Have you ever wondered whether you should pluck or shave your facial hair? Whether you should remove body hair at the root or trim it at the surface? Which of the methods is better for which part of your body and which can be used for a lifetime with minimal side effects?
If you're new to both methods and want to learn more about them before purchasing the equipment, we've got you covered. In this article, you'll find everything you need to know about plucking and shaving, and we'll make sure you end up choosing your favorite method.
Table of contents:Plucking vs. Shaving
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Definition and basics
Plucking means pulling the hair from the roots using tweezers. It works on individual strands of hair and can pull out even the shortest of unwanted hairs as long as you can hold it with the tweezers. The trick is to pull the skin tight enough to reveal the hairs and then remove them in one go.
Shaving, on the other hand, involves cutting the hair from the surface of the skin using a safety razor, which trims several strands of hair in one go. The trick is to use a sharp razor blade and change the blades regularly before they become blunt. When shaving, it is important to use a shaving gel or cream to protect your skin from the sharp blades.
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For the face
Both methods of hair removal can be used on the face. But of the two, plucking is better for the face because it allows you to remove a few stray hairs more meticulously. Chin hair and eyebrow hair, for example, are better plucked with tweezers.
The advantage of shaving is only in the removal of dead skin cells with unwanted hair if you use a dermaplaning device with a good technique.
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For the body
If you imagine removing body hair with tweezers, you will think how impossible it is to remove every single strand of hair with tweezers when the whole body has millions of hairs. Plucking is possible in the armpits, bikini line and maybe even in the pubic area, as in “ Can I pluck my pubic hair? ” However, plucking the rest of your body would require many hours of effort.
Shaving is super convenient for the body because it is quick. It takes 30 minutes to 1 hour to shave the whole body, which makes it more suitable for body hair.
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Pain and precision
Fortunately or unfortunately, plucking is both painful and precise. It helps remove each strand of hair and ensures that no unwanted hair is left behind, but it is extremely painful and you must be prepared to bravely endure the pain.
In contrast, shaving is painless. However, you may miss a hair or two while shaving. Also, it is difficult to shave areas such as the eyebrows or an eyebrow because the hair removal is not symmetrical and you may shave the eyebrow more than you want.
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Time required
It will take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour if you are just plucking facial hair such as stubble, sideburns, chin hair and eyebrows, depending on how much hair is in the area you are treating. The time required to pluck body hair is unimaginably high, so waxing is the better choice to remove the body hair from the roots.
The shave is super fast. It only takes 10 minutes to shave the whole face and about an hour to shave the whole body.
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Results and hair regrowth
The results of plucking last for 4 to 6 weeks. And even 8 weeks if you have plucked the hair regularly. In addition, the hair that grows back is soft and thin.
In contrast, hair begins to grow out of the skin within 3 days of shaving. And if the pointed ends of the hair are trimmed, you will see blunt ends underneath, making the hair appear thicker. Moreover, shaving has no effect on hair regrowth.
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Required equipment
All you need for plucking is a pair of tweezers and an alcohol-based solution to sterilize the tweezers before and after use. This will ensure that your hair removal is free of infections or ingrown hairs.
To shave, you need shaving cream and a razor. The razor must be sharp if it is not new and the cream must be gentle on your skin. This will prevent razor burn, cuts and ingrown hairs.
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Cost
Both are one of the most affordable methods of hair removal as they can be done at home with a single tool and a single treatment. Both cost between €5 and €20.
The only difference is that tweezers will last for months or even years if you buy a good pair, whereas you will have to replace your safety razor or its blades regularly, which increases the cost.
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Advantages
Below we list the benefits of plucking and shaving side by side to help you figure out which method is better.
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Pluck |
Shave |
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· The results last a month or more · Perfect for eyebrows, upper lip and chin hair · Tweezers can be reused for months |
· Pain-free · Saves time · Can be used on the entire face and body, including delicate and sensitive areas |
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Disadvantages
Below you will find the disadvantages of plucking compared to shaving so you can decide if one method is worth it.
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Pluck |
Shave |
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· Time consuming · Extremely painful · Not suitable for body hair · Aggravates irritated skin |
· Regular blade changes required · The hair grows within 3 days after · Can cause ingrown hairs, cuts and razor burn · Makes hair appear dull and thick |
What could be better than both?
If the advantages of plucking and shaving make you want to try both, while the disadvantages keep you from doing so, it is your sign to choose a method that combines both advantages. This method is IPL hair removal. One of the most practical devices that you can use for a lifetime is the Ulike Air 3 Sapphire IPL handheld hair removal device .
Advantages of IPL over plucking and shaving
Find out why IPL is a preferred hair removal method over plucking and shaving.
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Time-saving
When you use IPL devices, you no longer have to spend hours plucking your hair or shaving every three days, even if it doesn't take much time. The Ulike Air 3 can treat the whole body within 7 minutes.
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Pain-free
Whether it's the pain caused by pulling out the hair at the root when plucking, or the cuts and burns caused by shaving, IPL saves you from it. Above all, the ice cooling technology of the Ulike AIR3 IPL handheld device ensures that your hair removal is comfortable.
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Lasting results
Unlike the results that last 3 days from shaving or 3 weeks from plucking, hair removal with the Ulike Air3 IPL lasts for 6 months and delivers semi-permanent results.
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Gentle on the skin
With the Ulike Air3, there is no violent skin tightening and nerve irritation like plucking, or the risk of cuts and redness like shaving. Instead, Ulike's comfort modes and intensity let you adjust the settings and make them gentle on the skin.
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Lasts a lifetime
Although the Ulike Air3 seems expensive at first glance, it is more economical in the long run compared to plucking and shaving. This is because you won't have to change blades or buy tweezers throughout your life as Ulike comes with unlimited flashes.
Comparison table
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parameter |
Pluck |
Shave |
IPL |
winner |
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Device used |
tweezers |
Safety razor |
Ulike Air3 IPL |
All |
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Time required |
30 minutes to 2 hours |
15 minutes to 1 hour |
12 minutes |
IPL |
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Pains |
Very painful |
Mild pain from razor burn |
No pain |
IPL |
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Risk of cuts |
None |
Available |
None |
IPL and plucking |
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Duration of results |
3 to 6 weeks |
3 to 5 days |
6 months |
IPL |
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Cost |
5 € to 15 € |
10 € to 20 € |
369 € |
Pluck |
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Suitable body parts |
Face |
Body |
Full body |
IPL |
Conclusion
Plucking is the more appropriate method for removing hair on the chin, eyebrows or upper lip. It is also good for the armpits and the whole face. However, it can be too time-consuming for the body, so shaving is the better method for the arms, legs, chest and back.
However, having to repeat the shave can be frustrating, so it's up to you to experiment and decide which of the two suits you better and on which areas of your body and face.
If you choose a third method that is suitable for both the face and the body, then IPL hair removal is the best choice for you.
