Your eyebrows frame your entire face — which is exactly why choosing how to shape them matters. The two most popular methods, threading and waxing, both remove hair from the root and both deliver weeks of smooth, defined brows. But they work very differently, and one of them is almost always the better fit for your skin, your brow goals and your tolerance for discomfort. Here’s an honest comparison from our therapists at The Royal Beauty Bar.
How threading works
Threading is an ancient hair-removal technique that uses nothing more than a twisted strand of cotton thread. The therapist rolls the twisted section across the skin, catching individual hairs and lifting them out from the root. Because the thread can target a single hair at a time, threading is extraordinarily precise — it’s the reason brow artists around the world swear by it for shaping.
How waxing works
Waxing applies warm wax over an area of hair, then removes the wax — and every hair under it — in one quick pull. It’s fast and efficient, which makes it brilliant for larger areas like legs, arms and the back. On the brows, however, wax removes everything in its path, so the precision depends entirely on how carefully the wax is placed.
Precision: threading wins
If you want crisp, sculpted arches, threading is the clear winner. Hair is removed line by line, so your therapist can build the exact shape that suits your face — and tidy stray hairs without touching the ones you’re growing out. Waxing shapes in blocks, which is faster but less forgiving; one slightly misplaced strip can take weeks to grow back.
Skin sensitivity: threading is gentler
Threading touches only the hair, never the skin. There’s no heat, no resin and no chemicals, which makes it the safest choice for sensitive skin, acne-prone skin, and clients using retinoids or other actives that make skin fragile. Waxing pulls at the top layer of skin as well as the hair, which can cause redness, irritation or even lifting on delicate or treated skin.
Pain: honestly, it’s a draw
Neither method is painless, but neither is dramatic either. Waxing delivers one short, sharp pull per strip. Threading feels like a series of quick flicks. Most clients find brow threading very tolerable — and like waxing, it gets easier with every visit as you get used to the sensation.
Speed and regrowth
A professional brow threading session takes around 10–15 minutes — barely longer than a wax. Both methods remove hair from the root, so regrowth is similar: typically two to five weeks depending on your hair cycle. Many clients find threading regrowth feels softer because hairs are removed in the direction of growth with less breakage.
Cost
Brow threading and brow waxing are similarly priced at most salons, and threading is often the more affordable option. At The Royal Beauty Bar we keep both accessible, with package deals (like our 5 x Eyebrow package) that bring the per-visit price down even further for regulars.
So which should you choose?
- Choose threading if — You want precise, sculpted brow shaping
- Choose threading if — You have sensitive, acne-prone or retinoid-treated skin
- Choose waxing if — You’re removing hair from larger areas like legs, arms or back
- Tip: — You want brows plus lip, chin or full-face hair removal in one quick visit — threading handles all of these beautifully too
For brows specifically, our verdict is simple: threading offers more control, suits more skin types and delivers the cleanest shape. It’s why threading remains our signature service — for both women and men.
Book With Us
Ready for your sharpest brows yet? Call The Royal Beauty Bar on 0452 534 615 or book online.
