The Top 10 Hair Removal Methods - Which is Right For You?
Do you have unwanted body hair? Are you trying to choose
between hair removal methods? This guide contains all you
need to decide. It details several popular as well as
not-so-common methods of getting rid of unwanted hair, including
shaving, plucking, waxing, sugar waxing, bleaching, threading,
depilatories, electrolysis, laser, and vaniqa.
Shaving
Shaving is a temporary hair removal method. It is
inexpensive, but for most people the hair has started to grow
back by the following day. To prevent stubble, you must
shave once or twice daily. Razors come in all
varieties. They can be made of cheap plastic with a single
blade which can be bought for a quarter, or a high quality
electric version costing $50 or more.
Plucking
Another common hair removal method is plucking, or tweezing, the
hair. While this method is time consuming, as you can only
pluck one hair at a time, it is useful for smaller areas, such
as an extra eyebrow hair or two. However, it can be
painful, especially around the eyes, and can cause irritation
and ingrown hairs. While it is a myth that by plucking a
hair out by its root you are causing two to grow in its place,
many women do not pluck their hair for this very reason.
But investing in a $2 pair of tweezers is a lifesaver when you
want to look perfect for that special occasion.
Waxing
For larger areas, many people prefer to use hot wax. The
wax is applied to the skin with a piece of paper or cloth
covering it. After the wax cools, the strip is ripped
away, taking the hair with it. While this method is fast,
it can also be painful. In addition, waxing removes the
top layer of skin, and can cause rashes and redness.
However, once you become good at the technique, it is an easy
and inexpensive way to quickly get rid of unwanted hair at
home. Kits can be purchased for $20-$40. You can
also have your skin waxed by a professional. Depending on
the area you are having waxed, this can cost from $20 to around
$150.
Sugar Waxing
Sugar waxing is similar in method to traditional waxing, except
that the "wax" is a sticky sugary paste. Sugaring is even
less expensive, as home kits can be bought for as little as
$10.
Bleaching
Rather than removing the hair, some women prefer to lighten
it. This is especially common for women with facial
hair. Bleaching is completely pain-free, and can be done
at home. Most women do not have any skin reactions to the
bleach; however, as with a hair dye, be sure to test first on a
small, inconspicuous part of your skin, just in case the bleach
does change your skin color or cause irritation.
Threading
Threading, also known as khite, is commonly practiced in the
Middle East but much less well-known in the west. It is
performed using a cotton thread. The thread is twisted,
catching the hair, and is then pulled to remove it. The
results are similar to plucking, but many more hairs can be
removed at one time. Always use cotton so the fibers
themselves do not irritate the skin.
Depilatories
Depilatories are creams that dissolve hair, allowing it to be
wiped away. For some people, depilatories last no longer
than shaving, while others are hair-free for several days.
The process is not always painless, but is definitely less
painful than waxing. The creams can be bought for a few
dollars at any drug store.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal method. A needle
is placed in a hair follicle and electric current is delivered
to the follicle. This damages the hair, and it does not
return. This method works well for small localized areas
of hair, but can be time consuming and costly for large patches,
as each hair must be done individually. Also, if the
needle is not inserted just right, the hair may need to be
retreated, and often an area must be treated three to four times
before the hair is permanently removed. While the needle
should not puncture the skin, electrolysis can be painful.
It is recommended that electrolysis be done by a professional;
home treatment methods are difficult and generally
unsuccessful.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is another permanent hair removal
method. It is a more recent method, and data as to its
long-term effectiveness is still being gathered. Light
from a laser is pointed at a small area of skin. The
energy from the light is absorbed by the dark hair pigment,
heating and damaging the follicle. This method does not
work for white or grey hair or for people with dark skin and
light hair. Because this method does not require each hair
to be treated individually, this method is much quicker and less
expensive for larger areas such as the legs as compared to
electrolysis. If you are interested in laser hair removal,
find a reputable professional. Laser hair removal can
cause permanent skin damage if not performed properly. It
can be painful, but as more research continues to be gathered,
its looking more and more like a viable option for many
people. The only place laser hair removal should not be
performed is around the eyes, as it could cause permanent eye
damage.
Vaniqa
Vaniqa is a cream designed specifically to target facial hair in
women. It is intended to slow the growth of this hair, and
is designed to be used with other nonpermanent methods of hair
removal. It is available by prescription only, and has
been shown to be effective in almost 60% of the patients in the
trial. It is currently only for use by women over 12.
Remember when your mother always told you that you didn't really
want to start shaving? But you insisted that you would
want to continue for the rest of your life. However, for
many women, unwanted hair causes major stress and discomfort
everyday. You should now be able to more easily choose
between the many hair removal methods and choose the one that is
right for you.