Shaving is no big deal, and it keeps your skin from getting dried out and cruddy lookin ( provided you lotion it). No, it doesn’t come back thicker. I’ve tried waxing- didn’t work for me. Too many hairs broke off, too many follicles bled, too many got generally f’d up. I know waxing is great for women, and probably men with finer hair- but I’m a hairy S.O.B.. Really thick, coarse ( read: not conducive to the bulbous root being RIPPED through the skin). If you’re gonna try waxing, definitely try it on your other ( non-inked) arm and give it a week to check your reaction.