What Each Option Actually Costs Over Time, Not Just Per Visit, and Why “Cheaper Upfront” Doesn’t Always Mean Cheaper Overall — A Guide for Orland Park, Tinley Park, Palos Heights, and Frankfort

By Kabirat A. · Oxygen Med Spa, Orland Park, IL · Updated September 2026

Oxygen Med Spa — 14360 South La Grange Road, Unit D, Orland Park, IL 60462, serving Orland Park, Tinley Park, Palos Heights, Oak Lawn, and Frankfort. Open Monday–Saturday, 10 AM–5 PM, closed Sunday. (708) 229-8800 · book online.

Quick answer: Shaving looks cheapest per purchase, waxing looks moderate per session, and laser hair removal looks like the biggest upfront cost — but that ranking flips once you actually add up five years of razors, wax appointments, and the ongoing time each option takes. Our laser hair removal packages are the only one of the three with a real endpoint: once a treatment series is complete, the ongoing cost drops to occasional maintenance sessions rather than a lifetime of recurring purchases and appointments.

Shaving: Cheap Per Purchase, Constant Over Time

A single razor or refill cartridge pack seems inexpensive, but shaving is a weekly or more frequent habit for most people, for as long as they want hair removed — meaning the cost never stops and never decreases. Beyond the direct cost of razors and shaving cream, there’s also the recurring risk of razor burn, ingrown hairs, and nicks, plus the time cost of shaving multiple times a week, every week, for years. Over five years, this adds up to a substantial recurring expense with literally nothing to show for it at the end — you’re exactly where you started, still shaving.

Waxing: Moderate Per Session, Adds Up Fast

Waxing appointments typically happen every four to six weeks to keep up with hair regrowth, and each session costs meaningfully more than a razor. Multiply a single session’s cost by roughly 10 to 13 appointments per year, and the annual total is often significantly higher than most people estimate before they actually track it. Over five years, consistent waxing represents one of the largest ongoing hair removal expenses — and like shaving, it never produces a permanent result; stop waxing and hair returns to its normal growth pattern.

Laser Hair Removal: The Only Option With an Actual Endpoint

A full laser hair removal package typically involves 6 to 8 sessions over several months, which is the main upfront cost. After that series is complete, most clients only need occasional maintenance sessions — often just once or twice a year, sometimes less — rather than a recurring weekly or monthly expense. When you compare the total cost of a full package plus a few years of occasional touch-ups against five years of continuous waxing or shaving, laser hair removal is frequently the lower total cost, not the higher one, once the full timeline is considered.

The Real 5-Year Comparison

Here’s the pattern that becomes clear when you look at five years rather than a single visit:

Shaving: Low cost per purchase, but a constant, never-ending expense across five years with zero reduction in cost or frequency over time.

Waxing: Moderate cost per session, but roughly 10 to 13 sessions annually compounds into one of the highest total costs over five years, with no reduction in frequency unless you stop entirely.

Laser hair removal: Highest cost in year one during the initial treatment series, followed by dramatically lower costs in years two through five as maintenance needs drop off significantly. See our 2026 price list and package options for current session and package rates to run your own comparison.

What’s Not Captured in the Dollar Amount

Cost comparisons often miss the time and hassle factor. Shaving and waxing both require ongoing effort indefinitely — time spent shaving multiple times a week, or time spent traveling to and sitting through a waxing appointment every month, for as long as you want hair removed. Laser hair removal front-loads that time investment into a defined series, after which the ongoing time commitment drops dramatically. Keep an eye on our current promotionswhen starting a new package, since timing your first session around a deal can improve the overall cost comparison even further. For many clients, this time savings is as meaningful as the direct cost comparison.

Who Might Still Prefer Waxing or Shaving

Laser hair removal isn’t the right fit for everyone. Some hair colors and types respond less predictably to laser treatment, and some people simply prefer the flexibility of not committing to a treatment series, even knowing the long-term cost comparison. If you’re only removing hair occasionally rather than consistently, the economics of a laser package may not make sense for your specific habits. That said, clients who do commit often find our membership options make the long-term cost even more favorable.

How to Think About the Decision

If you know you’ll want hair removed consistently for years, laser hair removal is worth running the actual numbers on rather than dismissing it as “the expensive option” based on the upfront package price alone. If your hair removal needs are occasional or you’re not sure you’ll stick with a treatment series, shaving or waxing may still make more practical sense for your situation.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many total sessions does a laser hair removal package include?
Most treatment series involve 6 to 8 sessions spaced several weeks apart, though this varies by area and individual hair growth patterns.

Does laser hair removal really eliminate the need for waxing or shaving?
For most clients, treated areas need little to no shaving or waxing after a completed series, with only occasional maintenance sessions needed over time.

Is laser hair removal a bigger expense than waxing in year one?
Often yes, since a full package is typically purchased upfront. The cost comparison favors laser hair removal starting in year two and beyond, once maintenance needs drop significantly.

Does hair removal cost vary by treatment area?
Yes, larger areas like full legs cost more per session than smaller areas like underarms, for all three hair removal methods.

What does laser hair removal cost at Oxygen Med Spa?
Pricing varies by area and package. See our 2026 price list for current rates.

Where are you, and how do I book?
14360 South La Grange Road, Unit D, Orland Park, IL 60462. Book online or call; Monday–Saturday, 10 AM to 5 PM.

Run the Numbers for Your Own Routine

Our team can help you compare a realistic laser hair removal package against what you’re currently spending on waxing or shaving. Book online or call (708) 229-8800.

Oxygen Med Spa · 14360 South La Grange Road, Unit D, Orland Park, IL 60462 · (708) 229-8800 · Mon–Sat, 10 AM–5 PM · Closed Sunday