To shave or to wax: what's the best method of hair removal?

Threading? What's that?

don't forget threading! Shaving pro-smooth and dead skin cells gone (maybe) con-you will have stubble every where you shave Waxing and threading pro-jerks it out by the root, very smooth, may also remove dead skin cells con-OCHIE! If you wax often enough you may see a decrease in hair growth. That can be a pro or a con. creams pro-smooth easy to do cons--some folks are alergic, not necessarily recommended for more personal areas, under arms etc

I haven't shaved in over a decade, but I always thought part of the benefit to shaving was the additional sensitivity you got from doing it. And I always thought that the additional sensitivity came from shaving off those top layers of skin and exposing your nerve endings a little more. Even just wearing clothes I remember how much more sensitive it felt. Am I hopelessly out of date in that theory? Does waxing (or Nair or whatever) give you the same heightened sensitivity?

Everyone will tell you shaving is the best because it also removes the top, dead layer of skin resulting in a smoother surface. Whether this is based on empirical evidence or purely speculation I can't say for sure.

Threading? What's that? I have seen that done by some Egyptian barbers. They will twist a very thin thread between the fingers of their two hands. I can't remember how many twists. And then when they run this twisted thread over certain parts of your skin (I've seen it only on faces -beards and mustaches-) the twisting thread will entrap and PULL OUT hairs. I never heard the victims scream. (Were they real machos? Was it because there was an audience -apart from the barber? Or did it really not hurt?) I never asked.

Before I had wiskers I was told to put milk on my face and let the cat lick the milk and I would never have to shave. :D I have done a little research on the net and it seems the biggest difference between shaving and waxing is the time it takes for the hair to grow back. (That apart from the pain aspect)! Shaving lasts only a couple of days and the stubble starts growing out again, whereas waxing lasts for 3 to 6 weeks. Waxing has another advantage over shaving in that when the hair grows back, it is sparser than before. Shaving, on the other hand, encourages coarser hair regrowth. How bad is the pain? I have an average to below average amount of bodily hair. Would waxing be the way to go then? Threading sounds like it would be best suited to facial hair, or perhaps I am wrong. I just worry if I shave I will look like a mountain gorilla when it grows back again, or are my fears unfounded? I don't like the idea of the pain of waxing though. I saw that movie "40 year old virgin" and what they did to that guy's chest gave me second thoughts about waxing. It looked really painful. I don't mind a little pain ( a lot, even, as long as it is short lived) but I don't want torn nipples or scarring! So what do method do you use? Syd

I just worry if I shave I will look like a mountain gorilla when it grows back again, or are my fears unfounded? Yes, the idea that hair grows back thicker after shaving is a myth.

Yes, the idea that hair grows back thicker after shaving is a myth. It if wasn't a myth I wouldn't be headed (so-to-speak) toward cue ball status... Skip

Before I had wiskers I was told to put milk on my face and let the cat lick the milk and I would never have to shave.

I always start by using clippers to remove the bulk of the hair, then just use a disposable razor and shaving cream to get what's left. Sage advice. I remember NOT doing that as a kid (well, teenager) and nicking the heck out of my legs (the long hairs gunk up the razor, or dull it, or something--I don't know).