The
hype surrounding hair removal is hard to avoid. From
billboards to magazines, we are bombarded with images of
our fellow men that are completely hair-free. And there is
no shortage of hair removal products and specialists
advertising their services. But what are the choices? What
do they do? What works? What doesn’t? Let’s take a look at
a few of the more popular options:
Shaving
Using a
sharp blade with a gel or moisturizer-based shaving
lubricant can produce a smooth hair-free surface.
Pros:
fast,
inexpensive with good short-term results
Cons:
hair
grows back in a few days, risk of razor nicks and ingrown
hairs
Best for
:
beard
and other areas you don’t mind maintaining daily
Pain Factor:
1/5
Cost
:
1/5
Waxing/Sugaring
Waxing
removes the hair below the skin (root and all) by applying
heated wax to the area, pressing a cloth or paper strip
onto the wax and then pulling it quickly away from the
skin – removing both wax and hair in the process. Sugaring
is a similar process with a sugar-based paste used instead
of heated wax.
Pros:
moderately priced in a salon (less expensive home kits are
available) with good results that last longer than shaving
Cons:
painful,
hair grows back after a few weeks, can be messy if done at
home
Best for
:
eyebrows, back, chest, legs, knuckles, toes and bikini
line
Pain Factor:
5/5
Cost
:
2/5 –
3/5
Chemical Depilatories
Chemical depilatories are creams and lotions that consist
of various chemicals that break down and dissolve hairs
above the surface of the skin. The technique is simple –
apply the product, wait a few minutes and wipe away the
product and the hair.
Pros:
Fast,
inexpensive with good short-term results
Cons:
Hair
grows back in a few days and you run the risk of hair re-growth
that is darker and thicker, risk of skin irritation, can
be messy and have strong odors
Best for
:
back,
chest, legs, knuckles, toes and bikini line
Pain Factor:
1/5
Cost
:
1/5
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is performed one hair at a time with a needle
that delivers an electrical current to the base of each
follicle. The result (often only after several sessions)
is that the hair is unable to grow back.
Pros:
Permanent hair removal in most cases
Cons:
Very
time consuming, very expensive, some pain involved
Best for
:
eyebrows, knuckles and toes. Larger areas like chest and
back are possible, but will be a sizeable investment of
time and money.
Pain Factor:
3/5
Cost
:
5/5
Laser
Although there are several different types of laser and
light-related treatment options, they share similar
techniques. Concentrated light is used to heat the hair
follicle and cause it to stop growing hair. Since the
hairs are killed from the inside out, it may take a few
days for the hairs to fall out.
Pros:
Can be
used on large areas quickly, long-term hair removal (permanent
in some cases), works well on light skin and dark hair
Cons:
Some
pain involved (burning), fairly expensive, doesn’t work
well on darker skin or light hair, results are not
immediate
Best for
:
large
areas like back and chest, legs, arms
Pain Factor:
3/5
Cost
:
1/5
Now
that you know your options and a little more about each
process, all you need to do is decide which treatment
option is right for you based on the body area you are
interested in, your tolerance for pain and the amount of
time and money you are willing to spend.
