Our general guide comparing waxing, shaving and epilating covers arms and legs, where the trade-offs are fairly straightforward. This area has its own, genuinely different set of considerations, more sensitive skin, higher ingrown hair risk, and a regrowth itch that shaving here causes more noticeably than shaving anywhere else.
This looks at the same three methods specifically for this area.
Waxing
Our privacy and hygiene guide covers this in detail: Rica wax specifically, given more sensitive skin here, with regrowth taking three to four weeks to return, similar to other waxed areas. The main trade-off is the discomfort of the appointment itself, covered honestly in our first-time bikini wax guide, against smoother, longer-lasting results with less regrowth itch than shaving produces.
Shaving
Faster and less immediately uncomfortable than waxing, but regrowth is noticeably itchier here than on arms or legs, since the coarser, curlier hair typical in this area grows back with a sharper edge that shaving creates. Ingrown hairs are also more common with regular shaving in this specific area than with waxing, given the friction and clothing contact this area experiences.
Trimming
The gentlest option, avoiding both the discomfort of waxing and the ingrown-hair risk of shaving, at the cost of not producing a fully hair-free result. This is a reasonable, genuinely valid choice for people who find both other options too uncomfortable or irritation-prone, not a lesser option.
A direct comparison
| Waxing | Shaving | Trimming | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regrowth itch | Minimal | Noticeable, more so than other areas | Not applicable |
| Ingrown hair risk | Present, our ingrown hair guide covers reducing it | Higher, given friction and clothing contact here | Lowest of the three |
| How long it lasts | 3 to 4 weeks | 2 to 4 days before regrowth shows | Ongoing maintenance, not a single result |
| Discomfort at time of removal | Higher, brief | Minimal | Minimal |
Booking waxing if that is your choice
If waxing is the right trade-off for you, our privacy and hygiene guide covers exactly what to expect from the appointment itself, and our first-time guide walks through it step by step if this would be your first time.
Common questions
Is shaving or waxing better for this specific area?
Waxing generally causes less itchy regrowth and fewer ingrown hairs in this specific area than shaving does, since the coarser hair here regrows with a sharper edge after shaving. Waxing involves more discomfort at the time of the appointment in exchange for that benefit.
Why does shaving cause more itching in this area than on legs?
Hair here is typically coarser and curlier, and the sharp edge shaving creates as it regrows causes more noticeable itching than on arms or legs, combined with more clothing friction against the area throughout the day.
Is trimming a good option for this area?
Yes, it is a genuinely valid choice, not a lesser one, particularly for people who find waxing or shaving too uncomfortable or irritation-prone. It does not produce a fully hair-free result, which is the main trade-off.
How long does waxing last in this area compared to shaving?
Waxing regrowth typically takes 3 to 4 weeks to return, while shaving regrowth shows within 2 to 4 days, which is one of the main reasons people choose waxing despite the greater discomfort at the time of the appointment.
Book what this guide covers
Full price lists and details for the services discussed here.
