Waxing or laser hair removal: which suits you?
Waxing or laser: which method suits you best? Both leave you smooth, but in very different ways. That is why we have listed the differences in results, feel, time and cost for you.
Aleksandra Kravchenko · 6 October 2026 · 6 min read
In short
- Waxing leaves you smooth straight away, for three to six weeks, and works on every hair colour.
- Laser reduces hair growth permanently, but takes six to ten sessions and works best on dark hair.
- Laser costs more up front, but is often cheaper than waxing after one to three years.
- Not sure? A free trial treatment shows whether laser suits your skin and hair.
How waxing works
When waxing, we apply warm wax to the skin and remove the hair including the root. As a result, you stay smooth for three to six weeks, and the hair often grows back softer and finer. At First Wax we work exclusively with Lycon, a premium wax that is also suitable for sensitive skin.
The hair does need to be at least five millimetres long, about the length of a grain of rice. So you do not shave for two to three weeks before your appointment. Read more on the waxing page.
How laser hair removal works
With laser, the pigment in your hair absorbs the laser light. That light becomes heat, and the heat disables the hair follicle. So less and less hair grows back. Because the laser only works on hair in the growth phase, several sessions are needed, with four to six weeks between them.
We work with the Soprano Titanium, which combines three wavelengths and can treat skin types I to VI. You can see step by step how this works in the skin on the page how laser hair removal works.
Waxing or laser: the differences at a glance
| Waxing | Laser hair removal | |
|---|---|---|
| Result | Smooth straight away, hair grows back | Permanently less hair, after a course |
| How long smooth | Three to six weeks | Long-lasting, sometimes one maintenance session a year |
| Preparation | Hair at least 5 mm long | Shave the area one to two days beforehand |
| Hair colour | Works on every hair colour | Best on dark hair |
| Feel | A short pull | Warm and tingling, with cooling |
| Sun | Back in the sun after 24 to 48 hours | Avoid the sun around each session |
Waxing or laser: which is cheaper?
When choosing between waxing or laser, price often plays a big role. Per session, waxing is cheaper, but you keep repeating it. Laser is a bigger expense up front, and after that you need little maintenance. An example, assuming you have waxing about ten times a year:
| Area | Waxing per year | Laser course, one-off |
|---|---|---|
| Underarms | 10 × €20 = €200 | €250 |
| Brazilian | 10 × €55 = €550 | €800 |
| Full legs | 10 × €60 = €600 | €1450 |
Example based on current prices. The laser course is 5 + 1 free. If you need more than six sessions or a maintenance session later on, you pay for those per session.
For the underarms and the Brazilian, the course pays for itself within about a year and a half, and for full legs after about two and a half years. In addition, for a course from €500 you can pay in three instalments.
When to choose which?
Still in doubt between waxing or laser? These rules of thumb help you choose:
Choose waxing if you
- want to be smooth straight away, for example for a holiday
- have blonde, grey or red hair
- do not want to commit to a course
- mainly maintain a small area, such as the upper lip
Choose laser if you
- are tired of removing hair over and over again
- suffer from ingrown hairs or red bumps
- have dark hair
- want to save time and money in the long run
Combining waxing and laser
Waxing or laser does not have to be a choice for life. You do not have to decide everything at once. Many clients, for example, have their legs and underarms lasered and simply keep waxing for their Brazilian. Only on the area you have lasered do you stop waxing during the course. Shaving is fine there.
During a free trial treatment you experience how the laser feels, and together we look at whether it suits your skin and hair.
Frequently asked questions
Is laser hair removal more painful than waxing?
Everyone experiences it differently. Waxing feels like a short pull. With laser, most people feel a warm, tingling sensation, because the Soprano Titanium cools the skin continuously.
Can I still wax during a laser course?
Not on the area you are having lasered. Waxing removes the hair root, which the laser needs. Shaving is fine. You can simply keep waxing other areas.
Does laser also work on blonde or grey hair?
Laser works best on dark hair, because the pigment in the hair absorbs the light. On blonde or red hair with little pigment, the effect is smaller, and grey or white hair unfortunately cannot be treated. Waxing works on every hair colour.
Which is cheaper in the long run?
Laser is a bigger expense up front, but after that you need little maintenance. Depending on the area, a course pays for itself compared with waxing after about one to three years.
Can men also choose between waxing and laser?
Yes. For men, we only treat the upper body with laser, such as the back, the chest and the stomach. We also wax only the upper body for men, at separate rates.
