unwanted hairs are removed with the hardened wax.
Not only is waxing cheaper than threading, it is also less painful. During threading the hair is pulled out more slowly than it is during waxing, which results in greater discomfort. This is one of the reasons so many people prefer waxing over threading.
Of course with waxing there is a greater chance of having an allergic reaction to the wax that is being used. It can be very irritating and cause damage to those with sensitive skin. Continuous pulling on the skin can also encourage premature lines and wrinkles. Not to mention – once they rip off the wax strip, all the hairs are gone, from the follicle, all at once. A little scary if you ask me!
Waxing vs. Threading: Who’s the Winner?
So which is right for you? It’s all a matter of preference. If you have a low pain tolerance, and are on a budget, I would go for waxing. If you have sensitive skin and prefer a process that is quicker, and more precise, I would go for threading. Just know what you’re getting yourself into!
Needs some more browspo before you go?
