With so many hair removal methods available, you may be unsure of your ideal choice. We’re here to show you the most popular hair removal option for your skin type, grooming preference and lifestyle choices with our practical guide!
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There are several ways of removing unwanted hair. Some hair removal methods focus on removing hair from the surface, others remove hair from the root. The best hair removal method for legs will be different from the best hair removal method for private parts - in fact, when it comes to hair removal, there’s no one-size-fits-all technique. Some women may just use one method to remove body hair, while others will use multiple hair removal methods depending on what body part they want to remove hair from and for what occasion. Either way, learning about the various options can help ensure you choose the right one(s) for you.
In This Article
- Shaving for hair removal
- Waxing for hair removal
- Electrolysis for hair removal
- Threading for hair removal
- Hair removal creams
- Laser hair removal or IPL
- Tweezing for hair removal
- Electric shaving for hair removal
- Hair removal methods comparison
Shaving for hair removal
Shaving is one of the most popular hair removal methods because it is quick, easy and inexpensive.
Advantages:
Shaving is a quick and practical method of hair removal that can be done at home as part of a daily hair removal routine.
Shaving is also pain-free as it only removes hair on the surface without ripping the root.
Another benefit of shaving is that you don’t have to wait for your hairs to grow out, you can shave as soon as you see stubble appear, meaning you can always stay hair-free.
Disadvantages:
Because shaving doesn’t remove hair from the root, hair grows back quickly. This means you need to shave more often if you want to stay hair-free.
Shaving may also cause irritation, red skin and razor burn if done incorrectly. Always use a clean, sharp blade and use shaving gel to help you glide over the skin smoothly.
Best for:
Shaving is suitable for all body parts. In fact, it is one of the best hair removal methods because it is quick, easy and can be done at home. Many women choose to shave their legs, underarms, belly and pubic area for this reason.
Type of Hair Removal:
Shaving is a form of surface hair removal technique.
How to Do it:
The best way to remove hair is by shaving it in the shower or bath. Soak or run a warm shower for at least 3-5 minutes before shaving to soften your hair, this will make shaving easier.
Prep the area you want to shave by using a gentle exfoliator, this helps remove dead skin cells, debris and dirt helping your razor blade glide with more ease.
Now apply shaving gel to the area and shave along the grain in light strokes using a clean sharp razor blade. To get a closer shave you may also choose to shave against the grain, this may lead to irritation so make sure you apply plenty of shaving gel and rinse the blade between strokes.
Once you’re done shaving the area, wash it thoroughly, pat dry and moisturise it using an alcohol-free lotion or cream to keep your skin smooth and hydrated.
How Long Will it Last:
This hair removal method usually lasts 2-3 days before stubble and short hairs start reappearing. How fast your hair grows depends on your genetics and hair type too, so results may vary from person to person. Learn more about hair growing fast & thick after shaving.
Waxing for hair removal
Waxing is one of the best ways to remove hair from roots as it can be done both at home or professionally at a salon.
Advantages:
Waxing removes hair from the roots meaning you can enjoy staying hair-free for up to 3 weeks.
Another benefit of waxing is that you can choose to either do it at home with store-bought waxing strips or have it done professionally at a salon.
Disadvantages:
One of the main drawbacks of this hair removal method is the wait time. Waxing only works on longer hair, this means you’ll have to wait until your hair grows out enough to be pulled off by the wax.
Waxing may also damage sensitive skin especially in delicate areas like your face. This can cause redness, bruising and broken capillaries.
Best For:
Waxing is one of the best hair removal methods for private parts. In fact, many women opt for this hair removal technique to achieve a hair-free bikini line, Brazilian or Hollywood pubic hair style.
You may also use waxing to remove other body hair from legs, arms and back.
Type of Hair Removal:
Waxing is a way of removing hair from roots.
How to Do it:
Waxing can be done professionally at a salon. If you’re waxing for the first time or need to wax difficult-to-reach areas, this may be your best option.
If you’re looking for hair removal methods at home, purchase store-bought waxing strips, hot waxing kits or natural sugar wax options. To wax using these methods, always read the instruction manual as the technique may vary.
Usually, to wax using coated strips, the best technique is to apply the strips in the direction your hair grows in, hold the skin taut, and then with a quick steady motion you pull the strip away in the opposite direction.
How Long Will it Last:
Waxing is one of the best hair removal methods if you’re looking to stay hair-free for up to 3 weeks. Hair growth depends on genetics and results may differ from person to person.
Electrolysis for hair removal
Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal method that removes individual hairs from your face and body. It is carried out by a professional trained electrologist who will apply chemical or heat energy to destroy the hair at the root.
Advantages:
The main benefit of electrolysis is that it is a permanent form of hair removal. It is also said to require less sessions than other permanent hair removal techniques like laser or intense pulsed light (IPL).
Disadvantages:
Electrolysis can only be performed by a trained electrologist so you will have to book this treatment through a clinic.
Because each hair is removed individually, electrolysis is also a slow process. Some people may also find the procedure painful as it involves a stinging sensation.
Best For:
Electrolysis for hair removal works best on small areas like the face, neck or underarms. This is because it targets each hair one by one and thus works best for smaller areas.
Type of Hair Removal:
Electrolysis removes hair from the roots permanently.
How to Do it:
Because electrolysis can only be performed by a trained electrologist, this hair removal method is not available at home.
During the procedure at a clinic, your electrologist will insert a tiny probe into your hair follicle and pass an electric current through it which destroys the hair root.
How Long Will it Last:
Electrolysis is one of the best hair removal methods if you want to permanently get rid of small areas of hair. The number of sessions required is recommended by your electrologist based on hair type but usually, you can see permanent results within a couple of sessions.
Threading for hair removal
Threading is a popular form of hair removal treatment that uses a thread to remove unwanted hairs from the face. It’s one of the best upper lip hair removal methods and can also be used to create perfectly shaped brows or to remove sideburns.
Advantages:
The main benefit of threading is that this hair removal method is least likely to cause damage to your skin. As such, it can be used on people with sensitive skin.
Disadvantages:
Threading can only be used on smaller areas such as the face. This technique also takes longer than other methods and can be painful.
Best For:
Threading hair removal is best for upper lip hair, eyebrows, sideburns and chin areas.
Type of Hair Removal:
Threading removes hair from the roots.
How to Do it:
Usually, hair threading is done at the salon. Your beauty professional will use a thread to tug away at your hairs. This hair removal method is not recommended for home use, that’s because it can be tricky to learn how to use the technique on yourself.
How Long Will it Last:
Threading lasts up to 10 days, depending on your natural hair growth cycle.
Hair removal creams
Depilatory or hair removal creams use chemicals to dissolve body hair at the surface of the skin. Depilatory creams are great hair removal methods at home that usually work within 5-10 minutes of application and can then be removed using a towel or scraper.
Advantages:
Hair removal creams are affordable, practical and easy to apply at home. They also provide results that last longer than shaving, but less than waxing.
This makes them an ideal middle ground for people who want to stay hair-free for longer without having to undergo the process of waxing.
Because hair removal creams dissolve the hair, there’s no risk of cuts and nicks. Another advantage is that when the hair grows back it is softer.
Disadvantages:
The chemicals used to break down the hair structure are strong and can irritate your skin. Always perform a patch test before using depilatory creams and stop using them if you experience side-effects.
Because of the strong chemical ingredients, hair removal creams usually have an unpleasant smell.
Best For:
This hair removal method can be used on any body part as long as your skin is not sensitive to the chemical formulation.
Type of Hair Removal:
This is a surface hair removal method.
How to Do it:
Apply the cream, let it sit for several minutes and then use a clean wash cloth to gently rub off the cream and hair residue. Rinse off your skin and apply a moisturiser.
How Long Will it Last:
Depilatory creams can slow down hair growth for a few days up to several weeks, depending on the person.
Laser hair removal or IPL
Laser and intense pulsed light (IPL) devices provide a more permanent hair removal method with regular treatment. You can get laser and IPL treatments performed by a professional or you can purchase an IPL device to use at home.
Advantages:
Laser hair removal and IPL are some of the best hair removal methods for permanent hair removal.
Most people require up to 12 sessions with fewer touch-ups at later dates. This makes it a very effective treatment.
Disadvantages:
The main drawbacks of laser hair or IPL hair removal methods is that they can cause irritation, swelling and redness.
Laser and IPL also work less effectively on blond hair or people with darker skin, so you may need a lot more sessions in order to achieve hair-free results. Because laser and IPL treatments only work on hairs in their active growth stage, sessions need to be performed over several months. This makes IPL and laser more time-consuming and expensive methods.
IPL and laser cannot be used by pregnant women.
Best For:
Laser and IPL are some of the best hair removal methods if you want to stay permanently hair-free. It can be used on any body part including upper lip, chin, pubic area, underarms, legs, arms, navel and back.
Type of Hair Removal:
IPL and laser remove hair from the root permanently.
How to Do it:
Laser hair removal and IPL can be done by a trained professional at a clinic. It involves using beams of light (lasers) that heat up the hair follicle damaging the ability of the root to produce hair.
If you’re looking for hair removal methods at home, then you can purchase IPL or laser devices for home use. Always perform a patch test and follow the directions on how to use the product displayed on each device.
How Long Will it Last:
Laser and IPL treatments reduce the amount of hair significantly over time leading to complete hair-free results after repeated sessions.
Tweezing for hair removal
Tweezing works by pulling out hair strands by the root with a pair of tweezers. Tweezing is commonly used to remove hair from your eyebrows, chin and other small areas.
Advantages:
Tweezing hairs offers long-lasting results. It is also an effective way of removing a few hairs to achieve a desired shape, for example to shape eyebrows. Another benefit of tweezing is that it is inexpensive and easy to do at home.
Disadvantages:
Some people may find tweezing hairs to be a bit painful. If you don’t clean your tweezers regularly you may also increase the chances of irritation.
Additionally, if the hair breaks off when you’re pulling it, it can grow back under the skin causing ingrown hair.
Because tweezing removes hairs one by one, it is not a recommended method for larger areas.
Best For:
If you’re looking to remove unwanted hair from small areas of your face, tweezing is your best option. It is great for tweezing eyebrows, chin hairs and stray hairs on your body.
Type of Hair Removal:
Tweezing removes hair from the root.
How to Do it:
Grab the tweezer in between your thumb and index fingers, catch the hair you want to remove and pull in one swift motion to remove the hair from the root. If you’re experiencing discomfort, place an ice cube on the area to soothe it and apply aloe vera gel.
How Long Will it Last:
Tweezing removes hair from the root meaning you can stay hair-free for up to 2 weeks depending on your hair growth cycle.
Electric shaving for hair removal
An electric razor has a moving blade under a fine screen that glides across your skin, trapping and cutting away the hair from the surface. What makes an electric razor different from a manual razor is that you typically shave dry skin rather than wet skin. When choosing your next grooming device be sure to check out the pros and cons of our electric razors vs manual razors– each have unique benefits for your lifestyle and skincare. What makes electric shaving one of the best hair removal methods is the fact that it can be used daily on dry skin. This means you can remove hair any time from anywhere without having to wet your skin or get in the bath or shower. Electric shavers are also safe and easy to use and usually come with several attachments designed to target different areas.
Disadvantages:
Electric shavers require frequent upkeep and usually take longer to remove hair than wet shaving.
This hair removal method doesn’t cut the hair as closely as manual shavers do, this means that if you’re after a close shave, you may need to repeat the process more often.
Best For:
Dry shaving with an electric device can be used anywhere. It works well for legs, arms, underarms and bikini line.
Type of Hair Removal:
Electric shavers remove hairs from the surface only.
How to Do it:
Since electric razors can be used on dry skin, there is very little prep involved. Simply ensure the area is clean and hover the electric shaver over the desired area. Clear the skin of any residue hair with a towel.
How Long Will it Last:
Because electric shavers cut the hair rather than close shave it, if you want to maintain smooth skin you may have to shave more often — in general, every one to two days.
Hair Removal Methods FAQs
Is laser hair removal safe?
Yes, laser hair removal is safe, especially when done by a professional or when you follow the instructions on the home laser or IPL devices correctly. However, it can cause side effects like pain, redness and discomfort. It is also not suitable for everyone. Pregnant women cannot use this method and people with darker skin or light hair may find this method doesn’t work effectively.
Which hair removal method lasts the longest?
Electrolysis is one of the most effective permanent hair removal methods as it destroys each individual hair follicle. For larger areas, IPL and laser hair removal also offer long-lasting results after enough sessions.
Can plucking permanently remove hair?
Whilst tweezing hair removes hair from the follicle, it is not considered a permanent hair removal method because the hair will grow back even after repeated tweezing.
How often can you use hair removal cream?
It is recommended you wait 72 hours before reapplying hair removal cream. This is to avoid any possible irritation from the chemicals used to break down the hair.
What are the best hair removal methods?
There’s no universally accepted best method of removing hair, that’s because it depends on your skin type, area and personal grooming choice. However, the most common ways of removing unwanted hair include: shaving, waxing, threading, tweezing, IPL and laser, electrolysis, depilatory creams and electric shaving devices.
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