How to Remove Unwanted Hair: 8 Best Hair Removal Methods

Hair on your body can keep you from doing a lot of things you love; going for swimming in a bikini or even wearing those cute short dresses and shorts. Hair can cause you embarrassment and make you lose your self-confidence. It’s even worse when it grows in the most unusual places like the stomach. Isn’t it a bit unfair how men can get away with bushy underarms and hairy legs but if a woman has a hint of it, someone calls the hair police (they totally would if there was one). This makes women have to up their game in the hair removal department.

What You Must Know About Hair Before You Go Trying To Trim It

All hair in your body isn’t the same. Shocking but true. Although all hair is made of a hard protein called keratin, your body produces different types of hair. There is vellus hair that is short, soft and fine. This kind grows on your legs, face and sometimes stomach. Most of these is just to help the body maintain a steady temperature.

Terminal hair is the coarser, darker hair that grows on your head, armpits and pubic area. Some women also suffer from hirsutism which is basically excessive hair growth. This condition is mostly a result of medical reasons such as hormonal disorders and medications such as anabolic steroids. For example polycystic ovary syndrome causes girls to grow coarse beard like hair on the face.

All these different hair types need different hair removal methods. For instance hirsutism can only be treated medically.

What are the Best Ways to Remove Unwanted Hair​

There are hundreds methods of hair removal today and these are the most popular ones.​

1. Shaving

The most common of these is shaving. It’s really easy to do with both manual and electric shavers available for you. Shaving is a do-it-yourself, anytime kind of thing. However, shaving may also cause ingrown hairs that cause infections and irritation. Cuts and nicks are common too. Since it only gets rid of hair above the skin surface, it’s only a short term solution. It lasts between a few hours and about three days. It might work for an urgent date but not something you want to do every other night.

2. Hair removal creams and shaving powders

These chemically dissolve hair on your body. It is also a short term solution working for a few hours to a few days because just like shaving, they only get rid of hair above the skin surface. Hair removal creams are fairly inexpensive which makes them very popular. They also do not require work unlike methods such as shaving although you might not like that they are messy and have unpleasant odors. You should note that some of these creams can dissolve skin if left on too long. Some contain ingredients that cause allergic reactions or are harmful to sensitive skin. They are also not ideal for coarse terminal hair.​

3. Waxing and sugaring​

These are two hair removal methods done the same way but with different ingredients. They involve applying a sticky substance on hair and pulling it out with strips. However, they cause redness and bumps. It lasts 3-6 weeks. Professional waxing is recommended but it is a bit expensive and may not be ideal for those of you who are shy but worry not, there are do-it-yourself waxing options available in drug stores and grocery stores.

4. Plucking

Plucking can be done using tweezers or epilators. Epilators are mechanical tools that work by rapidly grasping hairs and pulling them out. While tweezing is only good for small areas of the face, epilators can be used for larger surface areas. Both are however extremely painful and time consuming. There is also a small risk of ingrown hair when you cut off hairs while trying to pluck them off.

5. Laser hair removal

This has become one of the most popular hair removal methods. It might be because it is relatively painless and works on all types of hair unlike for instance creams that do work well on coarse hair. It works best on light skinned people with dark hair but it will still work for everyone else. It leads to permanent hair reduction and you don’t need to go for another treatment for months.

According to dermatologist Cameron Rokhsar, MD laser hair removal is the most effective way to have long term hair reduction Laser hair removal also encourages hair to grow straight reducing risk of ingrown hair. It uses up less of your time and requires minimal maintenance.

Laser treatment seems to be the most effective hair removal method out there with the highest number of advantages. These days, you could get the same results as those offered in the spas without leaving the comfort of your home with the latest at home laser hair removal devices.

6. Threading

Threading is similar to plucking. It pulls out hair the same way plucking does with almost the same level of pain. This method only works best for facial hair especially the eyebrows. It also works for only a few days.

7. Home remedies for hair removal

A few specialists have come up with a few ideas on how you can easily remove hair using some homemade recipes such as using raw pawpaw. However, most of such home remedies only help make work easier for other hair removal methods.

8. Electrology​

Electrology is the only FDA approved permanent hair removal mechanism. It works by destroying the germ cells responsible for hair growth. You are forever done with stubborn hair. However, it leaves a dent in your bank account and yet it takes forever. For example consider that upper lip takes 4-10 hours and you might need treatments every 1-2 weeks. And then there is the pain, dry skin, scarring and inflammation.