When you dig around the history of hair removal, it's pretty clear that humans have been trying to get rid of it ever since they've had it. The Neanderthal practiced primitive forms of shaving and hair cutting, perhaps to avoid lice or long, cumbersome locks that would get in the way during a wooly mammoth hunt. Plus, the hairy elders of the tribe would die "earlier" than the less-hairy youth, so there was a misguided link made between hair and beard length and lifespan. As humans evolved, facial hair became a fashion statement, so removing parts of it to achieve whatever look was in vogue became a necessity.
Women in many parts of the world were soon expected to keep their legs and armpits hairless, and when the bathing suit came into play, so did the expectation of a well-groomed bikini line. These days, hair removal is generally viewed as a cosmetic issue -- getting rid of that hairy back or the embarrassing female mustache. Most cultures have acceptable and unacceptable areas and amounts of hair, making it necessary to oblige these unwritten rules to avoid being ostracized. We'll go over five hair removal methods throughout history, from the Neanderthal using abrasive tools to modern laser techniques.
5: Abrasives
Abrasives, or the friction method, have long been used to remove unwanted hair. Ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans are believed to have used dull stones like pumice and the sharper volcano glass to remove hair. This inexpensive and relatively painless process involves using a rough surface to "sand" away fine body hair at the skin's surface. Pumice is still used as a popular abrasive today to not only rid the body of hair, but dead skin cells and calluses as well. There are also gloves and mitts with a built-in abrasive surface. Rubbing the glove on the problem area in a circular motion will remove fine hair and exfoliate and smooth your skin in the process.
4: Threading
Threading, known as khite in Arabic, is another ancient hair removal technique that's regaining popularity today. It involves pulling the hair out by the root using a looped thread, and is typically used to shape eyebrows. The method of literally lassoing unwanted hairs and pulling them out is said to be less painful than plucking. It's also pretty inexpensive and lasts up to six weeks. One Chicago salon charges $5 for both eyebrows. The problem is finding a qualified practitioner. While American cosmetologists aren't trained in threading techniques, it remains popular in India and the Middle East, and is performed in salons in Indian and Muslim neighborhoods in larger cities in the United States.
3: Sugaring
While this may sound like some kind of medieval torture method, it's actually gentler than its close cousin -- hair waxing. Sugaring first came onto the hair removal scene in ancient Egypt, but is enjoying resurgence today in high-end spas and salons. It's like waxing in that a warm paste mixture is applied to the skin, and then removed with a cotton strip. Where it differs is in the level of pain the user experiences. The soft, sugar-based paste only sticks to the hair, not the skin. This makes the removal part of the process easier to bear. The sugar mixture is also cooled to a pleasant room temperature, rather than the hotter wax. Finally, the sugar paste is all-natural, and as a result, easier on the skin than many of the petroleum-based waxes.
2: Electrolysis
If temporary methods of hair removal aren't doing it for you, and you want to get rid of that back hair sticking out from the neck of your T-shirt for good, electrolysis may be a good option. This technique uses a thin metal needle to get to the base of the hair follicle, where it's zapped with an electric current. This effectively cauterizes the hair follicle and prevents future hair growth, if it's performed correctly. The downside is that it can be expensive if you have a large area to cover, and there can be some pain involved. And since each hair is zapped individually, it's fairly time consuming as well. On the plus side, it's been getting proven results since 1875 when it was first performed by Dr. Charles E. Michel to remove ingrown eyelashes [source: Richards]. Just make sure you find an experienced and reputable technician so you can achieve the desired result.
1: Laser
Laser hair removalpermanent hair removal
Lots More Information
Related HowStuffWorks Articles
- Is waxing better for my skin than shaving?
- How often should I tweeze my eyebrows?
- How Hair Removal Creams Work
- How a Brazilian Wax Works
- How do you wax your legs?
- Why do humans have body hair?
Sources
- "Electrolysis for Hair Removal." Hairremovalforum.com. 2009. http://www.hairremovalforum.com/electrolysis.htm
- "Is Sugaring for Me?" Beauty.ivillage.com. 2009. http://beauty.ivillage.com/skinbody/hairremoval/0,,8239,00.html
- James, Andrea. "Hair Removal Methods: Laser History and Current Issues." Quackwatch.org. 2009. http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/Hair/laserhistory.html
- "Laser Hair Removal Resource." Laserhairremoval.com. 2009. http://www.laserhairremovalreview.com/
- "Laser hair removal." Mayoclinic.com. 2009. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/laser-hair-removal/MY00134
- "Methods of hair removal." Hairfacts.com. 2009. http://www.hairfacts.com/methods.html
- "Nine Hair Removal Methods: Choose The Best One for You!" About-hair-removal.com. 2009.http://www.about-hair-removal.com/
- Richards, R.N. ""History of Electrolysis." Electrology.com. 2009. http://www.electrology.com/historyofelectrolysis.htm
- "Use of Abrasives." Hairremovaladvice.com. 2009. http://www.hairremovaladvice.com/abrasives-hair-removal.shtml
- "What hair removal methods are available?" Thehairfacts.com. 2009. http://www.thehairfacts.com/
- Bond, Annie. "Ancient Egyptian Art of Body Sugaring." Care2.com. 2009. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/ancient-egyptian-body-sugaring.html
- Brooks, John. "The Fascinating History Of Hair Removal." Buzzle.com. Oct. 2, 2007.http://www.buzzle.com/articles/the-facinating-history-of-hair-removal.html
- Mulchandani, Roshni. "Beyond the Razor: Modern and Ancient Hair Removal Techniques for Men." Myriad-magazine.com. Feb. 8, 2009. http://www.myriad-magazine.com/2009/02/hair-removal-techniques-for-men/
