The Ultimate Hair Removal Guide
How you choose to treat the hair on your body, is your business. Hair or no hair, whatever personal decision you make, feel free to do so. There are no one-size suits all when it comes to how you treat your own body. Everybody has different standards, and that is perfectly okay.
For those looking to free your pits, pubes, or even eyebrows from your body hair, there are several methods you might have tried. However, the experience could have been unpleasant, or you may have wound up with painful ingrown hair.
Should you D.I.Y.? When can you see a pro? In this article, we answer the when, where, and how of giving you a painless, bump-free hair removal process. Scroll below for the ultimate hair removal guide
When To Get Waxed
Waxing is excellent for removing large areas of hair. Moreover, the best thing about it is that it's quick, and with frequent waxing, hair growth will gradually reduce over time. However, as much as you may be tempted to go, D.I.Y dermatologists recommend leaving the larger areas of hair to experts. Frankly, attempting a Brazilian at home might lead to some serious irritation.
It requires much more work best left for your aestheticians. However, if you wish to go D.I.Y, you can use at-home kits meant for smaller areas. Think like Upper lips or eyebrows. For this, go strip wax and make sure to rip it in the opposite direction. Have a body oil nearby to soothe your skin and slick off any remaining wax residue.
Shaving Your Hair
These creams are known as Dilapitories, and they work by breaking down the keratin protein in your hair before dissolving them away. They are super easy to use because you can wash them away during a shower. Remove the hair in all directions to get the hair growth patterns.
Furthermore, if you prefer razors, make sure they are sharp and change them out every two or three shaves to prevent infection or inflammation. Remember you want to patch test the cream on your hair to see if any irritation occurs. On that note, make sure not to take it on sensitive areas. You will burn, and that's an experience you do not want to endure.
Hacking Sugaring
Sugaring is the gentler younger sister of waxing. It pulls the hair from the root-like waxing, but the process is much less abrasive than commercial wax. This is because it does not stick to the skin. You can make your own D.I.Y paste by mixing up lemon sugar and water or buy a premade one.
When sugaring at home, spread a thin layer over the area with your fingers and rip it off along the hair growth direction. Your first try may seem a little messy, but practice makes perfect. Keep at it, and you will get a clean result in no time.
Go For Laser
If you are looking for a more permanent solution, you want to check out laser hair removal. You will need a couple of sessions to rid the hair completely. However, the sessions themselves are pretty short, think 10 minutes - 30 minutes, depending on the area's size. The light beams emitted are absorbed by the hair follicle, destroying its ability to produce more hair.
It should be noted that the process is very pricey, though. One session can set you back a couple of thousand dollars. You can use at-home lasers. However, they are less thorough, but they are usually cheaper than in-office sessions. Darker skin tones should ensure that the lasers are dark skin approved or may risk permanent hyperpigmentation and scarring.
Using Electrolysis
On the other hand, if laser is out of your reach, you can go for electrolysis. A tiny needle is used to burn the root of hair through electrical currents. It can be done on all skin types and hair colors however, it has the potential to cause scarring and dark spots.
The result is permanent hair removal at a much lower cost than laser. It costs about $30 - $100 per session. However, it will hurt, and the session takes much longer with the most lasting hours with multiple sessions required, yet it is the most permanent solution.
Epilating, Tweezing and Threading
Plucking out your hair is another option for removing hair in smaller areas. There is no irritation on the skin, and the result will last much longer. Tweezing is for those with patience; it does take time because you will be pulling hair out one by one. Threading is great for shaping eyebrows; however, it takes a bit of practice to nail the technique. Plus, it's perfect for those with sensitive skin.
Epilating is a method that uses several tweezers in motorized rows. If you are short on time, this is the best method for you. Moreover, some hair removal methods require a significant amount of hair to hold onto; epilating does not. Consequently, you do not need to wait too long between sessions. Pro-tip is to epilate in warm water, and please do not epilate sensitive areas like the bikini line.