When hair grows where you don't want it to be, you have two choices: you can either live
with it, or remove it. If you choose the latter, you will be happy to know that a
variety of options exist, ranging from cheap to pricey, temporary to permanent, and easy
to difficult. Some hair removal techniques can be done safely at home, while others are
best left up to a trained professional.
Shaving
Shaving is the most common way to remove hair. Shaving involves using a razor to cut
through hair and scrape it away from the skin.
Shaving is extremely inexpensive; disposable razors generally cost a dollar or less
each, and disposable razor blades for razors can be purchased for about 10 to 20 cents
each. Shaving is generally safe and does not result in increased hair growth.
On the other hand, shaving is laborious and slow and the effects are temporary, lasting
just one to three days. Regrowth after shaving, particularly in sensitive areas, can be
painful and itchy. Shaving stubble is uncomfortable to touch, and shaving can cause skin
irritation, cuts, and ingrown hairs.
For best results, use razors on wet skin lubricated with a shaving cream or gel. Shave
against the direction of hair growth, using a sharp, new razor or razor blade. Make sure
to use a moisturizer on your skin after shaving to help soothe and calm the skin.
Waxing
Waxing is one form of epilation, which is a process of pulling hair out by the roots.
Warm wax is applied section-by-section to relevant areas of the body, is allowed to
harden for a few seconds, and then is quickly peeled off. Alternately, a cloth can be
placed over the wax which adheres to the wax and is then ripped off quickly, taking the
wax and hair with it.
Removing hair with wax is extremely effective. It pulls out large sections of hair at a
time, leaving behind velvety-smooth skin. Waxing is also a long-lasting hair removal
treatment, lasting about two to eight weeks. Repeated waxings may also reduce the amount
of hair in an area permanently.
One major drawback of waxing is pain. Waxing can be painful, especially on those that
have sensitive skin. Professionals often use numbing gels or liquids on the areas of the
body to be waxed for just this purpose. Waxing can irritate sensitive skin and should
not be used on skin that is chapped, sunburned or otherwise weakened. In order for waxes
to work, hair must be at least 1/8 inch long.
Many home waxing kits are now on the market but waxing is often best performed by a
professional. Depending on the area of the body that requires waxing, the price ranges
from about $20-$200. At-home kits run about $10-$40.
Tweezing
Most people think of eyebrows when they think of tweezing, an epilation method that
utilizes pinching tweezers to grasp individual hairs by the roots and pull them out.
Tweezing is very inexpensive with most tweezers costing from about $2 for a decent pair
to $40 for the very best professional models. It can also be done easily at home and is
extremely precise, removing only the exact hairs chosen. Results are long-lasting,
lasting anywhere from three to eight weeks.
However, tweezing can be very painful, particularly tweezing hairs from the face.
Experienced groomers open up skin pores by splashing the area to be tweezed with warm
water before tweezing and then soothe skin afterwards with a skin calming product.
Tweezing is also very slow, since it involves pulling hairs out one-by-one. It also
carries with it the risk of inflaming the hair follicles and perhaps causing infections
and ingrown hairs. For this reason, most use tweezers only in small areas, such as the
eyebrows.
Depilatories
Depilatory creams, roll-ons, aerosols, and lotions contain chemicals that dissolve hair
and separate it from the skin. After leaving the depilatory on for the specified amount
of time, users can simply wipe hair away like dissolved dirt.
Depilatory products are readily available; they can be purchased for about $5-10 in any
drugstore. They're also relatively easy to use. Most products come in cream or lotion
form that must be smoothed onto skin. Results generally last a bit longer than shaving,
ranging from about seven to ten days.
Depilatories can cause skin irritation or chemical burns for those with sensitive skin,
allergies, or those who leave the product on too long. They can also be difficult to
apply smoothly and evenly and users sometimes complain that they can't sit down or put
on clothing while their body is covered with the depilatory product. Nonetheless, for
some who can't tolerate shaving and can not afford waxing, depilatories are an
inexpensive, easy, at-home option.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis involves inserting a very fine needle into a hair follicle and sending an
electric current into the needle. This damages the hair follicle and hampers its ability
to produce more hairs.
Electrolysis permanently reduces hair on the body and face and the results are very long-
lasting, anywhere from months to years to forever depending on how much hair was removed
and what area of the body it was removed from.
Electrolysis, however, is very expensive. The estimated cost of a course of electrolysis
treatments ranges from about $1,000 to $5,000, varying of course with how much hair is
removed and in what area. Electrolysis also requires multiple sessions to remove hair
completely in an area, and it can be painful. Electrolysis also carries with it a slight
risk of scarring and infections from inflamed follicles and ingrown hairs.
Electrolysis should only be performed by a qualified professional. At-home electrolysis
kits can be dangerous, painful, and leave scarring.
Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal is a process that uses a very narrow beam of concentrated light.
Turned on the skin section-by-section, laser beams send a burst of light energy into
hairs, destroying hair follicles in much the same way as electrolysis and preventing
hair from growing back.
Lasers are much less painful and faster than electrolysis and results are about the
same, with permanent reduction in hair and minimal regrowth over a period of months and
years. Hair that regrows is very thin and fine.
Laser hair removal requires multiple treatments. Large areas of skin, such as the back
or legs, require more visits and naturally, cost more. Laser treatment costs are
approximately in line with electrolysis, with each session costing about $500 and total
costs ranging from about $1,000 up to $5,000 or even more if large areas of the body are
targeted. Like electrolysis, laser treatments should only be performed by a
professional.
Laser treatments work best on those with light skin and dark hair, which absorbs more
energy from the laser beam and is thus easier to destroy. Laser treatments are not
recommended for those with blonde or red hair or those with dark or tanned skin as the
laser may damage the skin. Laser treatments will not work on deeply embedded hairs such
as underarm or bikini line hairs.
