If you ask any woman about hair removal, she'll likely tell you about shaving, creams, waxing and all other ways of normal hair removal.
But she'll just as soon tell you about how irritating the whole process is, as well as painful and expensive. I've tried many techniques and found some to be horrible experiences and one in particular that has worked like a dream.
The most basic form of hair removal is shaving. I shave my legs from the knee down every day in the shower with no bumps or rashes. I only have fine blonde hairs from the knee up so hair removal isn't necessary there.
One thing I changed about shaving was the use of shaving gel. I now use a thick hair conditioner on my legs instead and it stops any nicks or cuts and really moisturizes the skin.
Waiting a few minutes to shave is really important in order to let the skin soften and warm up a little. Shaving as soon as the shower starts can cause rashes and cuts.
Shampoo and condition your hair and wash your body first. Shaving should be the last thing done before finishing your shower.
Use a decent razor (check for rust too) and make sure razors are changed regularly to ensure they remain effective and clean. A brand name razor with at least three blades is a much better investment that cheap generic razors that can lead to cuts.
The good thing about shaving is that it's quick and effective and really inexpensive. The downside is that it needs to be done on a daily or near daily basis to avoid unsightly stubble that feels rough to the touch.
I've seen hair threading places pop up in malls in the past few years and have a friend who loves it.
Threading has been around the Middle East and India for centuries but has gained a lot of popularity in the West recently.
The threading process is done by using really thin strands of cotton and rubbing them over the hair, removing them (many hairs at once, often in a straight line) quickly.
Threading is not expensive (about $30 for eyebrows, in my area) and lasts several weeks. Some women find it painful, others like my friend, don't feel pain at all.
Plucking with tweezers is a simple and free option (aside from the initial cost of the plucking device!) that many people employ, especially smaller areas of the body like the eyebrows or for stray hairs. The hair is simply plucked out with tweezers and last usually several weeks.
I've "emergency plucked" a few times and didn't like the pain or the fact that I can never do it evenly on the eyebrows.
The only downside is that it only works for tiny areas/strays and can be painful.
Waxing is a favorite for the line and legs but bikini waxing caused so many problems for me that I had to stop. I get my eyebrows waxed every few weeks though and it works perfectly for me.
But along with shaving the bikini line, the bumps and rashes it caused me make wearing a swimsuit impossible because I had to cover up the bumps.
Even after changing the kind of wax used, my bikini line was filled with bumps, rashes and ingrown hairs that regular loofahs couldn't help.
But waxing works well for many women. Make sure it's done by a qualified, experienced esthetician and ask to change waxes if you get a bad reaction.
Use a loofah in the shower to avoid ingrown hairs. The bonus of waxing is that it lasts from two to four weeks. The disadvantage is that you need to wait for hair growth to wax again, meaning a couple of weeks of hair being visible.
It's also expensive in the long run (about $400-$500 per year for regular bikini waxing) and can be extremely painful. I'm very relieved that waxing days are over, although I continue to get my brows done and have found waxing to be the best method for me for that area of the body.
Electrolysis is another option. This is the only permanent hair removal method but even then, some women need touch-ups.
Electrolysis is done with a needle that sends an electric current to the hair causing it to die off. Hair should not return and obviously this is the biggest benefit!
The downside is that it can take months even years and can be painful for some people. It's also very expensive, especially for large areas of the body.
It's not something I would consider but if money and time is not an object, it can be the best option for some. I know someone who had it done for stray hairs around the body and was glad she did.
This makes a lot of sense but larger areas (like legs) can take a really long time to complete as each hair must be done individually. Make sure your practitioner is fully qualified. At-home machines can cause injury.
My esthetician told me that she has done electrolysis on women that took from six months to three years, and up to two thousand dollars. It be even more for some women depending on the hair and area of the body.
Laser hair removal is my new best friend. This is a hair removal technique that while not permanent, lasts for months with minor touchups needed only a few times a year.
Lasers are used to remove hair and the method is quick -- less than five minutes for the bikini line. It's very painful but a topical numbing gel is advised and it really helps.
The down side is that it takes time. It needs to be done over a period of many months and it can be expensive -- up to $800 for an area like the bikini line.
It also works best for fair skin and dark hair but new lasers are coming out that allow options for women of all colors and hair textures. I had my bikini line done over a nine month period, as well as my underarms and the results were near perfect.
I have no bumps or rashes and am smooth as a baby. I can expect to touch up about three times a year at a small cost. The initial cost is pricey but well worth it to me.
Buying a package of sessions is cost-effective and you can pick and choose what areas to get done.
It's really important to go to a well-trained professional, rather than a salesperson in a white coat who took a weekend course in laser hair removal techniques.
Women have been badly burned and scarred by going to cheap but unqualified people or spend a small fortune when they should have been told they were not a good candidate.
I go to a board-certified plastic surgeon's office where the sessions are done by well trained RNs. I am extremely happy with the results, especially since I swim a lot and play tennis.
No more shaving or waxing for me, and no more rashes or bumps or ugly stubble!
Let us know what methods work best for you!
Edited by Jody Smith