Beauty supply stores are full of products that allow you to remove body hair easily at home. Removing unwanted body hair is sure to involve some pain, mess, and time. Home products do, however, offer an easy way to remove hair anytime, without the expense and time of a salon visit.
Tweezers
Tweezers allow you to pluck individual hairs with little to no pain. These are best for areas with little hair to remove, such as the eyebrow area. They are also handy to have on hand when you notice a stray hair or two that you missed using another product.
Wax
Two types of home wax products designed for hair removal are on the market. With a standard wax, you heat the wax in the microwave, spread it on your leg or wherever else you wish to remove hair, and then place a strip of cloth over the wax. You lift off the wax and pull out the hairs. Other types of wax products save time by having the wax already spread on a strip of waxy paper. These you heat with your hands or blow dryer, press on to your leg and then pull off. With the ready-to-go wax strip, you get convenience and less of a mess, but it can take several boxes to remove all the hair from both legs. With both product types, you can remove hair from almost any part of your body. Waxing to remove hair offers the longest-lasting results, but it can cause more irritation, ingrown hairs, and some pain.
Creams
Depilatory creams work by chemically dissolving the hair. These tend to remove hair just below the skin’s surface (better than a razor) but not as far as the root, unlike waxing. Unlike waxing, however, there is less pain involved, as you simply spread the cream on your skin, wait the allotted time, and then remove it with the provided tool or sponge while in the shower. If you have sensitive skin, do a small patch test with the cream first, as it can cause skin irritation.
Epilators
Epilators are devices that resemble electric razors, but they work differently. Equipped with fine-tipped tweezers, epilators pull several hairs out at once. The “Woman’s Day Magazine” website reports that the amount of pain experienced with these varies from person to person. Side effects are similar to waxing with potential reddening of the skin and ingrown hairs.
