The Pros & Cons of Waxing a Face

Prominent brows come and go depending on the latest supermodel look; other times, minimal eyebrows are fashionable. During Queen Elizabeth I's reign, women stripped their brows entirely using walnut oil or ammonia. These days wax strips, which have been around since the 1960s, are a quick and easy method to shape brows or get rid of other facial hair.

Waxing, which involves applying hot wax with a spatula and quickly pulling the hairs off all at once with a cloth, can be done at home or in a salon. It removes hair at the root, which discourages hair growth, it's clean and precise, and it's not messy or smelly like home hair removal creams. Bonus: It's much less expensive than laser treatments, electrolysis or home gadgets, which can cost upward of hundreds of dollars. While it's a little painful, aficionados prefer its all-at-once momentary tug to the drawn-out process of tweezer plucking or electrolysis.

If you're looking for a more natural look, waxing might not be your best bet, because it allows less precision than hair-by-hair removal methods. Waxing's tug can leave skin red briefly, or even occasionally cause infection or allergies. If you have sensitive skin or take certain prescription medicines -- check with your doctor -- then you probably shouldn't wax. When administered incorrectly, waxing can also burn or bruise the skin. Although hair doesn't grow back quickly, waxing does require maintenance every month or two. If you're looking for more permanent removal, look into other methods.