When it comes to body hair removal, there are a myriad of methods to choose from — some more long lasting, and some that require less maintenance. Which you prefer is up to personal preference, and as a beauty clinic that specialises in laser hair removal, obviously we’d recommend lasering off hair on every inch of your body— or not. You see, while some body parts benefit tremendously from laser hair removal, some can do without — especially in areas like the eyebrows and upper lip.
So which methods should you employ to stay fuzz free? Read on, then decide which works the best for you.
Shaving is one of the cheapest and most accessible ways to remove hair. Not only can you do it anytime, you can quite literally do it anywhere (if you wish) so long as you have a razor and some water or lubricant. It’s also a relatively quick process; if you’re fast it won’t take up too much of your time. The biggest downside is probably the ingrown hair you might get. As a tip, use a sharp razor with multiple blades and shave in the direction your hair is growing.
Best on: Legs, armpits, and possibly the bikini line if you have an impromptu beach or pool session, but that’s only if you’re not prone to irritation and razor bumps.
Safety issues: Cuts are a possibility if you’re not careful, and so is folliculitis, a bacterial infection caused by shaving. To prevent these things from happening, try using blades designed for women as they are designed to better handle the curves around the ankles and knees, make sure skin is lubricated well and replace the blade frequently.
Effectiveness: With the right shaving tool and technique, you can achieve hairless skin, but results are very short lived as shaving only removes hair above the skin.
Waxing works by applying warm, melted wax to strips and pulling off hair in the opposite direction. One quick tug and the entire hair, including the root, is removed. The heat causes hair follicles to dilate, helping hair come off easily.
Best on: Legs, arms, upper lip and cheeks, bikini area
Safety issues: The biggest cause for concern with waxing is the risk of bacterial infection. Double dipping —dipping the applicator stick back into the wax— increases the chance of infection happening, but you’d be surprised at how many people including beauty salons do it. This is a huge no-no especially for Brazilian waxes, as areas around the anus and labia are thinner and more sensitive. For waxing to be absolutely safe, go to a reputable place with certified practitioners instead.
Effectiveness: Waxing sees longevity up to four weeks, as hair is removed from the root. Unlike shaving, there won’t be stubble regrowth the next day too. In order for hair to be waxed, you need to let hair grow to about the length of a grain of rice.
Sugaring, or sugar waxing, works similar to waxing except it uses a paste made of lemon juice, water and sugar. However, unlike waxing, the paste is applied at body temperature with hair extracted in the natural direction of growth.
Best on: Anywhere you can wax
Safety issues: Like waxing, there may be a chance of slight redness and bumps, but due to its gentler solution, sugaring might be a better option for those with sensitive skin.
Effectiveness: When done correctly, sugaring can produce results similar to waxing.
Threading works by using threads to pull and remove short rows of hair by the root. It may sound straightforward, but threading requires a good amount of precision and is best reserved for intricate areas.
Best on: Eyebrows, upper lip
Safety issues: Since several hairs are plucked out by the root simultaneously, threading may cause some irritation. But it’s still pretty sanitary and safe, including for those with sensitive skin. As an aftercare tip, avoid touching the treated area for 2-4 hours after and apply a cooling gel.
Effectiveness: Results last for about six weeks, and if done correctly, there should be no ingrown hair.
Laser hair removal uses light energy to permanently destroy or damage hair follicles, preventing future hair growth. It’s the most expensive option on the list, but also the most long lasting with no risk of infection or ingrown hair. Also — it’s suitable for all skin colours and types!
Best on: Laser hair removal works anywhere on the body, but we usually receive requests from larger areas like the legs, back, arms and sensitive areas like the bikini line.
Safety concerns: It’s important that laser hair removal is performed by a professional who’s trained to use the device and has extensive knowledge about skin. If done incorrectly or in the hands of someone inexperienced, laser hair removal can cause burns and even pigment changes.
Effectiveness: With six to eight treatments, most people see a 70% reduction in hair growth. Some see permanent results, while others may have some regrowth, but the hair that grows back is usually a lot finer and less noticeable.
IPL works the same way as laser hair removal, except IPL uses a broad-spectrum light with varying wavelengths. While this means larger areas of hair can be removed, the light energy is less targeted, weaker and more dispersed.
Best on: Anywhere you can do laser on
Safety concerns: Because IPL is not as targeted, there runs the risk of damaging surrounding tissues. Individuals with darker skin types are advised to avoid IPL as the chances of getting burns are higher. Lighter hair colour (blonde and white hair) do not respond to IPL too because there is not enough melanin.
Effectiveness: While IPL can target larger treatment areas at one time, patients require more sessions (about 10-15) to achieve the same results as laser hair removal.
Super hair removal is essentially an improved laser hair removal technology that’s both painless and effective. Gentler pulses of energy at higher frequencies are used instead, allowing skin to be heated gently.
Best on: Bikini area due to how gentle the laser is on the skin
Safety concerns: As yet, super hair removal is very safe and the only safety concerns are similar to laser hair removal. Super hair removal is virtually painless and effective for all skin types except tattooed skin.
Effectiveness: Most patients see a 70% reduction in hair growth in just 5-7 sessions. Like regular laser hair removal treatments, there may be some hair regrowth, albeit a lot finer.
