Choosing the right hair removal method Everyone has different circumstances for wanting hair removal,
and different limitations. Here are some highlights.
Your sex
 Male
Most questions I get from men are about back and chest hair.
I usually recommend Waxing
as the safest option. Those with light skin and dark hair
seeking longer-term results (that may or may not be permanent)
might look into Laser.
Although Electrolysis
can be a good option for those with sparse hair, most men
find this method to be painful, expensive, and time-consuming
for large areas.
Male beards: This is the ultimate stress test for any hair
removal method. Shaving
is by far the most popular option. Electrolysis
can be permanent, but it requires a serious commitment of
time and money. Beard removal is possible with electrolysis,
but it will take a very long time and must be done by someone
with a lot of experience. The heavier the beard, the more
likely you are to get scarred, so it's very important to choose
an electrologist recommended by someone who had male facial
hair removed and is done and happy. Some with light skin and
dark hair have found Laser
useful, but there is limited data on how long it will last
and how often treatment is successful. There are early indications
that super-long pulse lasers might be an acceptable alternative
to shaving for black males, but it's too soon to tell for
sure. Laser can sometimes lighten the color of facial hair
and reduce the amount of shadow, but some have reported patchy
or grid-like regrowth that looked odd. If you seek complete
and permanent beard removal, it's very important to do a lot
of research and understand the difficulty of the undertaking.
Female
Female facial hair: For mild to moderate female facial hair,
Tweezing
is probably the most popular option. Some women prefer to
conceal fine dark hair by bleaching rather than removing it.
The prescription topical cream Vaniqa
has been a great maintenance solution for about half the women
who try it. If you want the hair gone for good, consider Electrolysis
with an electrologist recommended by someone who is done and
happy. Some women with light skin have found Laser
helpful for heavier amounts of dark hair, but there is limited
data on long-term effectiveness or what percentage respond
to treatment. Women with high levels of androgens may benefit
from Prescription
oral medications, and should discuss the matter with their
endocrinologist or medical specialist.
Pregnant and nursing women often see increased amounts of
hair. They should consult with a physician before undergoing
any hair removal method that uses energy or involves chemicals
or drugs.
Bikini area is a common question I get. Shaving
is most popular, though it's important to moisturize heavily
before and after, and use a new blade. Many find a product
called Tend
Skin to be helpful in reducing irritation and razor bumps.
Waxing
can be painful, but it lasts a while. Electrolysis
is very painful for most, but if done properly, it can be
permanent. Some with light skin and dark hair have found Laser
to be a good option, but it's extremely important to avoid
sun before and after laser treatment to avoid discoloration
that can last many months.
Legs are still cleared by Shaving
most frequently, with Waxing
and Cream
depilatories being the second and third most popular options.
Some women with light skin and dark hair have found Laser
to be a good option, but there's limited data on long-term
effectiveness and success rates. I suggest a rotary epilators
if you're fairly limber and don't mind self-inflicted pain.
Some women ask about arm hair. I suggest rotary epilators
or Waxing
for arms, but make sure to exfoliate and moisturize a lit
to avoid ingrown hairs. I generally don't recommend Shaving,
since the hair feels coarse and bristly as it grows out. Some
women with light skin and dark hair have found Laser
to be a good option, but there's limited data on long-term
effectiveness and success rates.
Chest, nipples, abdomen: for a few stragglers, Tweezing
might be an option, but if you want them gone for good, you
might look into Electrolysis.
If you have a fair amount, electrolysis is still a good option,
or maybe Waxing
for a longer temporary result than Shaving.
If you're light-skinned with a lot of dark hair, you might
try Laser,
but there's limited data on long-term effectiveness and success
rates.
Intersexed
women and male-to-female transsexuals
Prescription
oral medications such as androgen blockers are typically
part of the course of treatment for these conditions. These
can reduce the amount of body hair and halt the growth of
future facial hair, but they will do little to affect existing
facial hair.
Body hair: I suggest Waxing
while androgen blockers take effect. For light-skinned women
with significant amounts of dark body hair, some have found
Laser
to be a good quick fix, but there is limited data on long-term
effectiveness and success rates. Since body hair will generally
diminish over time, it's usually a better use of time and
money to concentrate on facial hair and deal with body hair
once the face is under control.
Facial hair: Although some with light skin and dark hair
have found Laser
to be a quick fix for heavy androgen-induced facial hair,
most women with these conditions have not been able to go
one year after final laser treatment without supplementing
laser with another hair removal method. Because these conditions
have a lot of attendant medical expenses which are often
out-of-pocket, I make the following recommendation: If you
seek permanent facial hair removal and cannot afford to
risk time or money on methods with limited data on effectiveness
and success rates, it's probably safest to invest in Electrolysis
with a practitioner recommended by another woman with your
condition who is done and happy. When choosing an electrologist,
operator skill is the most important thing, but I also suggest
finding someone who uses the blend method, since it's probably
going to be more effective.
Please follow the following link for more on hair removal for transsexual women.
Your skin characteristics
Darker skin tones
Shaving
is often problematic in darker-skinned people with curly hair,
since the hairs are more prone to ingrowns (called razor bumps
or technically pseudofolliculitis barbae). You also need to
be careful with Laser.
The darker the skin, the more likely you with have pigmentation
change from laser. There are early indications that super-long
pulse lasers might be an acceptable alternative to shaving
for some black males, but it's too soon to tell for sure.
Those with darker skin tones should get a patch test done
prior to full laser or electrolysis treatment and wait a week
or two to see how the skin responds.
Sun worshipers,
outdoorsy-types, and tanning bed clients
Laser
can be very problematic if done on skin that has just been
exposed to the sun. Sun exposure immediately before or after
laser treatment can result in significant patchy change in
skin color that can last several months. Those who get laser
treatment or Electrolysis
should avoid taking sun on the treated areas for a while after
treatment (probably at least a couple of weeks to be safe).
Using certain
skin medications
Drugs like Retin-A (trentinoin), Accutane, and alpha-hydroxy
acids can cause problems with Waxing.
Because these drugs work to exfoliate skin, if you wax while
using these, you might take off a layer or two of skin along
with the hair. Check with your doctor before waxing if you're
taking any skin medications.
Allergies
Some people are allergic to metals used in some electrolysis
probes. Some people also have allergic reactions to the active
ingredients in Cream
depilatories, Powder
depilatories, and Waxes.
If you are allergy-prone or have sensitive skin, do a patch
test before full treatment.
Heavy scarring
or keloids
If you have a tendency to scar badly, you need to be very
careful with hair removal, especially Shaving
and Electrolysis.
Skin conditions
Skin with a lot of acne, psoriasis, moles, warts, scars,
pigmented lesions, etc. should not be treated without first
consulting with a dermatologist.
Your body area to be treated
Back and chest
For men, Waxing
or Shaving
are usually the best options for large areas like chest and
back. Some have found Laser
useful, but there is limited data on how long it will last
and how often treatment is successful. Electrolysis
can be permanent, but it requires a serious commitment of
time and money. For women with just a few hairs, Tweezing
or Electrolysis
can be good options.
Legs and arms
Again, Waxing
or Shaving
are popular options. If you want something that lasts like
waxing, which you can do at home, I recommend rotary epilators
like the Braun Silk-epil. Some with light skin and dark hair
have found Laser
useful, but there is limited data on how long it will last
and how often treatment is successful.
Facial hair
This is discussed by sex below.
Type/amount of hair
Gray, blonde,
and red hair
Laser
probably won't be very effective on these types. Since gray
hairs are often more coarse, they are generally harder to
remove.
Fine hairs
Rotary epilators,
Waxing,
and Shaving
with electric shavers may be hard to use on these hairs. The
finer the hair, the less likely laser is going to work on
it, since it contains less melanin. Electrolysis
often takes longer on fine hairs, since it's harder to locate
the follicle, and the shallow roots make it more likely you'll
get skin damage.
Dark hairs
These are ideal for Laser,
but for some reason still unknown, some people with dark hair
don't respond to laser treatment. Some find that concealing
dark hairs by bleaching them is a better option than removing
them. Those with dark hair will see the most dramatic results
when they are removed. Dark hairs will usually look better
when epilated (removed from the root), since shaving and depilatories
can leave them still visible under the skin.
Next: compare all methods
Once you have determined your specific needs, consult the charts
below.
Comparison of
all hair removal methods:
Methods done at home
Methods done professionally
Proven permanent hair removal methods
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hair removal
facts
for consumers
