Sameeha Shaikh
28 May 2020 3:22pm
(Deep breath) Body hair. Like it or loathe it, it’s a topic we're talking about right now. And while it’s clearly not the most important issue facing us all at present, maintaining a sense of self through grooming (if you so choose) is a sure enough way to preserve some normalcy during these incredibly unnerving times. A form of self-care, if you will.
The beauty gadget retailer CurrentBody recently reported a 56 per cent rise in home hair removal purchasing, with questions around this technology leaping by 91 per cent. Emily Buckwell, Head of Brands at CurrentBody, says “We’ve seen many people wanting to maintain some normality with their routines and day-to-day life. People are keeping up with daily exercise at home, manicures and home-dyeing hair to maintain their usual beauty standard, and hair removal is all part of this, especially as we move into the warmer months.”
With many now looking for at-home alternatives, it's fair to say between epilating, depilatory creams and IPL, the world of hair removal can seem a confusing place, especially for those who are currently in between laser treatments and unaware of how to upkeep their progress. The good thing to note is that there are plenty of readily available products to help with any hairy problems you may have while you practice social distancing at home. These are some of the methods to try right now...
Waxing
Originated in ancient Eygpt way back when, waxing remains a popular method of hair removal to this day for its long-lasting results. Suited to all hair types, waxing removes hair from its root, located in the second layer of the skin (the dermis) and as the hair cycle regenerates every 30-45 days, most of us can enjoy hair-free skin for much longer than if we were to use other methods like depilatory creams, which only remove the hair shaft visible on the first layer of the skin (the epidermis). Waxing over time also means that hair will grow back weaker and reduce in quantity.
While your wax therapist can give you the gift of smooth, hair-free legs in just a few swift pulls, achieving the same results at home requires some effort. "Waxing is all about confidence," says Zainab Siddiq at the Ministry of Waxing. "Once the wax is applied to the skin, the removal is the most important step. A strong removal with a supporting stretch on the skin is essential."
Before you start though, Zainab notes that your hair must be at least half a centimetre long so the shaft as well as the root can be removed. If your hair is longer than one and a half centimetres it should be gently trimmed to avoid getting tangled, which could cause undue damage to the epidermis.
For delicate, sensitive areas like the bikini, Zainab recommends hot wax which does not stick to the skin, but adheres to the hair itself - allowing you to get a good and direct pull at the root of this much coarser, terminal hair type. But whatever area you're waxing, "stretch the skin beneath the wax when removing and keep the shape of the wax in a rectangular shape, you should also apply wax in the direction of hair growth and remove against it," says Zainab.
Nair Rose Sugar Wax, £13.99
Read more: Best epilators for less painful hair removal
Shaving
Let's be honest, shaving has been around for millennia. Though quite possibly a prehistoric method of hair removal, it's seen some suave reinventions over time. While it's not the most sophisticated of the bunch, it definitely bears some merit as the quickest, most pain-free method on the market.
With everything from quintuple blades to wet and electric razors on offer, if shaving is your gig, here's what you need to note. First, the difference between wet (your run of the mill tool) and electric shavers is that wet razors cut close to the skin and when the hair is hydrated with water it becomes softer and easier to cut with the device. Electric shavers on the other hand, provide more comfort, less irritation and won't cause nicks in the skin.
Once you've picked your tool, prep is key and Zainab says bi-weekly exfoliation and daily skin hydration is good practice. When you're ready to shave, remember "if the hair is long, shave in the direction of the hair first, then shave against the hair growth, this will stop irritation on the skins surface".
Extra Smooth Swirl Razor, £11.99
Epilating
Epilating your hair can be just as effective as waxing. This small, hand-held device used to remove hair by mechanically grasping multiple shafts simultaneously and pulling them out at the root, is a fairly quick and mess-free method to use.
Should you opt for it, Zainab says "exfoliate the skin prior, hold the machine steady at a 90-degree angle to your skin, and pull the skin tightly with your other hand to ease the glide of the device. Don’t press down too hard or go too fast over the epidermis."
Braun Silk-épil 9 Flex 9010 Wet & Dry, £159
IPL
Used to treat skin conditions such as acne, as well as hair removal, Intense Pulse Light (IPL) machines emit a broad spectrum of light wavelengths which scatter within the skin and target the pigment found in hair. Working similarly to a flash-lamp, the beam of light produced is absorbed by the pigment in the hair and quickly turns to heat which then damages the growing cells that make up the hair, causing a reduction in growth.
While IPL treatments have always been readily available in clinics, advances in at-home technology means you can now employ more permanent solutions to hair removal without leaving the house. Like all lasting hair removal machines, an IPL at-home laser "will require you to remove the shaft of the hair only prior to the treatment which can be done by shaving the area. The root must stay in the dermis to be treated," says Zainab.
Before using the machine, you should also check your suitability as grey or white hair which has lost its melanin cannot be treated and red hair does not have enough pigment to benefit. Similarly, Zainab notes, deeper skin tones with more melanin will need to be more cautious as there is a risk of discolouring and pigmentation.
If you're tempted to get on board with IPL, make sure your skin is tan-free, whether natural or fake. After you've treated the hair avoid anything that can trigger sensitivity, like perfumes, in the first 24 hours and if you decide to sit in the garden be sure to lather yourself in sunscreen.
SmoothSkin Bare+ Ultrafast IPL Hair Removal Device, £179
Laser
A constantly evolving and developing method in the field of hair removal, laser treatments are usually conducted by trained practitioners due to their technical and highly efficacious nature. Unlike IPL, lasers emit one, single pulse of light that travels down the hair follicle and converts into heat energy which cuts off the blood supply to the dermal papilla. As hair is nourished by blood, without a supply, the hair will cease to grow.
The huge popularity of laser means that pre-lockdown many of us will have spent a lump sum on a course of treatments, only to find that our very rigid treatment plan of one session every six weeks is now on a hold. But those who are currently mid-treatment need not worry about any disruption to their hair removal journey. Zainab says, "you can maintain the area by shaving until your next treatment. Do not remove the hair from the root as this will interfere with the laser treatment".
Zainab adds, "The strength and power of a professional laser machine will be greater than any device that can be purchased for homecare removal. That said, with the uncertainty of how long one will not be able to attend a salon, a home device can maintain the hair reduction in the meantime".
Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X, £279
Feeling left out, men? Head over to our guide to the best beard trimmers.
