Hair Removal
Unwanted hair is no fun at all. The social expectation for women is a smooth, hairless body; the reality is something totally different. It is normal to have hair everywhere on your body except the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. However, if your dark, thick or coarse hair makes you feel self-conscious, there are easy ways to get rid of it. Here's a chart outlining the most popular methods of hair removal:
Shaving
Legs and underarms.
Shaving uses a razor to cut off hair at skin level. It is quick, easy and usually painless. The downside is that it rarely lasts more than two or three days, and can occasionally cause razor rash or cuts to your skin. Razor burns happens most often from having an allergic reaction to the metal on the razor.
Unwanted hair is no fun at all. The social expectation for women is a smooth, hairless body; the reality is something totally different. It is normal to have hair everywhere on your body except the palms of your hands and the soles of your feet. However, if your dark, thick or coarse hair makes you feel self-conscious, there are easy ways to get rid of it. Here's a chart outlining the most popular methods of hair removal:
Shaving
Legs and underarms.
Shaving uses a razor to cut off hair at skin level. It is quick, easy and usually painless. The downside is that it rarely lasts more than two or three days, and can occasionally cause razor rash or cuts to your skin. Razor burns happens most often from having an allergic reaction to the metal on the razor.
Waxing
Legs, underarms, eyebrows, bikini line, anywhere.
A thin layer or wax is either rolled on or applied with a mini-spatula. Next, it is quickly pulled off, ripping the hair out from the roots. Have it done in a salon the first few times, after that keep it up at home (except on the bikini area and the eyebrows- these areas are so sensitive they need to be done in a salon always). It lasts up to four weeks and the pain gradually subsides. It can irritate skin and it is expensive to have done in a salon . Some woman can have allergic reaction causing the skin to become pink or red and even swell. This could last for as long as a week.
Legs, underarms, eyebrows, bikini line, anywhere.
A thin layer or wax is either rolled on or applied with a mini-spatula. Next, it is quickly pulled off, ripping the hair out from the roots. Have it done in a salon the first few times, after that keep it up at home (except on the bikini area and the eyebrows- these areas are so sensitive they need to be done in a salon always). It lasts up to four weeks and the pain gradually subsides. It can irritate skin and it is expensive to have done in a salon . Some woman can have allergic reaction causing the skin to become pink or red and even swell. This could last for as long as a week.
Plucking
Eyebrows, stray hairs.
Using tweezers, either slanted or pointed-tip, individual hairs are pulled out one-by-one. It's time consuming but relatively painless, and out of the question for large areas.
Eyebrows, stray hairs.
Using tweezers, either slanted or pointed-tip, individual hairs are pulled out one-by-one. It's time consuming but relatively painless, and out of the question for large areas.
Laser
Anywhere, but ideally an area with dark hair against pale skin.
First, the area is shaved and a cooling water-based gel is applied. Next, a nurse will beam a red-hot laser at the area where the hair is to be removed. You may smell some burning or see smoke as the follicle is destroyed. Laser is painful (pain can be minimized by applying a topical anesthetic like Emla to the area beforehand) and expensive, but it kills all of the active hairs (anywhere from 20-50%, depending on your natural hair growth patterns and the area of your body being treated. It can take anywhere from three to eight treatments to completely eliminate hair, look at spending from $200 Canadian for underarms to $750 for both legs.
Anywhere, but ideally an area with dark hair against pale skin.
First, the area is shaved and a cooling water-based gel is applied. Next, a nurse will beam a red-hot laser at the area where the hair is to be removed. You may smell some burning or see smoke as the follicle is destroyed. Laser is painful (pain can be minimized by applying a topical anesthetic like Emla to the area beforehand) and expensive, but it kills all of the active hairs (anywhere from 20-50%, depending on your natural hair growth patterns and the area of your body being treated. It can take anywhere from three to eight treatments to completely eliminate hair, look at spending from $200 Canadian for underarms to $750 for both legs.
Depilatory
Depilatory creams, lotions and foams dissolve hair slightly below skin level, leaving a hair-free surface for up to a week. They are inexpensive and easy to use, but the chemicals can be hard on your skin. Make sure you choose a formula appropriate for the area of the body you are treating (face, bikini line, etc.), and never leave it on longer than instructed.
If you feel you have excessive facial or body hair, consider talking to your doctor. He or she can test you for hormonal imbalances and several other medical conditions that may be causing the hair growth. Once treated, the hair would likely then disappear. Some fine hair women say that it does not work at removing hair. If you have thin, fine, or baby fine hair it will not be able to remove hair. It is best for a woman whom has medium thick to course hair.
Depilatory creams, lotions and foams dissolve hair slightly below skin level, leaving a hair-free surface for up to a week. They are inexpensive and easy to use, but the chemicals can be hard on your skin. Make sure you choose a formula appropriate for the area of the body you are treating (face, bikini line, etc.), and never leave it on longer than instructed.
If you feel you have excessive facial or body hair, consider talking to your doctor. He or she can test you for hormonal imbalances and several other medical conditions that may be causing the hair growth. Once treated, the hair would likely then disappear. Some fine hair women say that it does not work at removing hair. If you have thin, fine, or baby fine hair it will not be able to remove hair. It is best for a woman whom has medium thick to course hair.
So which one is best? Please leave a comment on your own experience and thoughts. Which one has worked best for you? Has a choice been left out?
Feel free to add your thoughts.
11/20/08
CODE: QV3S38PJ7F46
by Kelley
by Kelley
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