Eyebrows - Waxing v Threading

[JurgenKlopp]

I have very blonde eyebrows and don't really do much with them. I've never been able to pluck them myself so I've mostly left them alone. Over the years, I have had them tinted and waxed to add shape and definition to my face.

However, every time I've had them waxed, the area goes angry red for 2-3 days and is painful and I get loads of spots, mostly with whiteheads.

Because of this, I don't get them done again for a long time (months) and they go back to being natural and ungroomed.

So, I'm wondering about threading. I've seen it done but haven't taken the plunge as it looks so painful. Part of the attraction with waxing is the quick process and then it's over.

I have hyper sensitive skin, including rosacea, with naturally spotty/red skin and dark under eye circles. I wear mineral foundation and manage to look alright for work but always feel like my eyebrows let me down.

Please help!

[louise987]

I don't get on with waxing either but have been fine with threading. My skin goes a bit red after (not really surprising after the hairs have been ripped out!) but it goes down fast. Not sure if it's something to do with less 'interference' with the skin, I always felt like waxing removed the top layer of skin along with the hairs!

I'm sure if you find a friendly salon and explained your concerns they would do a small tester patch to see how you get on!

[Terramirabilis]

I also find threading is less bad for skin than waxing. I have tried waxing in the past and never really got on with it due to redness and irritation that lasts a couple of days.

I have eyebrows that are hard to pluck due to many of the hairs being very blonde so plucking is not a great option.

I find threading gives a neater result than waxing and is less irritating to skin. I started getting it done 18 months ago and am a fully-paid-up fan. It is my only "beauty treatment" and I wouldn't give it up.

[treaclesoda]

I think threading is far better. I can go and get it done in my lunch hour and there isn't even a hint of redness when I return to the office. There is no risk of wax being too hot or anything. And I think it gives a neater finish. Also, this might just be psychological but I feel like waxing stretches the skin horribly.

Threading isn't more painful than waxing, but it lasts longer, whereas waxing gets it all over and done with in seconds. But there are differences in threaders, some hurt much more than others, and if you get a bad one it is significantly more painful than if you get a good one.

[readyforno2]

I regularly get waxed. I have only once been threaded and it was so painful. Also, they weren't even and the tint was terrible. Maybe I just had a bad experience but I stick to waxing now, it's over in seconds and the redness goes down within a couple of hours. My eyebrows were really swollen after the threading experience and she kept pointing out my top lip and asking if I wanted it done too. I was mortified.

[iloveredwine]

Threading is much better for my skin than waxing. Only takes about 20 minutes for the redness to go down rather than 3 hours for waxing

[hollieberrie]

i prefer threading, i think it gives a sharper outline.
i tend to be a bit red for about 20 mins afterwards and then its fine. it is painful though - i have to think of nice things and dig my nails into my hand to get through it!

[JurgenKlopp]

Thanks so much for your experiences and opinions. I think threading might be better for me but I'm scared of 20 minutes of pain compared to 30 seconds waxing.

Does anyone have any tips to deal with the redness and spots afterwards?

[yetanotherdeskmove]

It doesn't take anywhere near 20 mins, so don't worry about that

[KillBillHill]

Doesn't take 20mins at all! 5/10mins tops. I have quite thick brows and don't need them redone for about 2 months with threading. I've had them threaded for 10 years now and would never go back to tweezers or waxing

[HeartsTrumpDiamonds]

Threading hurts more than childbirth so waxing or tweezing all the way for me.

[FaithAscending]

I have a low pain threshold, I find waxing really painful but I can cope with threading. My eyebrows are bushy so threading is better for tidying up. Also if you start getting them threaded it gets easier to tolerate. Definitely try it at least once.

[brightnearly]

I have blonde eyebrows and had them threaded for the first time last month - I had no irritation either (apart from redness immediately afterwards), and I have very sensitive skin.

The discomfort wasn't too bad, much less than tweezing, and the result is brilliant! I went to Blink Brow Bar (and the price was more eye-watering than the procedure).

[FankEweVeryMuch]

Threading is much better in my experience. The finial result is much better and last longer. I don't find it too painful at all and my skin is much less red afterwards than when I used to get them waxed.

I live in an area where most things are madly expensive but I can get really good threading done for under £5.

[Lotsofplanetshaveanorth]

I was in agony during threading...must have had a bad therapist. Looked beautiful but not enough to justify the pain again so went back to waxing

[Tartyflette]

Threading is a bit painful, and a bit tickly and tingly, but it is fast' -- much, much quicker than plucking. And you do get a really nice crisp line. I get a little redness but it quickly goes. (And it does matter who does it, IMO; some practitioners are much better than others.)

[eastwest]

I have never had waxing, only had threading. It works v well for me, takes about 5/10 mins and no redness. I go to Blink or Benito, which cost about £15 I think. I have seen threading advertised for as little as £3 but I am always nervous about that...

[hollieberrie]

I meant the redness afterwards lasts for about 20mins (on me anyway - im fair and skin is quite sensitive). Actual thrreading takes about 3-5mins.

I go to the £3 places - i live in an Asian area so lots near me and the beauticians are very experienced as there is a lot of demand. I have had much better experiences there than in more fancy salons.

[Aridane]

The £3 Asian places are the best - but still hurts like fuck (and makes my eyes water and my nose run)

[Kennington]

Threading for me as the redness goes after 10 mins
Waxing takes off a small amount of skin and is less precise
Have had both
I still don't love the discomfort from threading though

[FaithAscending]

Oh yes I always ask for a tissue because it makes my eyes water.

[isthismylifenow]

Yesterday I took ds for a haircut at the barber, which is an Asian salon, and I noticed previously that a lady was having her brows threaded there. So I thought I would give it a go as the brows were misbehaving somewhat, and booking a waxing appointment to fit in with the day is near on impossible.

So, as no one else was waiting I asked other barber is he was able to thread. Nodded his head. All ok. Sat down, he handed me TWO tissues, my thought...'good grief, am I prepared for this, TWO tissues' . So now not a word is spoken (I after realize that he has very limited English so its a case of pointing otherwise then his brother will step in and translate).

So off we go with the eyebrows. It was ok, not unbearable at all, but I was quite shocked at the amount of hairs that went flying around the place.....obviously my brows were misbehaving a tad more than I thought...... So he gestures and says hold here, pull there etc.... finishes off 2nd eyebrow. Great I think, I start to sit up. He pushes me back on the chair, and yip, without any pre-discussion, he does it.....starts on my upper lip. . Well, those tissues certainly came in handy then I can freaking tell you......

Well, I don't quite know what was worse. The pain of it, or the fact that he just assumed my tash was far more unruly than my eyebrows and it needed coming off without so much of a discussion.....

I should add that I am fair and with light fine hair. God alone knows what that must be like for those of you with darker coarser hair

So, if you bump into me in the street, I am the one with the lovely eyebrows, and still swollen and red top lip....