Eyebrow Threading Vs Eyebrow Waxing – Which One Is Better?

Waxing and threading are the most popular type of eyebrow hair removal methods. Well, technically they both work similarly to remove unwanted hair from the brows and give it the perfect arch that it needs but, in actuality, they’re totally different.

As the name stands, waxing involves wax that solidifies on the skin trapping the unwanted hairs then ripping them away. Threading, on the other hand, involves placing hairs between a thread and removing each strand of hair by pulling it up and out of the follicle.

Are you curious to know more difference between these two? We certainly do  Specifically, we wanted to know if one method is better than the other when it comes to hair re-growth rate and gentleness on the skin. 

To answer the ultimate question, ‘Which One Is Better’,  we’ve comparing waxing and threading in terms of longevity, price, pain level, downtime, side effects and more.

Ultimately, the choice between the two methods is mainly a personal choice, as both have their own pros and cons. Continue reading to find out more. 

Now, What Is Eyebrow Waxing?

Waxing a hair removal method where warm wax is thinly applied with a wooden spatula to part of the brows hairs that need to be removed. Upon, pouring the wax a paper strip is gently laid over the wax area immediately to ensure the hairs in the wax stick to the paper. Then, the wax expert will pull the paper that will also pull hair directly from the root.

There are two types of wax- soft wax and hard wax. They both have different consistencies. Soft wax is gooier, so you apply it and then you need to remove it using the paper. Hard wax is less gooey so you don’t need the paper. Instead, you can remove it by gripping the edge of the wax and pulling the hair from the root. 

Waxing can be done by yourself or you can make a visit to a professional brow bar. We advise you to get your eyebrow waxed by a professional as a skilled technician knows the right type of wax to use and their technique will reduce discomfort as well. 

The Pros And Cons Of Eyebrow Waxing.

One good thing about waxing is it is quick and instantly provides a good result plus waxing is widely available. It can also give a sharper and clean shape compared to other eyebrow shaping method. If you have really thick and bushy brows, waxing is most probably the best way to tame them. 

However, because the wax is poured directly to the skin, it can cause irritation especially if you have sensitive skin. Plus, wax contains chemicals like resins, preservatives, and artificial fragrances. So, there are also possibilities of allegory reactions.

It can turn the skin really pink to extremely red if the damage is serious. Also, if the wax that is used is too hot, your skin can get burned, which causes extreme pain and scabbing that can take weeks to heal. 

So, in general, waxing is not suitable for anyone undergoing chemical peels or for those with extremely sensitive skin. If you are going for a waxing job, make sure the brow bar has experienced staffs and are not using expired products.

Then, What Is Eyebrow Threading? 

Threading is an ancient hair removal technique that was first discovered in India and was spread across Asia. There are two ways of threading, first is the traditional method of using a thread and the second one is using a threading machine that helps hold the thread in the proper position. 

Both types of threading method involve using a thread to pull out the hair from the roots. To begin, the skin is first sanitised for preparation and a piece of anti-bacterial thread is then twisted on the skin to removes the hairs quickly and directly from the follicles. The beautician may also trim some hairs to neaten the brows and define the shape. 

You can get your eyebrow threaded by a professional or do it at home but it is harder to do it by yourself as you need to hold the brows and shape them. There are many hair removal salons that specialize in threading with professionally trained beauticians to do it at ease for you.

The Pro And Cons Of Eyebrow Threading. 

Because threading mostly has little or no contact with the skin so you are not at risk of getting any allergic reactions or infections. If your skin does turn pinkish from threading, it usually goes away within the hour. And there’s no chance of getting scorched with threading.

Plus, threading is also suitable for those with sensitive skin as this technique is gentler and does not use any chemicals or heat so you are less likely to have an adverse reaction. Threading also gives room for more precision so very less likely you gonna see those tiny bits of hair after threading.

However, if you are looking for a shaper and edgier finish, then threading may not be the one for you. This is because threading usually gives a more natural shape than a sharp pointy one. Also, threading can be very painful if not carried out right, can even cut off your skin!

Which One is More Painful – Waxing Or Threading? 

The most commonly asked question. It is hard to say because different people have different tolerance to pain. And we won’t sugar coat it, both methods do give a tiny bit of discomfort and pain but based on the majority, most people say threading is more painful than waxing.

This is because with waxing you can remove more hair at a go whereas threading removes with each pass of the thread. Means, you feel more hairs being pulled with threading in comparison to waxing. So, waxing is less painful than threading because waxing removes hairs in patches, whereas threading removes hairs in rows. 

Plus, with threading, you are removing more hairs than waxing. Because threading removes hairs in rows instead of patches and the direction of the thread determines which hairs are removed. So, it is the thread can move in any rows or lines so, you’ll feel more hairs being pulling.

But here’s the thing, threading as we said earlier give the cleanest finish compared to any other methods so as with great precision comes great pain. If you are looking for a more precise result the ignore the pain go for threading but if you can’t bear with the pain, just go for waxing.

Pro Tip: If you dread the pain of either of these methods, try rubbing on a numbing cream before you go to get your brows done.

Which One Takes Longer Time- Threading Or Waxing?

It depends on you and the beautician working on your brows. Before, both process, you need to like clean your skin, remove makeup and with waxing you need to wait for the wax to warm up. But, based on the majority again, both take around the duration.

Both both processes would only take at max up to 30 minutes and threading can be slightly longer. So, if waxing takes 15 minutes, threading might take another 5-10 minutes longer. Because threading removes hair in rows or lines instead of large rectangular patches like waxing, so waxing covers more area than threading. 

Which One Can Last Longer- Threading Or Waxing?

Both waxing and threading are ‘semi-permanent’ hair removal method, so expect neither to last for months. On average, your brows will retain the shape for at least 2 weeks but it really depends on how fast your hair grows in general. For some people, it can go up to 3 weeks.

Also, remember both waxing and threading need hairs to be a certain length before you can go in for another session. Theoretically, you could thread new hairs faster than you could wax them. 

Which One is Cheaper- Threading Or Waxing?

In Malaysia, the average cost of an eyebrow waxing session is RM80. This can be a little more or less, but for this comparison, we will just use this average. To thread the same eyebrows, it would cost an average of just RM10! So threading is a way cheaper than waxing!

The Final Verdict- Which One Is Better?

Honestly, there is no clear winner here as they each can work better for you depending on your lifestyle or skincare needs and wants. Choosing between the two is really about personal preference as both provide fantastic results. 

Threading is certainly a simpler and cheaper method but requires more time and pain tolerance. Threading is the best method for those with sensitive skin and good for anyone that has recently had skin peels. 

Waxing, on the other hand, is perfect for those with super thick brows and looking for a faster and less painful option. It is more expensive but can give you a sharper finish and you can play around with unique shapes as well!