In the past few years, having great looking eyebrows have become even more important. Some would argue that eyebrows are the most important beauty feature on your face. If you’re on this page, you’re probably questioning which is the best treatment for your eyebrows. Let’s dive in and compare the two most common methods: eyebrow threading vs waxing.
With a new time in beauty comes new trends. While waxing has been the standard for eyebrows in the U.S, there’s a new hero in town: threading. So when comparing eyebrow threading vs. waxing, I’m sure you’re wondering.. which is the best method?
Okay, so… eyebrow threading really isn’t new at all. It’s actually been around for an 6,000 years. (Well.. that’s the estimated time frame. Either way, it was well before our time).
Traditionally from South Asia and the Middle East, this technique is still widespread in the Indian culture. While waxing still seems to be a dominating eyebrow treatment method today in the US, eyebrow threading is quickly passing it up.
The Basic Eyebrow Method Definitions
Threading is the process of using a double cotton thread swiftly across the eyebrow line to remove unwanted hairs. Pulling from the follicle, the threader will be able to pull a line of hairs at once, or pick out specific hairs to remove in a line.
Waxing is the process of placing a hot wax strip around the eyebrows to remove unwanted hairs.
What are the Differences of Threading & Waxing?
When comparing eyebrow threading vs. waxing, there’s a few distinguishing characteristics. While they both will get the job done, each of these methods will give you different results:
Eyebrow Shape
10 years ago, thin eyebrows were the style. Today, thicker, more natural looking eyebrows are the style. When thin eyebrows were in, the shape was less important because “thin” was the main feature to focus on. As long as the brow was thin, had some shape (and not straight across), with no unwanted hairs that needed to be plucked (or waxed), they were probably good.
While thicker, fuller eyebrows are now the trend, it’s even more important to have a good shape. You simply cannot let your full eyebrows run wild. You don’t want to walk the line between “too natural” and “wild jungle”.
When getting your eyebrows waxed, the hot wax strip is placed directly on the hairs, and the line that is stripped off becomes the shape. Usually, you can use tweezers to pluck a few hairs here and there, but usually what you see is what you get as far as the brow’s shape goes.
Threading, on the other hand, allows you to pick out specific hairs in a single line that should be removed. This allows for more flexibility and control when creating the desired shape.
Control
Like I just mentioned, threading tends to be a much more accurate technique, while waxing is less accurate. You have more control over making that “natural” look, and not necessarily the stripped bare line across. Threaders can stop and go in their line of threading, while waxing cannot.
They can easily pull out two hairs, and leave the rest of the hair in the row the same. By doing so, threading can give your eyebrows a much more natural look instead of a more boxed, artificial look. While waxing does remove the hair, there is less accuracy as to which hairs in a single line can be removed.
Eyebrow Treatments for Sensitive Skin
Waxing really should not be your line of treatment if you use any kind of retinol or skin care product that can cause sensitive skin. Why? Hot wax can burn and even remove a small layer of skin.
This has happened to me on at least 5-10 separate occasions. It leaves a nice red mark and a sensitive spot for the next week or so. (This actually happened on my wedding day. You can read why I had to go with waxing instead of threading, and about the whole day here).
Threading, however, will not do this to you. Although you can occasionally get a small nick in the skin if you don’t hold your skin tightly as your threaders needs, it is much more rare and doesn’t leave a big mark. Threading will never burn your skin, or pull off your skin.
Chemicals & Breakouts in Waxing
Because of the chemicals used while waxing, it is not uncommon to find a few small whitehead looking bumps the next day.
On the other hand, threading will never leave you with any kind of acne or bumps because no chemicals are used. The only material used when threading is cotton thread.
The only time threading would ever cause a reaction like this is if the thread is being re-used. You should only be threading with a new thread each time. Do not reuse thread. As with anything, practicing good hygiene is important, and an expert threader will never reuse thread, just as you would never reuse a waxing strip.
How are the Threading and Waxing Treatments Similar?
They both cost about the same. I hear of both sides on which method is more painful. In my opinion, they both pull from the hair follicle and are about the same pain level. (Beauty is pain, right?!) Lastly, they both take about the same amount of time to groom, and both will last 1-3 weeks.
Final Thoughts on Eyebrow Methods
Though eyebrow threading vs. waxing are competing techniques, there is no right or wrong one to choose, it all comes down to personal preference. However in my opinion, and to many other devout beauty lovers, threading seems to be the better choice.
Not only is it safer for your skin, the precision for threading your eyebrows is much more exact. In the society of good eyebrows and natural shapes, threading is your best bet to get you there. For those of you who haven’t tried it, I highly recommend it.
If you’re a real beauty guru and DIYer, you can learn to successfully thread your eyebrows at home. In that case, I highly recommend this eyebrow string from Amazon, as well as charcoal eyebrow mapping. However, I definitely recommend seeking out a threading salon first to get used to the process.
Which option do you prefer? Make sure to comment below and let me know your thoughts!
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