Waxing vs. Laser Hair Removal: A Detailed Comparison

If you’re dreaming of flawlessly smooth skin that’s hairless from the root, you’re probably trying to decide between waxing vs laser hair removal.

These two popular hair removal methods couldn’t be more different: One method is traditional and mechanical while the other brings to mind modern technology. Both can seem a little scary, yet exciting. So which should you choose?

To help you decide, this post covers the differences between laser hair removal and waxing from every angle: How they work, how long results last, what kind of discomfort or side effects you can expect, and more, to empower you to decide for yourself which hair removal method is right for you.

How Laser Hair Removal Works

Laser hair removal is a method that prevents new hair from growing by selectively damaging the hair follicle. The laser machine emits concentrated light that travels on a specific wavelength and targets hair through a process called selective photothermolysis.

Dark pigments act as chromophores, which means that they absorb light and convert it into heat. The laser’s light gets absorbed by the dark pigment (i.e., melanin) in the hair, creating a tiny but powerful thermal reaction within the follicle. The localized heat damages the parts of the hair follicle that create hair, disabling hair growth.

After a laser hair removal treatment, the hair follicles that contain enough pigment to become sufficiently damaged (i.e., hair follicles that are in the active stage of growth) shed, and the hair follicle doesn’t produce new hair. Since not all hair follicles are at the active growth stage at once, a series of sessions is always necessary to reach total or near-total hair reduction.

How Waxing Works

Compared to laser hair removal, waxing is a very simple process. Wax is a type of malleable, oil-soluble material that’s firm at room temperature but melts to become a thick liquid.

While we usually think about bees or honey when we hear the word wax, most waxes for hair removal are made of mixtures of rosins, polymers, and either beeswax or paraffin wax. The rosins are what gives wax its stickiness.

During a waxing session, the heated wax is spread over the skin. Once it cools, it contracts and traps the hair. As the wax is pulled off, it also pulls the hair out straight from the root.

Waxing or Laser? Key Factors to Consider

Should you pull or should you zap? From how long results last to pain and cost, we think there are a lot of factors worth considering before you book a hair removal session.

*Lifetime costs for waxing based on consistent hair removal over 30 years

Result Longevity

The most important factor when comparing waxing vs laser hair removal is how long the results last. Laser hair removal is a long-term hair reduction technique that actively damages the hair follicle’s ability to produce hair. 

Each session reduces hair growth little by little, and with a series of treatments, the results are near-permanent.

Waxing pulls the hair from the root, but it doesn’t damage the follicle in the way that laser does. After a waxing appointment, hair usually grows back within 2-4 weeks.

Studies show that pulling the hair out can damage the follicle slightly, and that it can lead to hair growing back a little thinner and lighter. However, the slight and inconsistent reduction in hair thickness from waxing is not nearly the same as the systematic and targeted results of laser hair removal, which is proven to reduce hair counts for years after treatment.

Discomfort

So which hurts more: Pulling hair out with hot wax or zapping it with powerful light? Both waxing and laser hair removal cause some discomfort, with varying degrees of severity, but most clients agree that laser is a lot less painful.

Waxing is usually described as a ripping sensation, as all hair in a specific area gets pulled out from the root. The wax doesn’t only pull on the hair but also on the skin, so it’s common to feel a little sore or tender afterward.

Laser hair removal is usually described as a mild sting, kind of like a rubber band snap. Each pulse of the laser only targets a small area at a time, so the pain is localized and very quick to dissipate. Cooling the treatment area before or during a laser treatment, like we do at SEV, can also significantly reduce discomfort.

Other factors that may impact how much pain you feel include your pain tolerance, sensitivity in a specific treatment area, and even where you are in your menstrual cycle, and there are many ways to ensure your laser treatment doesn’t hurt too much.

Side Effects

Laser hair removal and waxing have a similar list of side effects. Both can cause inflammation resulting in temporary redness, swelling, and mild discomfort, and ingrown hairs may occur in the days or weeks after treatment.

Waxing’s side effects occur both in the hair follicle and on the skin, while laser hair removal mostly impacts the follicles.

Studies show that waxing can also significantly impair the skin barrier. It can lead to pin-point bleeding in the short term and folliculitis in the long term. Those with sensitive skin are likely to experience the worst of waxing’s side effects, as the treatment not only pulls out the hair but can also pull and damage delicate skin.

With laser hair removal, the side effects get milder as the treatment continues and more and more hair follicles are deactivated, while with waxing, the impact on the skin remains the same over time.

Skin and Hair Color

Waxing works best on slightly longer hair, and may struggle to pick up very short or thin hairs. That said, it works on all hair colors, and skin tone isn’t a factor.

Today’s advanced laser hair removal machines work on all skin tones as well, but they don’t work on all hair colors. Laser is only effective when there’s enough brown or black pigment in the hair’s root, so it won’t work on blonde, gray, white, or red hair. If you’re dealing with lighter hair, you may need to choose waxing, or try other lasting hair removal methods like electrolysis.

Treatment Frequency

Laser hair removal should be done once every four weeks, especially at the beginning of treatment. Later on, your nurse or laser technician may recommend adjusting your schedule depending on the treatment area response. Once you reach your desired results, you’ll only need the occasional touch-ups on an annual basis.

Meanwhile, waxing needs to be done consistently every 2 to 6 weeks, for as long as you’d like to maintain smoothness. Unlike with laser hair removal, waxing has no “finish line” so it’s a lifetime commitment. 

Safety

With both laser hair removal and waxing, complications are usually the result of seeing poorly trained providers or failing to follow proper pre and postcare instructions. With both treatments, there’s a risk of burns, scarring, or pigmentation issues, especially if your skin is already compromised by improper pre-care, if the wax is too hot, or if the laser settings are inappropriate for your skin.

That said, there is a slightly greater risk of infections with waxing, as it causes more trauma to the skin and leaves it more susceptible to pathogens.

It’s also worth adding that waxing isn’t regulated in the same way as lasers, which are medical devices that must receive FDA-clearance. Throughout the United States, laser hair removal studios and clinics must have some sort of medical oversight, which isn’t needed for waxing salons. If you opt for waxing, this means that choosing a certified and hygienic provider is particularly important.

Cost

Finally, cost can be a major deciding factor between waxing vs laser hair removal. While laser treatments have a reputation for being costly, a single laser appointment isn’t much pricier than a waxing session. Over the long term, the savings from choosing laser are significant.

Let’s do some quick math based on 2025 rates for either service:

According to StyleSeat, a Brazilian waxing session can cost anywhere between $43-$124, with $59 per session on average. Meanwhile, a single Brazilian laser hair removal session at SEV starts at $89, so while it is a little more expensive than the average waxing price, it’s still more affordable than many high-end waxing providers. That said, the real savings come when you look at the cost over a lifetime. 

Assuming you get waxed every 4 weeks at a mid-priced salon, you’ll end up paying around $21,240 over a 30 year period (and that’s without taking into account future price increases). At SEV, our Unlimited Plan for Brazilian laser hair removal starts at $810, which includes as many treatments as you need within the first 18 months followed by a lifetime of annual touch-ups. In other words, you’re looking at tens of thousands of dollars of savings by choosing laser hair removal instead of waxing. 

Prep and Aftercare for Waxing and Laser

With both laser hair removal and waxing, you’ll need to take gentle care of the skin both before and after treatments. The exact timeline for different safety practices can vary, so always follow your providers’ instructions.

Before treatment, avoid sun exposure and irritating treatments or topical products. You’ll want to arrive with clean skin that’s free of products such as deodorant, makeup, or lotions.

The one big difference in pre-care is how you prepare your hair. With waxing you have to have at least a few millimeters of visible hair growth before getting waxed. This can be an issue if you want to enjoy skin-baring outfits or activities in the week or two leading up to your appointment.

With laser hair removal, you actually have to shave 24-48 hours before treatment so that the laser can reach the hair follicle. Afterwards, you do need to wait before shaving so as not to irritate the skin, but once enough time passes, you can get back to shaving as often as you like.

Finally, after waxing or laser, you’ll want to continue to avoid sun exposure, and skin any intense activities or irritating products while your skin is sensitive.

Bottom Line: Is Laser Hair Removal Better Than Waxing?

If your ultimate goal is to be totally smooth and never have to worry about unwanted hair, it’s clear that laser hair removal is better than waxing.

Laser hair removal is better than waxing on a few other fronts: Beyond offering long-lasting results, it’s also gentler on the skin, causes less pain, and when you price it out, it’s significantly cheaper over a lifetime.

If you’re still searching for your ideal laser hair removal provider, we’d love to welcome you at SEV Laser. With our elite team of nurses and laser technicians, transparent, budget-friendly pricing and cutting-edge laser technologies that are effective on all skin tones, we create a premium laser hair removal experience for every client. Go ahead and book a session at your nearest SEV location!