8 Best Proven Hair Removal Tested Methods

We all have unwanted hair on our body parts. It’s more prevalent in women to get unwanted hair removed from their body parts. It feels smoother and more attractive. Here, we will discuss some of the proven hair removal tested methods in more detail with the pros and cons of these methods. It will help you decide which one would be the better option for you. Before discussing we will know which those body parts that need hair removal:

• Legs
• Arms
• Armpits
• Fingers
• Face
• Bikini area 
• Upper lip
• Eyebrows
• Chin

The above-mentioned body parts are different from each other. We need different tested techniques to get successfully treated for hair removal. Let’s discuss them one by one.

Shaving

The very quickest method to remove hair. Shaving cuts the hairs at the skin’s surface. It is the most commonly used method. You can choose between electric shavers and disposal razors, depending on your budget. Apply cream or gel to the targeted region and rubbed in to create a lather. After a minute, shave it off with a razor. It is also possible to shave without using a cream, but the targeted area should be moisturized first.

Pros: Shaving is painless as long as you are careful to not cut yourself. Use sharp blades and shaving cream to shave. It is the fastest and cheapest way of hair removal.

Cons: Since the hair is only removed at the skin level, it tends to grow back soon.

Best for:

It works on various parts but many women avoid shaving their faces due to the fear of hard hair growth after the session. But, shaving legs, arms, armpits, and pubic region is safe.

Cost incurred:

Cost-effective as only cream and razor are required in the process. You can use the cream and razor many times.

Effectiveness:

The hairs grow faster by the application of this method. Depending on your hair growth, you will notice tiny hair growth. you will notice tiny hair growing back anything between two-three days to a week’s time post-shaving.

Side effects: 

Might cause irritation, inflammation, and minor cuts due to razor

Tips to perform: 

Moisturize the targeted area with water, cream, or gel in order to avoid the burning effect and ensure smooth and safe shaving. Change the blade frequently. Also, moisturize the targeted area after shaving too.

Plucking

Plucking or tweezing can be painful, but it may be a good option if you only want to remove a few hairs. When you’re reshaping your brows or pulling out stray hairs on your face, you might want to pluck. This hair removal method, Yet, should not be used on large areas. It may result in ingrown hair or scarring.

Pros: You can do it yourself at home. And since you are pulling hair out by the root, it takes longer for the hair to grow back.

Cons: Unfortunately, you cannot tweet hair from a larger area of your body, as it is a time-consuming process. Besides, if the hair breaks off it might grow inside and can cause pain till it is not treated.

Best for: 

Tweezing works best on smaller areas like Eyebrows, chin, upper lip, facial moles, and neck.

Cost incurred: 

Very low cost as only is a plucker needed. 

Effectiveness: 

Since the hair is removed from the root, it takes to grow back so you can stay hair free for up to two weeks. Hair growth is either stopped or comes within 7-10 days as it removes hair from the hair follicle

Side effects:

Might result in redness, irritated skin, and ingrown hair. 

Tips to perform: 

Always use a sterilized tweezer and keep an angle following the grain of the hair.

Depilatory Creams

Hair removal creams, also known as depilatories, have chemicals that break down the hair structure. The cream is applied on the skin for a few minutes from where the hairs are removed. The cream contains chemicals that break the disulfide bonds and dissolves the hair shaft thus making hairs weaker. The hairs are then wiped out with a warm wet cloth. 

Pros: Hair removal creams provide results that will last longer than shaving but less than waxing.

Cons: The chemicals in hair removal creams are strong and can irritate your skin. So patch test first and if the skin is fine with no irritation or redness, continue to apply it on a larger area.

Best for:

You can use hair removal creams on large areas like legs and arms. You can also apply the cream on the patches that might be difficult to shave or wax like the upper lip or elbow.

Cost incurred:

Not too expensive if only applied to lesser skin parts. It can be a bit costly if also applied on legs and arms. 

Effectiveness:

Through the use of creams hair growth can be controlled for up to a week depending on the thickness of your hair. If hairs are too thick they might grow within 3-4 days.

Side effects:

Might result in a bit of irritation and other allergic reactions to the treated skin area.

Tips to perform:

Apply to a small area if using it for the first time as it might not suit your skin type. Wait for the appropriate time before wiping out the hairs with a warm wet cloth.

Hot Waxing

A method of hair removal that uses wax to remove hairs from the root. It is done by applying melted warm wax over an area. Then using a strip of cloth or paper to remove the wax along with the unwanted hair in the opposite direction.

Pros: You have to suffer through only a few seconds of pain for at least two weeks of hairlessness. And it doesn’t grow back as stubble. It will have a tapered tip, making the hair growth less obvious than when you shave. Waxing makes your skin smooth and silky. And over time by the application of this method hair growth seems to be likely fine and slow.

Cons: The drawback of waxing is that you have to let the hair grow enough for the wax to pull it out.

Best for:

Waxing for hair removal that can be done on every part of the body including the face, legs, arms, upper lips, eyebrows, and pubic area. Waxing works well when hairs are fully grown as it makes it easy to pull out in one stroke.

Cost incurred: 

It can vary from Rs 1000- Rs 2000 if you do it at home. If done in a parlor it will be ranging from Rs 3000 to Rs5000.

Effectiveness:

Waxing keeps you hair-free for two to three weeks at least, and often cases sustain for 4-5 weeks.

Side effects:

Ensure that hygiene is maintained during waxing as it might cause a bacterial infection. Pulling the waxing strip with a sudden jerk might cause pain and irritation later. 

Tips to perform:

Make sure the wax that is applied is not too hot and is warm. Also, don’t let the wax dry once after applying it to the skin. Moisture skin well before its application. Get waxing done only if the hair is 5mm long.

Threading

This is an extremely popular way to give great shape to your eyebrows and to get rid of the coarse hair on your face. It can be used to get rid of unwanted hair on your upper lip, neck, and chin. In the process of threading, a twisted thread catches hair, pulling it out as it is rolled across the skin. It is performed by holding the strings in hand and moving them faster through the surface of unwanted hairs to remove them.

Pros. : threading is likely to damage your skin, as it is gentler on the skin than tweezing. Unlike tweezing which lets you pluck one hair at a time, threading can help you remove short rows of hair all at once.

Cons. : It takes time and cannot be done in bigger areas of the body. It is also slightly painful.

Best for: 

Threading works best for the Eyebrows, facial, forehead, upper lip, and neck. 

Cost incurred: 

It is very economical as the hairs are removed by the use of a string. 

Effectiveness:

Threading leaves your skin hair-free for a good week to 10 days. It can be longer too depending on your hair growth.

Side effects:

Redness, skin inflammation, acne

Tips to perform:

Threading can be painful, so be prepared if you’re threading on a dry surface. Before threading, take a warm bath. While threading the brows, comb them and draw an outline with an eyebrow marker. Before you begin, dust the threads with powder and keep them away from your skin.

Laser hair removal

One of the best methods if you want to get rid of hair permanently. Hair removal is done by shooting the laser beam through the skin. It completely removes the hair from the root. The laser beam destroys the hair bulbs thus, stopping further hair growth. The procedure might take 4-6 weeks of time as it requires multiple sessions.

Pros: With the advancement in technology, it is the most effective way of hair removal and causes very minimal pain.

Cons: Lasers only affect hairs that are in the active stage, but a hair follicle will produce more than one hair at a time. This is how the hairs are permanently removed through laser technique. This is the reason why the best laser hair removal treatment needs multiple sessions to remove hair completely. It has proven to be the most expensive method of hair removal as it involves experts along with many sessions to perform the treatment. The process can take a few years to remove hair permanently from the hair follicles.

Best for:

Laser hair reduction works on almost all body parts including upper lips, Under arms, bikini area, chin, face, legs, and arms. The effects of laser hair removal are best when hair growth is thicker. The hairs of any area can be treated through this method. 

Cost incurred:

Might cost you up to Rs3,00,000 to 4,00,000. The cost might be higher as an experienced dermatologist performs. The operation of hair removal with all the advanced equipment that generates laser beams.

Effectiveness:

Hairs are removed permanently and don’t usually grow back if you get it done with the help of experts. The hairs that grow after the first treatment of laser are finer and lighter.

Side effects:

It comes with the risk of minor skin redness, swelling, and sensitive skin for a short period of time after the procedure. Because a laser beam is used in the treatment. It can cause blisters, scars, and a slight change in the color of the target skin area.

Tips to perform:

You can get it done by an experienced dermatologist who has in-depth knowledge of skin treatment. He has experience in handling equipment. An inexperienced person might cause skin damage and pigmentation.

Avoid tanning and have your hair removed from the root before undergoing laser hair removal. Caffeinated beverages should be avoided for at least 24 hours before the start. Begin with clean, well-shaven skin.

Electrolysis

A mild electric current is passed through with the help of a needle around the hair follicle. To destroy the regenerative cells. This is done by a professional expert. These are generally of two types:

Galvanic: The hair follicle is destroyed chemically.

Thermolytic: The hair follicle is destroyed by heat.

Pros. : The main advantage of electrolysis is that it provides permanent results. But this procedure has to be performed only by a professional. There’s no way you can do it on your own. Electrolysis is much less expensive than laser hair removal and requires fewer follow-up visits.

Cons.: During electrolysis, the hair is removed one at a time. In comparison to laser hair removal, this is a very slow process. There is a stinging sensation for each follicle that could be painful, again depending on your threshold capacity. 

Best for: 

Good for small to medium targeted areas like the face, chin, eyebrows, and upper lip.

Cost incurred:

It is expensive as it can cost you from Rs 6000 – Rs 8000. Also, the treatment includes several months to complete.

Effectiveness:

Electrolysis gives perfect results and often cases this method leaves a perfect effect after a set of sessions.  If not, the hair growth is minimal and lighter in appearance usually it removes hair permanently.

Side effects:

Might be painful and result in swelling of the skin, and can result in scars in some areas where a needle is inserted.

Tips to perform:

Avoid sun exposure for at least 48 hours before treatment and drink plenty of water. Before treatment, keep your skin hydrated and moisturized, and avoid caffeine. If you want, you can take a mild pain reliever to reduce any discomfort. Keep your stomach full because the session may last a little longer.

Medication and unwanted hair

Hair growth can be limited through the help of intake of a pill named Spironolactone. It will not get rid of the hairs on your scalp but will actually stimulate the growth there. Vaniqa approved by FDA is also found to slow down hair growth when applied. 

Best for:

Face, upper lip, arms, under arms, legs

Cost incurred:

It is not too costly as you only have to buy a cream or medicine.

Effectiveness:

It cannot stop hair growth but can only slow growth.  Hair regrows if you stop applying the cream.

Side effects:

As it inhibits the growth of the enzyme that is handled for faster hair growth. It might cause hormonal imbalance. This method does not remove hairs or cause them to fall out. It can cause skin redness and or irritation.

Tips to perform:

Eat the pill as per the doctor’s prescription. Apply the cream twice a day to slow hair growth. 

Conclusion 

The best method for permanent hair removal is laser treatment. Care Well Medical Centre provides you the best laser treatment having many dermatologists. Who are experts at this treatment under all safety precautions.

Reference:

https://www.webmd.com/beauty/cosmetic-procedures-hair-removal