Of all the hair removal methods there are – there are really 3 that come out tops for home use in terms of keeping hair at bay for up to four weeks. These three methods are waxing, home lasers, and epilators. Is one really better than the other? Well, this has been an ongoing debate for forever it seems. Each method has advantages and disadvantages and we’ll take a look at them now side by side.
Waxing
Waxing is a hair removal process, around for centuries, that involves using wax, either hard or soft to remove body hair. The wax is applied to the skin in the direction of hair growth and removed quickly by hand. In the case of soft wax, muslin strips are used to remove the wax. With hard wax, once applied, it hardens up and you pull off from one of the edges. Hair is removed from the root for 4 weeks or more of hair-free skin. Since wax also sticks to the skin, you’ll get the added benefit of some mild exfoliation when hair is removed, leaving skin feeling smooth. Home wax kits allow you the comfort of hair removal from home – the only draw back is it can be messy – not to mention a little painful.
Pro’s
Removes hairhair removal
Con’s
Hair needs to grow out to at least 1/4 of an inch for the wax to hold on to The cost involved – wax needs to be replaced as well as strips or applicators Can be messy Uncomfortable
Home Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removallaser hair removal
Pro’s
Home laser hair removalhair growth
Con’s
Home laser devicesexpensive Takes time
Epilators
An epilator is a small, handheld device that incorporates a “head” of tweezers that pluck out hairs from the root for weeks of smoother skin. When you think about tweezing, you are plucking hairs individually, holding and grabbing each hair as you go. When you epilate, you glide the epilator over the body part you are epilating, allowing a row of tweezers to grab several hairs at a time.
You can epilate on wet or dry skin depending on the device you get. It’s also advisable to give some thought to how you will use it as both corded and cordless models are available. If you think an epilator is the right option for you, it is recommended to buy the best epilator you can afford as the more expensive models come with added extras such as caps or shaver heads and even skincare and exfoliation tools. Shop around though as the options are plentiful.
Pro’s
Can grab hairs as short as a grain of sand – 0.25 cm One-off cost – once purchased, you can use forever Convenient for traveling Uncomfortable
Con’s
Takes a little more time than waxing especially doing larger surface areas such as legs.
Any one of these options make a great choice for keeping body hair at bay for around 4 weeks. We’ve seen the pro’s and con’s associated with each – the cost varies quite a bit too so make sure to shop around to get the best value.
