8 Amazing Hair Removal Methods
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posted in
Skin & Body
04/02/2015
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302
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Hair removal facts:
-Hair is composed of protein
-Hair insulates the skin and is a barrier to foreign objects
-Depilation is hair removal above the level of the pore
-Epilation is the damaging of both the hair and the hair bulb below the level of the skin surface
What's best for you? -
WAXING is an ancient method of removing hair that involves applying wax to the skin, and after it solidifies, it is abruptly yanked away from the skin, pulling out the adherent hairs. -
Pros:
-Results lasting up to 6 weeks
-Hair progressively grows back slower
-Hair grows back softer and lighter
Cons
-Can be painful
-Skin can be easily burned
-A growing period is necessary for the hair to be long enough to be “grabbed”
-Ingrown hairs are very common -
SHAVING is the most popular and cheapest type of depilation, and if performed safely, it results in a satisfactory appearance. In order to minimize follicular irritation, one should move the razor in the same direction that the hairs seem to be growing. -
It is important to use a good lubricant to reduce friction between the blade and the skin. It is also important to use a very sharp blade. Safe shaving technique does not produce perfectly smooth skin. There should be a short fragment of hair that remains, extending above the surface of the skin.
There are devices, like the No No, that "shave" hair by burning it close to the skin surface. This is probably no more effective than shaving.
Pros:
-Quick
-Cheap
-Easy
Cons:
-Easily nicks the skin
-Short term results
-If done safely perfectly smooth skin is not achievable -
THREADING is a method where a skilled practitioner holds a twisted length of thread in one hand while the other end is held in the mouth or in the other hand. Then hairs are trapped in the twisted thread and pulled out. Although this can be performed by oneself, professionals are recommended . -
Pros:
-Results last for up to 4 weeks (depending on the area)
-Fairly priced
-Minimal pain
Cons:
-Needs upkeep
-Not always suitable to do at home -
An EPILATOR is an electrical device used to remove hair by mechanically grasping multiple hairs simultaneously and pulling them out of the root. The way in which epilators pull out hair is similar to waxing when comparing results. -
Pros:
-Results last for up to 4 weeks
-Hair grows back more slowly, and diminishes over time.
-New hairs grow back softer and lighter
-Epilating is much cheaper that waxing in a spa, much cleaner than waxing at home, and leaves no nicks and cuts like shaving
Cons:
-Can be painful
-If done incorrectly, it can leave ingrown hairs
-A growing period is necessary (Although not as long as waxing) -
DEPILATORY CREAMS (Nair/Veet) rely on chemical means to destroy the hair shaft by breaking disulfide bonds of the hair proteins. They require a 20-minute application to be effective. Always test the cream you want to use on a small part of your skin to see how you react. -
Pros:
-Produce a softer feel than shaving
-Cheap
-Easy
Cons:
-Man made chemicals can produce irritation to skin, sometimes even burns -
LASER light is absorbed by pigment in the hair causing the production of heat that destroys both the hair and adjacent tissues. When done correctly in the appropriate patient, only the follicular tissues are damaged resulting in hairlessness for an extended period of time. -
Those with contrasting light skin color and dark hair are the easiest to treat where as those in whom there is little color difference between skin and hair can be challenging.
Pros:
-Results are permanent
-Painless, if done correctly
Cons:
-Not suitable for everyone (because of skin and hair colour)
-Expensive
-Not suitable to do at home -
PLUCKING/TWEEZING out one at a time is a very effective but tedious method of depilation. This can result in sufficient inflammation to produce dark spots around plucked follicles. Permanent hair loss can occur if plucking is performed obsessively over long periods of time. -
Pros:
-can be produce permanent results
-very effective for small areas
Cons:
-tedious
-can produce dark spots -
ELECTROLYSIS procedures involve threading a thin wire into a single follicle and then applying an electric current. Depending on the nature of the device, the hair follicle is destroyed either by the production of heat or sodium hydroxide. -
Multiple treatments of a follicle are often necessary to achieve permanent destruction. Pigmentation at the site of treatment is not uncommon. Since each follicle is treated individually, electrolysis of large areas is quite strenuous.
Cons:
-Often very painful
-Time consuming
Pros:
-Permanent removal -
Alternatives to hair removal:
1) Bleach. Bleaching hair can make is less noticeable and can be an alternative to removing the hair. Note that some skin can be sensitive to it, so always test it out on a small portion of skin
2) Prescribed cream. If you had abnormal hair growth, consult a physician about medicated cream for the area.
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