Hair Removal Tips

October 14, 2010

Between recitals and bathing suit season, we all bare more skin in the summertime. That’s why
DS created this complete guide to hair removal. If you’re too embarrassed to talk about this stuff, blush no more—just read on.

Shaving

What:
Cuts hair extremely close to the skin using a razor.

Great for:
Legs, armpits and bikini line

Costs:
Under $20

Lasts:
1–3 days

Procedure:
Exfoliate to remove all dead skin cells. Lather up a shaving cream and glide razor along your skin. Moisturize post-shave to soothe any irritation.

Pro:
Quick and shaving cream smells fab!

Con:
Can cause cuts and razor burn (bumps and irritation) and doesn’t last long.

Tip:
Change your razor every few shaves since dull razors can cause nicks.

Depilatories (like Nair)

What:
A chemical cream that dissolves hair.

Great for:
Legs and arms

Costs:
About $15–20 per product

Lasts:
3–7 days

Procedure:
Spread cream on hair area and let it set for a few minutes, then rinse your hair and the product off.

Pro:
It’s easy to do and there’s no pain.

Con:
Some people are allergic to certain creams, so test it on a small area first.

Tip:
Leave the cream on long enough to achieve desired results—and read the directions carefully.

Waxing

What:
Pulls hair from the roots using wax.

Great for:
Legs, armpits, eyebrows and bikini line

Costs:
About $40–50 for a good at-home kit and $10–100 for a professional waxing session, depending on where you go and how large an area you’re waxing.

Lasts:
3–6 weeks

Procedure:
Clean and exfoliate the area. Apply wax and then use a cloth to pull it off, along with the hair it’s covering (feels like ripping off a really sticky Band-Aid). You can do this at home or have a professional beautician do it.

Pro:
Lasts pretty long and leaves skin smooth.

Con:
Can sting a bit, especially around sensitive areas like the bikini line.

Tip:
Go to a salon before you DIY to observe how the pros do it.

Tweezing

What:
Plucks individual hairs from the roots.

Great for:
Eyebrows and stray hairs you missed when waxing

Costs:
About $8–25 for a pair of tweezers. To get it professionally done can cost $12–50.

Lasts:
3–6 weeks

Procedure:
Using tweezers, grab hair by the roots and tug it out.

Pro:
Targets single hairs instead of a section.

Con:
Slightly painful and takes longer than waxing.

Tip:
To avoid over-tweezed eyebrows, step back from the mirror every few hairs to regulate your progress.

Electrolysis

What:
Permanent hair removal by sealing off the hair root with an electric current.

Great for:
Works for all body parts; recommended if temporary methods aren’t satisfactory.

Costs:
Varies from $30–60 for 15-minute treatment (good for a small area like the upper lip). It costs about $80–150 for larger areas.

Lasts:
Permanent hair removal, but it requires a series of treatments.

Procedure:
An electrologist inserts a fine needle into the hair follicle. A current travels to the needle’s tip and seals off the root.

Pro:
Hair gets finer and finer after each treatment until it stops coming back.

Con:
Costly (it’s an investment); removing the hairs can sting and temporary scabs will develop post-treatment.

Tip:
Use ice to numb. Don’t schedule appointments when you’re premenstrual because your body will be more sensitive.

Laser

What:
Permanent hair reduction by using an intense pulsed light (IPL) to damage hair growth at the root.

Costs:
Approximately $250–900, depending on where you go and which area you treat.

Lasts:
It takes about six treatments to destroy up to 80 percent of the hair.

Procedure:
A cold gel is applied to the skin, then a laser is put over the area. The gel is removed, and the hair falls out over the next two weeks.

Pro:
Can reduce hair in large quantities for a long period of time.

Con:
It’s expensive, feels like a pinch (similar to a rubber band snapping the skin) and doesn’t work for everyone.

Tip:
This works best on fair-skinned people with dark hair since it’s easier for the laser to pick up the dark/light combo.