Hair Removal Options for Women

Working out how to get rid of unsightly hair can often be a bit of a difficult decision for women. Deciding to remove the hair tends to be a quick conclusion but there are so many different ways and how you go about it can vary greatly from person to person. Some people favour waxing, a quick although painful solution; while others favour shaving, much less painful but without the long lasting results that you would hope for. The method you choose is a very personal choice and it is good to consider the options before you choose the right one for you.

When you are new to hair removal, or thinking about changing your method, choosing a new way can seem confusing. Knowing more and both the benefits and the more negative points about each method can help to make the decision more straightforward.

Shaving

When shaving, hair is removed from the body by drawing a razor along the skin in the opposite direction from skin growth (in order to get the closest shave). Shaving is relatively quick and can be easily carried out when showering. Shaving is a good solution to removing hair from medium or larger areas of the body, such as legs or under arms. However, shaving can be difficult in more fiddly areas, such as the eyebrows. The main downside of shaving is that, because the hair is removed at the surface of the skin, it can grow back again more quickly than other hair removal methods. As hair grows back it can also grow back thicker than it was previously, often the result of regular shaving. If you are shaving your bikini line, then repeated shaving can lead to an unwanted rash which can be unsightly in itself.

Depilatory Cream

Depilatory creams also remove hair at the surface of the skin. These are creams or shaving powders that dissolve the hair, leaving your skin smooth and soft. Depilatory creams and powders are one of the most pain free methods of hair removal and have a similar effect to shaving. One positive aspect is that hair will grow back noticeably thinner than when shaving. However depilatory creams can be expensive to buy and quick to finish, making them less cost effective than shaving or waxing. Similarly to shaving, the effects are not long-lasting as the hair is only removed from the surface of the skin.

Tweezing

Tweezing is a method of hair removal that sees hairs individually pulled out from the root. Tweezing can be achieved by using metal or plastic tweezers or even by using your fingers. Due to each hair being removed individually tweezers are ideal for use on small areas of the body or areas in which hair is more styled, such as the eyebrows. Tweezers also make a quick solution to pulling out individual hairs that are missed by other hair removal methods. As hair is pulled out from root the effects of tweezing are longer lasting than shaving. However as the hair is pulled out it can feel much more painful, particularly on the delicate areas. Over time tweezing will become less painful as the hair comes out more readily.

Threading

Threading is a method of hair removal which sees hair pulled out of the skin by catching on a twisted thread that is rolled across the skin. Threading is often carried out by another person, thus it can come at a higher cost than other methods that can be carried out at home. However, having the expert eye of another person can mean that areas of hair can be styled more professionally. Threading also sees longer lasting effects by removing the root. While it’s somewhat less painful than waxing, it is still not exactly comfortable.

Waxing

Waxing is a popular and effective method of hair removal. Waxing involves a cold or a hot layer, such as honey or wax, applied to the skin and quickly pulled off with strips. Waxing removes significantly more hair with each strip than other methods, meaning that it is good for use on larger areas such as the legs. However waxing can also be used for more delicate areas by adapting the amount of wax used. Waxing can also be quite quick although perhaps fiddly when you are trying it for the first time. The effects of wax are also long lasting and can see you being hair free for several weeks. The downside of waxing is that it can be very painful. Waxing can also be expensive if you decide to wax in a salon or by waxing kits at chemists.

Epilator

An epilator is a device that grips onto hair and pulls it out from the root. Epilators can grip onto a number of hairs at a time as it moves along the skin. Pulling the hair from the root, epilators can have a long lasting effect and are simple to use at home rather than paying for a salon. The quality of epilators can vary and it is often worth investing in a better quality device which may cost more. Epilators can be noisy, although this will vary from device to device. Epilator again can be painful but this can lessen over time and through consistent use.

Electrology

If you become tired of constantly visiting salons or relying on hair removal methods that only see the hair eventually growing back, it is possible to remove hair permanently. Electrology is a method that has actually been used for over one hundred years. The hair cells are destroyed by a very thin probe inserted into each hair follicle which applies an electrical current. Electrology is a slow and delicate procedure, which can take more than one session. The methods used come at a price and as a result the process can be expensive. However once the process has been carried out the hair is permanently removed, saving you time and money in the future.

Laser Hair Removal

An alternative method of permanent hair removal is laser hair removal. This sees light directed to the hair and absorbed by the pigments in the hair. This process destroys the hair follicle and prevents it from re-growing. This method of hair removal can take one or more sessions, depending on the size of the area you wish to remove hair from and your hair type. It can also be expensive due to the specialist equipment used and the professional time. But then again, the perks of being hair free can far outweigh the cons, and no more will you need to think about which hair removal method would best suit you.