5 Hair Removal Methods - Your Guide for 2024

When removing unwanted hair, you have many options. To help you make an informed decision and avoid misinformation, here are the basic facts about 5 popular ways to remove unwanted hair.

Shaving

Shaving uses a razor to cut the hair off at the skin's surface. Razors come in many styles, from inexpensive disposable razors typically used on wet skin to higher-cost electric razors used on dry skin.

Shaving Pros and Cons

Shaving is a quick, easy, and inexpensive way to remove unwanted body hair. Most people learn it rather quickly.

Shaving can cause nicks, cuts, and skin irritation, known as razor burn. Hair regrowth will have a blunt tip instead of its natural, tapered tip, making it more noticeable. Ingrown hairs are a common side effect of shaving.

Shaving Tips

For a more effective shave, moisturize your skin first. Shaving cream, hair conditioner, and body wash will help the razor glide smoothly over your skin and prevent nicks, cuts, and scrapes. If using shaving cream, remember to rinse your blade between strokes.

Depilatory Creams

Depilatory creams, like Nair, contain thioglycolate mixed with sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide that melts hair away. Apply depilatory cream to the area of unwanted hair and leave it on for the manufacturer's recommended time. The chemical dissolves the hair, and you can wipe or wash it off after the appropriate amount of time.

Depilatory Creams Pros and Con

Depilatory creams are a very effective way to remove unwanted body hair at home. Depilatory creams also work very well on thick, coarse hairs and are a standard solution for removing pubic hair. The results last longer than shaving.

The chemicals in depilatory creams can irritate delicate skin. Depilatory creams also have a powerful smell.

Depilatory Creams Tips

Always follow package instructions and only leave it on the skin briefly. Depilatories should be tested on a small skin patch at least 48 hours before a larger application.

Waxing

Waxing can be done at home or in a beauty salon. Waxing involves spreading warm wax over the skin toward hair growth. Strips of fabric are applied over the wax, pressed in, and allowed cool briefly so the hairs stick to it. The fabric strips are then quickly pulled off in the opposite direction of hair growth, taking the hair with it.

Waxing Pros and Cons

Waxing is a quick and effective way to remove unwanted hair. Any area of your body can be waxed, including legs, back, chest, lips, armpits, eyebrows, and bikini. Works great for men and women.

Hot wax can burn your skin and should be used with caution. Side effects of waxing can include pain, skin burns, red bumps, irritation, ingrown hairs, infection, and torn skin.

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal removes or reduces hair permanently. A licensed professional should perform laser hair removal. It takes two to six treatments, spread out between four to six weeks, to be fully effective.

Laser Hair Removal Pro and Cons

Laser Hair Removal gives a long-lasting effect; your hair should not grow back for several months or years.

Laser treatments must be repeated to see good results, as the hairs destroyed by the laser are gone, but new hairs can grow. When not done properly, laser hair removal can cause burns, permanent changes to your skin color, and scarring. Laser hair removal can be expensive.

Laser Hair Removal Tips

Laser hair removal works best for light-skinned people with dark hair. Avoid exposing treated skin to direct sunlight, tanning beds, sun lamps, or other indoor tanning equipment.

Electrolysis Hair Removal

Electrolysis is a permanent form of hair removal that should be performed only by a licensed professional and not at home. Electrolysis uses a fine needle inserted into the hair follicle to apply an electrical current to the follicle root. This burns the hair root, theoretically keeping it from producing more hair. Each hair follicle must be treated individually, so it usually takes several sessions to achieve desired results.

Electrolysis Pros and Cons

Electrolysis works to remove all types of hair permanently - hair will not grow back.

It can be hurtful and has other side effects and risks, including infection, scar formation, hyperpigmentation (darker patches of skin), and/or hypopigmentation (patches of lighter skin). It takes several sessions, takes 8-12 months, and can be very expensive.

Recommendations

As you can see, there are many ways to remove unwanted hair. There are pros and cons to each hair removal method. You might have to try more than one to find the hair removal method that works best for you.

Citations

Methods of hair removal
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article

Hair removal methods: A comparative study for dermoscopy images
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article

The influence of hair-removal methods on wound infections
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamasurgery