Source – CC0 License
The summer season is upon us, meaning many of you will want to spend plenty of hours at the beach. You’re getting ready to sunbathe and enjoy a flawless tan for weeks on end. It’s a real feel-good time of the year, but it also means there’s more beauty maintenance involved.
You don’t have to, but most people choose to shave their legs and bikini line during the summer. It’s mainly because you tend to show more skin when it gets hot, wearing swimsuits, shorts, etc. Your hair removal schedule definitely increases – but which method is the right one for you?
We’ll look at four of the most popular hair removal methods today, detailing how they work, the pros and cons, and who they’re best suited for!
Shaving
Shaving is the most common method of hair removal because it’s cheap, relatively quick, and most people can do it with no problems. As you’re aware, it involves using razors to cut the hair as close to the skin as possible. The main problem with this is that the hair follicles and roots still exist, so they grow back very quickly.
Pros
- The cheapest option of all
- Easy to do at home by yourself
- Not as painful as other methods
- You see instant results
Cons
- Hair grows back really quickly
- If you’re not careful you can cut yourself quite badly
- Some people may experience razor burn
- It’s easy to miss a few spots here and there
- Can be hard to reach certain areas of the body
Overall, shaving is a good idea if you only care about shaving your legs and either don’t need to do it that often or don’t mind doing it once or twice a week. If you have light hair, you can get away with not shaving overly frequently, making this a very cost-effective option.
However, if you want to shave your whole body or are looking for a more long-term solution, shaving probably isn’t the best option for you.
Waxing
If shaving is the most popular hair removal method, waxing comes in at a close second. It can be done at home, though this will provide mixed results. The method is simple – you apply hot or cold wax to the skin and remove it with a wax strip. As a result, it rips the hair from the roots and leaves your skin silky smooth. To get the best results, it’s a smart idea to see a professional waxer – they can also help you remove hair in hard-to-reach places.
Pros
- Can be done at home
- Still fairly affordable
- Results last much longer than shaving as the hair is pulled from the root
- Seeing a professional ensures you don’t miss any areas
Cons
- It can be incredibly painful when the wax strip is pulled off
- Quite common to see bleeding or redness straight after meaning you can’t do it and then immediately go out
- Skin irritation can last for a day or two if you have sensitive skin
- Mixed results when done by yourself
To be honest, waxing is not something most people will enjoy. It is a good idea if you’re going away for a week or two and want long-lasting hair removal so you don’t have to worry about it during your trip. But, in terms of convenience, it’s not up there with shaving or some other methods. It can take a while for the whole process to work, and when done incorrectly can lead to a lot of pain.
If your pain threshold is low, this is not the option for you. It’s also not a good choice if your skin is sensitive and prone to redness.
Laser Hair Removal
Of all methods, laser hair removal is the most complex and innovative. The process involves using special laser technology to target hair follicles. Hairs are exposed to the lasers during treatment, gradually breaking down and dying. Multiple treatments are needed as it only works on hairs during a particular part of the growth cycle. But, with regular appointments, you can see some really long-term results. In fact, laser hair removal is considered a semi-permanent method because it leaves your skin nice and smooth for months after.
Pros
- Provides the longest-lasting results by far
- Fairly pain-free and the lowest risk of damaging yourself
- Destroys hair follicles so they don’t grow back (new hairs can grow again much later on though)
Cons
- Is only really effective when done by professionals
- Tends to be the most expensive option
All in all, laser removal is the best method if you want near-permanent results. If you can afford treatments, it’s worth trying – especially if your hair grows quickly. You can find laser hair removal kits to use at home, but they’re rarely as effective.
The only caveat is that this method works best on people with lighter hair. While laser technology has improved and people with dark hair can get treatment, it’s still more effective on light hair follicles.
Hair Removal Creams
Finally, you could opt for hair removal creams. This involves covering your legs and body in a special cream and leaving it for a few minutes. Chemicals in the cream break down the hairs and make them easy to remove. You simply wipe away the cream and see smooth skin underneath.
Pros
- Delivers better results than shaving
- No risk of cutting yourself
- Not as painful as waxing
- Fairly affordable
- Doesn’t take too long to do
Cons
- Might leave you with a rash or red skin
- Can be itchy if your skin responds badly to the cream
- Some products might not work as well as others
- The creams can smell quite bad
- Unsuitable for sensitive areas of your body, like the bikini line
Hair removal
With all things considered, which hair removal method is the best for you? In all honesty, there’s no reason you can’t use a combination of methods on different parts of your body. Consider shaving sensitive areas and using hair removal creams or waxing on others. For an all-around permanent hair removal solution, lasers are the way to go.
Think about the main things that matter to you – skin sensitivity, time constraints, hair color, hair thickness, hair growth speed, and so on. When you realize your main pain points, it becomes easier to identify the best method. Or, you could try all four for yourself and make a decision that way!
