Hair removal

There are a number of ways to remove hair, all of which have their advantages & disadvantages.  We will attempt to look into the most common methods. It should be noted, the article is written predominately with women in mind, and therefore does not relate to men's facial hair removal.

Hair removal may either be temporary or permanent.

Waxing (temporary):

Suitable for -All over.

Pros-Long lasting, can reduce growth over time.

Cons-Painful.

Waxing is a long lasting hair removal technique which involves the application of wax onto the skin, which when removed pulls out the hairs at the root. It is quite painful but the advantages are that it is reasonably long lasting, up to 6 weeks.

Waxing can be done at home by yourself or in a beauticians office, although I personally have found home waxing to be fairly ineffective.

Shaving (temporary):

Suitable for - Legs, underarms, bikini area.

Not suitable for - Eyebrows, face (if you are a women).

Pros-Cheap, quick, can be done at home & pain free.

Cons-Not long lasting, can cause razor burn.

Shaving is a quick & easy way to remove hair. A sharp metal blade cuts the hair at the surface of the skin. Visible re-growth depends on the hair thickness, colour and the individual. Depending on the area, re-shaving will need to be every 1-3 days.

It is often said that shaving makes the hair grow back thicker. This is in part not true. Hairs naturally taper at the end, and when you shave this off, when the hair re-grows, the end is blunt, giving the appearance of a thicker hair. Another myth is that shaving makes more hair grow. We all have a set number of hair follicles, and shaving does not increase this number.

Tweezing/plucking (temporary):

Suitable for-Small areas such as eyebrows, nasal hair.

Not suitable for-Large areas such as legs, bikini line, underarms.

Pros-Cheap, can be done at home.

Cons-Only suitable for very small areas of hair as this method only removes one hair at a time.

Tweezing is suitable for use on the eyebrows & nasal hairs. It can be painful. Re-growth is the same as waxing.

Depilatory Hair Removal Creams (temporary):

Suitable for-Legs, arms (areas that aren't too sensitive).

Not suitable for - Face or other sensitive areas.

Pros-Cheap, can be done at home, pain free.

Cons-Messy, smelly, unsuitable for sensitive skin.

Hair removal creams contain a chemical (usually calcium thioglycollate) which dissolves the hair near the root. They are applied to the skin, left for a period of time (usually a few minutes), and then washed off, taking  the dissolved hair with it.

Some people may experience sensitivity with depilatory hair removal creams so it is always best to do a patch test on a small area first, leave for a day or two to see if sensitivity occurs. Creams should not be used on sensitive areas such as the face and should not be used on broken skin.

Re-growth is about the same as with shaving.  

Electrolysis (permanent):

Suitable for-All areas.

Pros-Permanent.

Cons-Time consuming, expensive, can be painful.

Also known as electrology, electrolysis involves a thin, metal probe being slid into the hair follicle and an electrical current is delivered to the hair root, destroying it. Electrolysis is time consuming as each individual follicle must be treated.

Some hairs may re-grow & will need further treatment.

Laser:

Suitable for-All areas.

Pros-Permanent.

Cons-Time consuming, expensive.

Laser is the newest hair removal technique. It involves the use of laser to permanently damage the hair follicle. Several visits will be required and re-growth can occur, requiring further treatment.

Also see:

Ingrown Hair (razor bumps), Razor burn

Please note:

The medical articles on this site have not been written by a doctor & should not be considered a replacement for a doctor visit. The articles are provided for informative purposes only.

Always seek immediate medical advice for any problems.

While great care has been made in the creation of these articles, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or omissions on these pages. If in any doubt whatsoever, seek professional medical advice.