3 Ways to Pick Hair Removal Techniques (2024)

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Co-authored byAparna Ghosh

Last Updated: February 20, 2023References

1. 1

   Use a razor to shave your body and facial hair. Shaving is a fast, inexpensive, easy and safe way to remove the hair from your body and face. Experiment with using your razor to shave your legs and underarms or beard.^[1]

   • The only materials you will need are a blade or electric razor and some shaving cream, all of which can be purchased at your local drug store.
   • Shaving only lasts between 2- 4 days, so know that if you choose to shave, you’ll have to shave often to maintain smooth skin.
   • Some women also prefer to shave their bikini line (the perimeter around the outside of their underwear).
   • Choose shaving if you're looking for a cheap and pain free way to remove hair.
   • Avoid shaving if you have sensitive skin, grow hair incredibly quickly or are strapped for time.
   • Depending on the region of the body, shaving might make the hair grow coarser over time. If there's a lot of rubbing against clothes, there is also the increased chance of acne.
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   Use tweezers to pluck out your body hair. Tweezing removes hair by pulling each individual hair out of your skin. Experiment with using tweezers to pull stray hairs from your eyebrows. If you have any moles with hair in them or hair growing out of your chin, you can tweeze these hairs as well.^[2]

   • The only thing you will need to tweeze your body hair is a pair of tweezers, which can be purchased at your local drug store.
   • Tweezing will last a couple of weeks, depending on how fast your hair grows.
   • Tweezing can be slow and painful, although most people generally adjust to the pain fairly quickly.
   • Be careful not to over tweeze your eyebrows. You can always take more hair off later, but you can’t put hair back on.
   • Choose tweezing if you are only looking to remove a few stray hairs from your face.
   • Avoid tweezing if you have a low pain tolerance or are looking to remove a large amount of hair from a bigger body part.
3. 3

   Use depilatories to dissolve your body hair. Lotions and creams are a fairly inexpensive and painless way to remove hair. Experiment with spreading the cream on an area of skin where you’d like to remove hair (like your legs or underarms) and waiting the instructed amount of time. Rinse the creams off and check out the results.^[3]

   • Depilatories can usually be found in your local drugstore.
   • This hair removal process usually lasts between 2-4 days, so if you choose to dissolve your hair, keep in mind you’ll need to keep repeating the process.
   • Depilatories are the messiest form of hair removal.
   • Sometimes the chemicals in the creams can irritate skin, so test out the products on a small patch of your skin before committing to a larger area.
   • Use depilatories if you have fine body hair and a large bathroom with a tub.
   • Avoid depilatories if you have coarse hair, sensitive skin or open cuts and wounds.
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   Remove body hair using an epilator. An epilator is a tool that looks like an electric razor, but instead of a blade, it has multiple tweezers. These tweezers work to remove hair directly from the root, thereby eliminating stubble.^[4]

   • Using an epilator can be painful, generally on par with waxing.
   • An epilator costs around $100 and can be purchased online or in stores.
   • Legs should stay smooth for two-weeks after using an epilator.
   • Epilators can remove hair, even when hair is less than a millimeter long, so you don't have to wait as long to remove new hairs.
   • Use an epilator if you want your skin to stay smooth for longer than shaving, but don't want to spring for a wax.
   • Avoid using an epilator if you have a low pain tolerance.

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   See Also

   8 Methods For Best Hair Removal For Women | Venus UK9 Hair Removal Methods: Which is Best for You?Body Hair Removal - Best Hair Removal Methods | PhilipsThe Best & Absolute Worst Hair-Removal Techniques

1. 1

   Use wax to remove your body hair. Waxing is a more expensive but also more low-maintenance solution to removing body hair. Hot wax is applied to a small portion of body hair, then a cloth is used to rip the wax away, bringing the hair with it. Make an appointment at your local waxing salon and have a professional wax the hair on your preferred body part.^[5]

   • Waxing is one of the more painful methods of hair removal.
   • You can buy at-home waxing kits, but for best results you should see a professional.
   • Waxing generally costs between 15 and 350 dollars per session, depending on how many body parts you are getting waxed.
   • Waxing generally lasts between 3 – 4 weeks.
   • The most popular areas to wax are the legs, arms, eyebrows, underarms, bikini line, entire bikini area, chest, feet, toes, butt and back.
   • Try waxing if you have a high pain tolerance and are looking to avoid cuts and nicks.
   • Avoid waxing if you are sensitive to pain, don't have a lot of money or are diabetic.^[6]
2. 2

   Try threading to remove facial hair. Threading is a technique that is newer to the United States, and therefore, far less popular. Like waxing, threading should only be done by a professional in a licensed salon.^[7]

   • Threading is generally used to remove eyebrow hair, but has also been used to remove stray hairs on toes and knuckles.
   • Threading lasts as long as waxing, but costs less (usually around $7).
   • Use threading if you need a quick and inexpensive way to remove facial hair.
   • Avoid threading if you are sensitive to pain or are looking to remove hair from anywhere other than your face.
3. 3

   Use bleach to hide your body hair. Bleach doesn’t remove body hair, but it does make it less obvious, which makes it a good solution for arm hair and facial hair. Because bleach is a chemical, it’s recommended that you make an appointment to have a professional do it for you.^[8]

   • Do not bleach large areas or sensitive areas of skin.
   • Use bleach if you have fine hair and light skin.
   • Avoid bleach if you're looking to remove pubic hair, if you have sensitive skin or if your coloring skews darker.
4. 4

   Remove your body hair using lasers. Laser hair removal is a newer trend and a much more expensive – and more long-term – hair removal option. Laser hair removal involves permanently damaging hair producing cells by shooting lasers at them, and should only be performed by a licensed professional.

   • Laser hair removal is very expensive and generally takes several sessions spread over many months to complete.
   • Laser hair removal is painful, but only about as painful as waxing.
   • Laser hair removal lasts, on average, for two years.
   • Choose laser hair removal if you have lighter skin, darker hair and a large disposable income.
   • Avoid laser hair removal if you have darker skin and an aversion to pain.
5. 5

   Remove your body hair using electrolysis. Electrolysis works similarly to laser hair removal, with a few key differences. Unlike laser hair removal, electrolysis is permanent. Electrolysis also costs more and takes longer to work.^[9]

   • Electrolysis can take between 9 and 18 months to treat a single area.
   • Unlike laser hair removal, electrolysis will work on everyone, regardless of skin tone.
   • Unlike many hair removal techniques, electrolysis is pain free.
   • The cost of electrolysis can fall anywhere between 600 - 800 dollars.
   • Choose electrolysis if you have problems with pain and if you are looking to permanently remove body hair.
   • Avoid electrolysis if you don't have a lot of money or need to remove hair quickly.

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1. 1

   If you have sensitive skin, try sugaring. Sugaring is very similar to waxing, but instead of using wax to remove hair, the solution is composed of all-natural ingredients like sugar, lemon juice and water.^[10]

   • In addition to being easier on sensitive skin, sugaring is also less painful than waxing.
   • Waxing and sugaring both cost similar amounts and last for the same amount of time.
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   If you have fine facial hair, choose threading. Very fine facial hairs are often hard to remove through waxing because they’re so difficult to grip. Threading is the ideal solution for people looking to remove very fine hair from their eyebrow and upper lip areas.^[11]

   • Threading can sometimes cause irritation and redness on facial skin.
   • If you don’t want to thread, alternate using hair removal cream every few weeks with some selective tweezing.^[12]
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   Do not get a wax if you’re taking retinoids. Retinoids cause skin to become prone to peeling and burning, thereby making your waxing trip a nightmarish experience. If you are currently taking retinoids, opt to remove your body hair by shaving or threading instead.^[13]

   • Wait until you’re off your retinoid for at least 10 days before scheduling a wax appointment.
   • Also avoid getting waxed if you are taking Accutane.
4. 4

   Let your body hair grow out. There is no wrong way to deal with body hair, and many people prefer to let theirs grow out. Letting body hair grow is not for everyone, but there are some health advantages to doing so.^[14]

   • Longer hair reduces friction and protects your skin against chafing.
   • Pubic hair can help prevent bacteria from spreading to your genitals.
   • Whatever your reasons are for letting your body hair grow, don't let other people make you feel badly about it. It's your choice and it's none of their business.

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