A Guide to Hair Removal

Though it is more acceptable nowadays, body hair was once an incredible taboo. Legs were kept shaven and moustaches ripped out at the roots all in the name of beauty. Seriously, in some cultures hairlines were plucked individually to give the illusion of a larger forehead.

As a whole, we have a long history of some seriously bizarre interactions with hair. Right now, thick but maintained brows and a smooth, flawless face happens to be on trend. For those who wish to follow this trend, here is a full rundown of hair removal methods, tips, and tricks.

A Guide to Hair Removal

Tips for Unwanted Hair Removal

The oldest, most familiar method of hair removal is shaving. When you shave, you use a sharp razor to chop the hairs down close to skin level, giving the appearance of smooth skin. Everyone you have ever met has probably shaved at one point or another.

It is a sort of right of passage in much of the world. To shave properly, first wet your skin and apply a lubricant of choice. Many people go with the typical shaving cream or gel but coconut oil works incredibly well, too. Move against the grain slowly while applying even pressure.

Be careful while shaving against the direction of your hair, as this increases your chance of razor burn. If your skin seems irritated, try shaving with the grain next time, especially if you have typically sensitive skin anyways.

Follow up with a good moisturizer after rinsing well and you are all set. All in all, shaving is simple, practical, but also a bit time consuming and the results do not last very long.

If you want something that lasts a bit longer, give waxing or sugaring a try. In both methods, a heated liquid is applied to the skin and allowed to slightly cool. A cloth strip is applied to the warm goo and used to quickly pull it off, removing the hair underneath by ripping it from its roots.

This method can hurt quite a bit but will give you long lasting, even results. If you can, try to let a professional do it for you to ensure you do not burn yourself or accidentally injure your skin by allowing the wax to cool too long.

It can harden and become nearly impossible to get off comfortably. Use a post wax soothing balm to help ease any pain or bruising that may occur. Be sure to work in small sections to ensure even removal!

If you are hoping to only take out a few hairs, give plucking a go. Used typically to remove stray hairs near the brows, lips, and chin, plucking works in a fashion similar to that of waxing and sugaring in that it yanks the hair out from its follicle, giving you long lasting results.

This method is fantastic for small areas but using it over larger portions of skin can cause scarring and permanent damage. Stick to the touch up work and you are all set! If the pain is too much, try a numbing cream. Many can be purchased over the counter at drugstores and markets.

Along the same general idea, depilatory creams can be amazing for usage in a pinch.

Sudden date?

Slap on some Nair and let it sit.

Rinse thoroughly via the instructions on the box and you are done! Seriously, these are pretty foolproof products that have detailed information tabs on the packaging that details every step you should take to achieve flawless, silky smooth skin.

Be sure to do a patch test with this one, as these creams are often rather intense and can cause irritation, especially on sensitive skin and intimate or delicate areas. Also, definitely avoid the eyes and only use those labelled for facial use on your face! The body ones are too strong and can cause chemical burns.

Threading is a traditional Indian hair removal method that has gained rapid popularity within the last decade. This one, especially, is best left to the professionals! A piece of thread is wrapped and then used to pluck out the hairs through a series of careful movements.

This method is fantastic for those with bushier brows who wish to just clean up the area and rock a full look, as it gives more control than waxing and can be done on a larger area. Many people swear by threading for moustache control and stray chin hairs, as well, due to how fast the process is and how clean the results turn out.

If you have dark, thick hair and are at your wit’s end, laser hair removal is an option. This process takes the most time out of all hair removal procedures, as you have to return for several visits. The results are stunning and usually last for months, as the hair has a hard time regrowing.

A laser beam or controlled pulsating light is used to destroy the hair at its root, giving absolute removal. This method should be done in a clinical setting by a trained professional and is rather expensive.

Many people also report it being quite painful but overall worth it, especially if you have exhausted all other hair removal options and are at a sort of last resort situation, as the hair does not grow back for quite some time, if at all.

For a permanent solution, many people turn to electrolysis. Conducted by a trained and certified professional, electrolysis utilizes revolutionary technology to take out hair at its base. A tiny needle is inserted into the follicle, where it pumps out currents to destroy any remaining hair.

There are two types of electrolysis, galvanic and thermolytic. In galvanic, a chemical pulse is sent into the hair. Alternatively, thermolytic electrolysis utilizes heat waves. Either way, electrolysis is as close to permanent removal as one can get.

The hair grows back weaker after the first treatment and subsequent follow up treatments eventually kill the hair all together, preventing any sort of grow back. If you need your hair gone forever, this is the way to go.