What Happens to Your Skin When You Shave, Wax, or Thread?

Hair removal can affect more than just the hair. When you shave, the upper layer of the skin, called the stratum corneum, may go through some stress. This can lead to dryness, redness, bumps, itching, or burning because the stratum corneum helps keep moisture in the skin and protects the skin from irritants. [1,2] Shaven hair is also very short, and the sharp edge of the razor can scratch or rub the surface of the skin. This rubbing can exfoliate dry skin flakes, pull off some surface skin cells, and leave the skin feeling dry or rough. Studies have shown that shaving may lead to higher water loss from the skin, also called TEWL. TEWL means water is escaping from the skin. When this happens, the skin can feel tight, dry, and itchy. [1,3,4]

Waxing has the benefit of removing the whole hair from the root. However, the wax can also stretch and pull on the outer layer of the skin, which may disturb the skin barrier. Research has shown that waxing can decrease the thickness of the stratum corneum, making the skin more irritated after waxing. [1,2]

Threading uses twisted threads to remove hair from the root. This can be helpful for small parts of the body, such as the eyebrows or face. However, the thread may rub the skin and pull on the hair follicles. Studies have reported that threading can cause redness, swelling, itching, folliculitis, pseudofolliculitis, irritation, and in rare cases, skin infection, especially when hygiene is poor. [5,6]

Bumps and ingrown hairs can happen with shaving, waxing, or threading. This happens when the hair grows back into the skin or turns and rolls back toward the skin. The body may respond with irritation, leading to red, itchy, sore, or bumpy skin. This happens more often when the hair is dense, curly, or cut very close to the skin. [7]

Whether you shave, wax, or thread, hair removal places some stress on the skin, and the response can vary from person to person. Good post-hair-removal care should help calm the skin, minimize redness, itching, dryness, and ingrown hairs, while helping maintain the skin’s moisture barrier as it recovers.

Numbered citations

[1] R. L. Evans, S. Bates, R. E. Marriott, and D. S. Arnold, “The Impact of Different Hair‐Removal Behaviours on the Biophysical and Biochemical Characteristics of Female Axillary Skin,” International Journal of Cosmetic Science, vol. 42, no. 5, pp. 436–443, Oct. 2020, doi: 10.1111/ics.12648.

[2] A. Pany, V. Klang, M. Brunner, J. Ruthofer, E. Schwarz, and C. Valenta, “Effect of Physical and Chemical Hair Removal Methods on Skin Barrier Function in Vitro: Consequences for a Hydrophilic Model Permeant,” Skin Pharmacology and Physiology, vol. 32, no. 1, pp. 8–21, Oct. 2018, doi: 10.1159/000493168.

[3] V. P. J. Marti, R. S. Lee, A. E. Moore, S. E. Paterson, A. Watkinson, and A. V. Rawlings, “Effect of Shaving on Axillary Stratum Corneum,” International Journal of Cosmetic Science, vol. 25, no. 4, pp. 193–198, Aug. 2003, doi: 10.1046/j.1467-2494.2003.00186.x.

[4] P. Chaturvedi, W. Kroon, G. Zanelli, and P. R. Worsley, “An Exploratory Study of Structural and Microvascular Changes in the Skin Following Electrical Shaving Using Optical Coherence Topography,” Skin Research and Technology, vol. 30, no. 7, p. e13830, Jul. 2024, doi: 10.1111/srt.13830.

[5] S. B. Verma, “Eyebrow Threading: A Popular Hair-Removal Procedure and Its Seldom-Discussed Complications,” Clinical and Experimental Dermatology, vol. 34, no. 3, pp. 363–365, Apr. 2009, doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2230.2008.02920.x.

[6] B. Ladizinski, N. Ganta, and J. Mathur, “Threading: A Timeless Method for Facial Hair Maintenance and Potential Complications,” International Journal of Trichology, vol. 4, no. 1, p. 46, 2012, doi: 10.4103/0974-7753.96092.

[7] A. Ogunbiyi, “Pseudofolliculitis Barbae; Current Treatment Options,” Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology, vol. 12, pp. 241–247, Apr. 2019, doi: 10.2147/CCID.S149250.