5 Arm-Hair Removal Methods You Can Do at Home

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• Skin
• Hair Removal

Reviewed by

Marisa Garshick, MD

BOARD-CERTIFIED DERMATOLOGIST

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In This Article

Epilator Brazilian Lightener Sugaring

At-Home Laser Waxing

When it comes to body hair, we're proud members of the you-do-you camp and Team Body Hair Don't Care. For some, the not-so-glamorous subject gets in the way of having silky smooth skin, especially on your arms. Body hair is completely natural, but some people list it as one of the things they wouldn't mind changing. And while there are so many hair removal options (Nair, bleach, and a good old-fashioned razor, to name a few), there are some more newfangled approaches used to style and groom your body hair. Our Byrdie editor tested them out so you don't have to.

We reached out to two dermatologists and a hair removal expert to break down five methods of arm hair removal that you can do at home.

Meet the Expert

• Joshua Zeichner, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and treats both medical and cosmetic skincare concerns.
• Rachel Nazarian, MD, FAAD, is a board-certified dermatologist at Schweiger Dermatology Group in New York City.
• Kristina Kitsos is an aesthetic nurse injector and registered cosmetic nurse.

Keep scrolling to read honest reviews of five popular arm hair removal methods.

Epilator

Remington Smooth & Silky Essential Epilator

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Epilation has grown in popularity as an alternative to shaving—though for me, while an epilator looks a bit like a razor, it feels more like a wax. "Epilation is a hair removal process involving a device that grabs on to the hairs and physically pulls them from the skin," says Zeichner. "While epilation can be used for all hair types, it is best in removing coarse, straight hair." If you're not a candidate for laser hair removal, epilation may be your next best bet. Kitsos notes that the benefits of epilation are that it can be done in the convenience of your own home and is less costly than laser, but the drawbacks are that it's painful and results are only temporary. "Some people experience red, itchy bumps after using this type of hair removal procedure, which can be irritating," she warns.

I was hesitant to try an epilator since a device made of tiny, automatic rotating tweezers sounds like my idea of torture. I did a little research beforehand (i.e., Googled "how to make epilating hurt less") and learned that it's best to do it in the shower because the steam helps open the hair follicles (in the same way that tweezing your eyebrows is less painful when they're wet).1 This may have helped some, but to be honest, it was still not a particularly fun experience. It's effective at pulling the hair out from the root, and it is thorough if you're looking to remove all of your hair without the messiness of waxing. Still, my verdict is that it's much better-suited for smaller surface areas.

Byrdie Tip

For epilation to be effective, your hair should be at least two millimeters in length, according to most product instructions.

Brazilian Lightener

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Golden Body Veil

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Beauty rule of thumb: If the Brazilians do it, it's probably really good. And that is certainly the case with Sol de Janeiro's enticingly-named kit, which is basically a cross between a bleach and a depilatory. This is your go-to if you're not a fan of shaving but big on the look of shimmering blonde peach fuzz. "Brazilian lightener is a good option for those people with thick, dark arm hair who do not want to go through the pain of epilation and those whose skin is not conducive to laser," explains Kitsos. "It’s a great way to make dark hair less noticeable without shaving, waxing, epilation, or lasering." While the hair is still there, it'll help lighten them to make them appear less dense, and ultimately, less noticeable.

You have to mix the formulas, and it reeks like bleach, but it's definitely my hair removal method of choice. It magically melts my dark, thick hair, leaving fine, glistening fuzz in its place. It's a way to make the hair look subtler without removing it entirely, which is all I've ever really wanted.

This product has since sold out, but try Sally Hansen's Extra Strength Creme Bleach as an alternative.

Byrdie Tip

According to Zeichner, if you have sensitive or dark skin you should start with a test area to make sure the hair lightener does not cause skin irritation. Irritation can ultimately lead to long-lasting light or dark spots on the skin.2

Sugaring

Parissa Cane Sugar Organic Wax20.00

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Think of sugaring as waxing's cousin. Like waxing, it removes hair from the root, but unlike waxing, sugaring uses a honey-like paste made of sugar, lemon, and water to get the job done.1 "The paste is put on the skin and hardens like a toffee-type of candy—this hardened 'sugar' is then quickly pulled off the skin and the hair that was on the body comes off with it," explains Kitsos, noting that sugaring doesn't require strips. Die-hard sugarers tout this method of hair removal as it's natural, gentle on sensitive skin types, and it may be less likely to damage the outer skin layer.

I first encountered sugaring at Shobha, a hair removal salon in NYC, but sugaring can be done at home with pre-made kits (just be sure to monitor the temperature of the sugar before applying it so as not to burn your skin). When I used this kit from Parissa, I found that I occasionally needed a second strip to pull out every last hair in one section. That said, it was definitely very gentle on my skin, and I think it's a great option for anyone looking for an alternative to waxing. In terms of results, Kitsos says that they last four to six weeks, with the added benefit of creating finer hair with decreased total density over time.

At-Home Laser

Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X

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While the permanence of the results is certainly tempting, the investment of laser hair removal alone has always scared me away. "Laser hair removal is a procedure where a device emits a beam of light that is selectively absorbed by the root of the hair to destroy it," says Zeichner. "The best candidates are people with light skin and dark hair. It can be used across all hair consistencies, though it is best for coarse hair because there is a larger target for the laser." Our experts note that for safety reasons, at-home laser hair removal devices aren't as powerful as professional ones and may take multiple treatments to see results.3

"With laser hair removal, less is more, as you can burn the skin if you do too many pulses in the same area," advises Kitsos. "If possible, look for a device that protects darker skin tones. IPL devices heat up melanin regardless of where the melanin is, and it cannot differentiate between melanin in the skin and melanin in the hair, which can lead to darker skin tones burning and scarring."

I was pretty pumped to learn about Tria, the first at-home laser device available in the U.S.,4 which has been FDA-cleared for permanent hair reduction. And I was officially impressed when I saw my hair begin to thin out after about a month of use. While the device is fantastic for small areas like your underarms and upper lip, zapping each of my arms definitely takes time. It hurts, too, though less than a doctor-administered treatment (and you can also adjust the energy of the laser to a lower frequency if it's too much).

Waxing

Bliss Poetic Waxing $19.00

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If you want to stick to something a little more in your comfort zone, there's always waxing. "I find waxing and depilatories to be good options for the arms," says dermatologist Dr. Rachel Nazarian of the method. "Depilatories work to dissolve hair, and are often applied for a few minutes, then rinsed off. Waxing can be a quick way to treat larger areas like the arms, and slowly minimizes hair growth over time- decreasing how much you have, and decreasing thickness of the hair follicle, with long term treatments." If you're looking for an at-home wax kit, we like the above kit by Bliss. The kit includes a pre- and post-waxing oil, keeping skincare in mind, and is great for beginners as it works to remove hair at a low-temperature. The only drawback is this method is probably the most time consuming as you may need to reheat the wax frequently.

Key Takeaways

• Waxing, sugaring, or using an epilator removes hair from the root and minimizes hair growth and thickness over continued use. Depending on an individual's rate of hair growth, results typically last up to six weeks.
  
• At-home laser hair removal devices aren't as powerful as professional ones and may take multiple treatments to see results.
• Lightening products offer the least painful method of hair "removal," as they lighten the hair to make it less visible but do not actually remove it.