5 Different Types of Hair Removal and Their Pros and Cons

Yup, we can all agree that hair removal is a particularly unpleasant aspect of summer (and every other season as well). Although, despite the wax burns, shaving rashes, and stubborn ingrown hair, we chose to do it anyways. If you're tired of waxing—painful, plus extremely time-consuming—maybe you'd prefer to opt for a quicker, more efficient technique that'll save you a whole of time, and pain. 

Experts from Sanfe, India's revolutionary feminine hygiene and period care brand, chart out the plethora of hair removal methods—varying in terms of cost, effectiveness, safety, and difficulty—that you could pick from the next time you undertake the daunting task. From depilatory creams to sugaring, threading, and laser hair removal, here's *everything* you need to know about these techniques, their pros, and their cons. 

 

Shaving

 

One of the most commonly used methods to get rid of unwanted facial and body hair, shaving uses a traditional blade, razor or an electric razor to cut the hair off right at the skin’s surface. When shaving, make sure that you apply an aftershave oil to protect the skin.

 

Pros of Shaving

 

1) Inexpensive and readily available

2) Easy to learn and perform at home

3) A quicker hair removal technique

 

Cons of Shaving

 

1) Poses a risk of cuts, abrasions, razor burns, or irritation to sensitive skin

2) Greater potential for ingrown hairs

3) Regrowth of hair is relatively faster as compared to other techniques

4) Hair feels rough and hard as it grows back 

5) 'Five o’clock shadow’ as hair growth is dark

 

Product Recommendation: Sanfe Underarm No Mess Razor - Pack Of 5, Rs. 499 (Available at https://sanfe.in/)

Depilatory Creams

 

Depilatory creams contain specific chemicals that work to remove unwanted body hair by dissolving the hair shaft. They do not impact the root of the hair, rather, they dissolve the hair that protrudes from the surface of your skin. Depilatory creams can be distinguished based on formulations intended to remove unwanted facial hair and those intended to remove body hair. However, most often this method is used to get rid of facial hair, armpit hair, and hair around the bikini area.

 

Pros of Depilatory Creams

 

1) Readily available and easy to use at home

2) Since the cream helps remove the hair below the surface of your skin, regrowth is slower

 

Cons of Depilatory Creams

 

1) The chemicals present in the cream can cause skin irritation

2) Greater potential for ingrown hairs

3) A strong odour due to the chemical formula 

4) Should not be used on sensitive skin areas

 

Waxing and Sugaring

 

Waxing and sugaring is a type of physical hair removal that utilises either a warm or cold wax. The wax attaches itself to the unwanted body hair and removes it right from the hair follicle when stripped away from your skin.

 

Pros of Waxing and Sugaring

 

1) Longer intervals between hair

2) Can be used on most areas of the body, including sensitive areas

3) Lesser potential for ingrown hairs

 

Cons of Waxing and Sugaring

 

1) Can be painful or uncomfortable

2) More costly as compared to other techniques

3) Can cause temporary skin irritation

 

Threading

 

Another form of physical hair removal, threading involves a skilled practitioner who uses a cotton string to get rid of unwanted hairs from the eyebrow into a mini lasso. Once the hairs are caught in the thread, the practitioner removes them with a twisting motion. This method of hair removal pulls the hair out from the root, extracting the entire hair follicle.

 

Pros of Threading

 

1) Produces results that typically last between 2 to 6 weeks

2) More sanitary than other hair removal techniques 

3) A precise method of hair removal

4) Faster than traditional eyebrow tweezing

5) Not limited to specific skin types

 

Cons of Threading

 

1) Limited to facial hair 

2) Requires a skilled practitioner to perform 

 

Laser Hair Removal 

 

The gold standard of hair removal, laser hair removal makes use of state-of-the-art laser technology to destroy the hair follicle, disabling hair growth for permanent hair reduction. It involves a skilled technician who guides a handheld device that emits the laser over the treatment area. This technique is ideal for those with dark hair growth. 

 

Pros of Laser Hair Removal

 

1) Relatively less painful 

2) Permanent hair removal 

3) Can be performed on all body parts 

 

Cons of Laser Hair Removal

 

1) More costly as compared to other techniques

2) Lengthy and time-consuming 

3) Cannot be performed at home 

4) May cause skin irritation or discomfort

 

Product Recommendation: Sanfe Underarm Detox Exfoliator and Underarm Anti-Perspirant Deo Cream, Rs. 1,248 (Available at https://sanfe.in/)

While retaining body or facial hair is a personal choice, some women prefer to go bare. For those of you who do, there is an abundance of options for hair removal—ones that you must pick between depending on your skin type, hair type, and convenience.

 

Image: Courtesy Cosmopolitan Philippines