How To Get Rid of Body Hair (Part 1/2)

How To Get Rid Of Body Hair (Part 1/2)
Whether temporary or permanent, you are spoilt for choice if you would like to remove body or facial hair

By Verlaine S Ramos | Reprinted with permission from Ezyhealth & Beauty magazine

HAIR removal has been practiced for centuries in many cultures. Whether it is the face, armpits, legs, bikini line or other body parts, many women (and even men!) would like to have smooth, hairless skin for different reasons, but mostly for aesthetic purposes.

Many options are available to remove unwanted hair, most of which are just temporary, although there are a few that offer permanent hair reduction and removal. Choosing the best method, or combination of methods, really depends on your preference, budget, time availability and skin type.

TEMPORARY HAIR REMOVAL

Plucking
With the use of tweezers, plucking is the most common and inexpensive way of removing hair, especially for the occasional coarse hair or a small group of hairs. Since the hair is pulled from the hair shaft, the results last longer. However, it can be very time-consuming and painful, and may cause damage in the hair follicle such as folliculitis (inflammation), ingrown hairs or hyperpigmentation.

Tip: Choose tweezers that are made from stainless steel and have a rubberized or non-slippery covering, which offers better grip.

Shaving
Shaving is the most temporary way of hair removal because it just cuts the hair off at the skin surface. Results last from one to three days, so it needs to be done every so often to maintain a “hair-free” appearance. Shaving may cause skin irritation, cuts and stubbles.

Tip: Always apply some type of moisturizer (water, shaving cream, body wash) to the skin to help the razor glide over the skin and prevent cuts or scrapes.

Waxing and sugaring
Waxing involves applying warm or cold wax (which are usually attached to strips) onto the skin and quickly stripping off the hardened wax, thus removing large amounts of hair at one time. Sugaring is similar to waxing; only it uses a thick sugary substance that’s like caramel. In both methods, hair is removed from the roots, so regrowth usually takes weeks, and hair usually becomes softer, lighter in colour and much sparser.

Tip: Sugar waxes are easier to clean up because they can be rinsed with water. Redness is normal after waxing; to relieve it, apply an ice pack or rub on tea tree oil.

Depilatories
They come in gel, cream, lotion, mousse and roll-on types. Depilatories contain a chemical called thioglycolate, which literally melts hair away, and the effect lasts for around a week. They can cause serious skin irritations because they can dissolve not just the hair but also the keratin in skin.

Tip: Always test any depilatory on a small area of your skin first for allergic reactions, at least 48 hours before applying it to a large area. Follow instructions religiously, as leaving them too long can result in irritations, too.

NEXT: OTHER FORMS OF HAIR REMOVAL

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