Shaving, Plucking, Waxing or Threading the Eyebrows: Which One is Best?

Having clean and nicely-shaped eyebrows can definitely do wonders to a look, and make you feel more confident about yourself. It brings out an additional glow to the face, even without wearing any make-up, and creates a huge difference when it comes to complementing facial features. But with all the options out there—from shaving, to plucking, to waxing, to threading the brows—which one works best? Here are the pros and cons on the following:

1. Shaving

Although it’s the quickest and least painful way to a set of well-defined brows, shaving can result in uneven growth. It can also cause stubbles, as it creates a blunt edge. The blunt edge makes the hair appear thicker. Shaving may be the fastest way to remove the hair, but it’s also the fastest when it comes to growing back.

2. Plucking

Plucking is one of the least irritating procedures, but can take hours! It also just removes undesired hair. It doesn’t trim the kept ones.

3. Waxing

Waxing gives a completely clean look, as it picks up even the finest hair of the eyebrows. It can last a week before you’ll need another wax-job, but it can last longer if you maintain it well at home (such as picking the unwanted hair using tweezers). The downside to waxing is that it can irritate the skin, especially with the hot chemicals used. If not placed in the right areas, you can even accidentally remove more hair than desired.

4. Threading

Just like waxing, threading gives an overall clean look—without the hot chemicals. The procedure takes only ten to fifteen minutes as well. Although it’s a lot cheaper than waxing and lasts longer (approximately three weeks, especially if the brows are well-maintained), the technique is quite excruciating and it can be irritating to sensitive skin.

So which one is best? Personally, I’ve tried doing all procedures. I started with the most painful one when I was in fourth year high school which is threading, but the results are fantastic because they last for up to two months! I’m fortunate my tolerance for pain is pretty high. Plucking, I only do when there’s stray hair around the area. I never overdo it because I’m scared I might accidentally change or ruin the shape. Shaving, although it wasn’t my intention to try, I ended up having done during a fashion show where the makeup artist suddenly just shaved my brows to shape them. I hated the itchy feeling when they were growing back, so I swore never to do it again. Waxing is my favorite, because it also lasts long and is not as painful as threading.

It’s really up to you which procedure works best for you. Waxing can work for me, but not for someone like my aunt who’s skin gets irritated by the chemicals. Threading, it depends on how high your tolerance for pain is. But if I were to recommend? It would definitely be either of the two.