Hair Removal Methods: Which One is Right For You?

We all love having hair on our heads, but hair on many of the other body parts are not as welcomed. No matter what method we use for hair removal, we all have the same goal, to get that hair gone fast and for it not to come back for a long time. But there are pros and cons to each hair removal method.
Shaving

Shaving is the most common, but also the most temporary method of hair removal. Many believe that shaving makes the hair grow back faster and thicker. But the truth is, shaving cuts the hair off at the skin surface, so the short hair shaft is more noticeable as it grows out because it has a blunt tip instead of the normal tapered tip. Shaving is the least painful hair removal method, but having to wear a bandaid because you nicked or cut yourself can really put a damper in your plans to wear a mini skirt that day. So if you choose to shave, apply moisture to the skin (i.e. body wash, shaving cream, or hair conditioner) to help the razor glide over the skin, not cut or scrape it.

Tweezing

Tweezing is also a very common, but the most time consuming hair removal method. It involves physically pulling the hair out of the follicle. With tweezing, the hair takes longer to grow back because it must grow to the surface of the skin before it is noticed. Because hair grows at different rates, some of the hair that has been physically removed may take more time to grow back in. Frequent tweezing may damage the follicle enough over time to keep it from producing more hair, which is appreciated for those unwanted lip and chin hairs. But constant tweezing of the eyebrows may prevent you from changing the shape later when you decide that you want to wear them thicker, so tweeze with caution.

Threading

Threading hair is an ancient method commonly practiced in Eastern countries, like Egypt and India, but is becoming very popular here in the West. Threading removes the entire hair follicle, lasting up to 6 weeks. A cotton thread is pulled along unwanted hair in a twisting motion, to trap hair in a mini lasso, and lifts hair right out of the follicle. Threading is much faster than tweezing, but like tweezing, over time, frequent threading can cause the hair follicle to become damaged, and stop growing hair. Threading is good for those smaller areas like the eyebrows, but not for larger areas.

Waxing

Waxing is the most effective method of hair removal for large amounts of hair at one time. Caution must be used when heating wax so as not to burn the skin. Waxing can be painful when the strip is removed from the skin, particularly in more sensitive areas. However, hair in waxed areas will not grow back for two to eight weeks. Additionally, areas that are repeatedly waxed over long periods of time often exhibit regrowth that is softer and the skin is smoother than with the other removal methods. Thus, short term pain for a long term gain.
In sum, when it comes to hair removal methods, waxing may be a little more expensive than the others, but it is also the most effective and the best for removing hair. It is less time consuming than tweezing, last long than shaving, and covers more areas than threading. Stay smooth, and stay pretty.