The Ultimate Hair Removal Guide

2. Hair Removal Cream

Hair Removal or Depilatory Creams are anther popular option for whisking away those hairs. They work by dissolving your hair; you apply the cream, let it work and then wipe it and your hairs away.

The Pros

• Affordability. Like shaving, this is a relatively affordable option for hair removal.
• Painlessness. There is no risk of nicks or cuts, making it pretty much the most painless optionyou can find.

The Cons

• Sensitivity. The chemicals in hair removal cream can be quite strong, causing sensitivity in some people. Look for sensitive formulations and wash it straight off if it feels like it burns.
• The Smell. There is no hiding the fact that hair removal creams do not smell the nicest and it isn’t always the nicest experience as a result.
• Longevity. Like shaving, hair is removed only at the skin surface so regrows fairly quickly.
• Effectiveness. On particularly coarse hair, depilatory creams don’t tend to work that well; they are better suited to those with fine hair.

3. Waxing

Whether you go to a salon or do it at home, waxing is a popular hair removal choice. Whether you use strips, hot wax or hard wax, it it works by pulling hair out of the skin by the root, for an ultra silky finish.

The Pros

• Longevity. Because hair is removed from the root, the results last longer- sometimes up to 3 weeks.
• Long Term Results. Over time, waxing can help hair become finer, less noticeable and easier to remove.

The Cons

• Pain. There is no denying that waxing is painful but the results can be worth it when you only need to wax every 4 weeks or so.
• Regrowth. For hair to be waxed effectively, it needs to grow to at least a quarter of an inch long, which can be annoying for some.
• Difficulty. Waxing is relatively simple on the legs but can be harder to achieve yourself on areas like the armpits and bikini line.

Home Waxing Tips

If you do want to try waxing your self, then these are the tips we swear by for making it a little easier.

• Exfoliate well. It will help release any trapped hairs and leave your skin soft and silky.
• Check the heat. If you’re using hot wax, make sure it isn’t too hot. If it is, then it can cause extra sensitivity and damage to your skin.
• Try a talcum powder. Before starting to wax, lightly dust your skin with a body powder to help make sure wax sticks only to your hairs rather than your skin.
• Pull things tight. Apply wax in the direction of hair growth and then pull it away in the opposite direction. Holding the skin taut as you pull the wax off will help remove the hairs more effectively.

4. Epilation

This isn’t as common a method of hair removal but it is becoming more well known. An epilator it actually made up of a lot of electronic tweezers that pluck the hair from the skin. Lots of the benefits are similar to waxing and it has been designed to be simple to achieve yourself.

The Pros

• Ease. Unlike waxing, epilation is pretty simple- just run it over wherever you want to remove hair. Many also have a different heads to make epilation for smaller areas like the face or bikini line easier.
• Less Regrowth. Epilators work on shorter hairs than waxing, requiring less regrowth time. Plus, they can be used repeatedly to remove hairs at different points of the growth cycle.
• Longevity. With hairs being plucked from the roots, skin tends to stay hair free for around 4 weeks at a time.

The Cons

• Pain. Epilation is uncomfortable, however it does decrease the more you use your epilator, as there generally are less
• Cost. Most epilators, especially those with multiple heads or wet/dry options are quite expensive at around the £100 mark but they do last a long time.

5. At Home Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal has been big for a long time and now brands like Tria are making it an option to do at home. The technology uses IPL (Intense Pulsed Light), which damages the root of your hairs and works to stop them growing.

The Pros

• Longevity. This is the most permanent method of hair removal, as when repeated over time it actually inhibits hair growth.
• Ease. Like epilation, home laser hair removal units are usually pretty simple to use.
• Painlessness. Whilst some people may feel a prickle or heat, generally this is a painless hair removal method.
• Price. It is substantially cheaper tan investing in in-salon laser or IPL treatment, which usually starts from around £600 for your legs.

The Cons

• Not Universal. Unfortunately IPL isn’t suitable for everyone. It works on those with lighter skin tones and darker hair, and isn;t advisable on dark skin.
• Price. At around £300 for a hair removal tool, it is an expensive option, however it may save you money over time.