The warmer weather of summer is around the corner and the layers of cold-weather clothing are finally being shed. With more skin exposed, proper prep and protection are required. In addition to a good daily sunscreen and body lotion, many of us may want an effective hair-removal product as well.
Hair removal services at a salon or spa can be expensive and inconvenient, but at-home products can deliver comparable results. With so many hair removal products available on the market today, the trick is just in finding the right one.
The most popular at-home hair removal products fall into five categories: Razors that cut the hair on the surface of the skin, depilatory creams that chemically dissolve hair, waxing or sugaring to rip hair from the root, epilators that electronically pull hair out, and Intense Pulsed Light (ILP) therapy that uses light to permanently remove hair over time.
Razors
From face fuzz to leg and underarm hair, razors are a classic and quick method for achieving silky-smooth hair-free skin. Shaving is an easy and inexpensive option, especially on a time crunch, but can cause nicks, cuts, and irritation. For a more effective shave, moisturize your skin before you begin with a shaving cream, conditioner, or body wash (just remember to rinse the blade).
Dermaplaning is not advised for those with sensitive skin, acne, or active eczema. It’s also important to note that shaving does not cause hair to grow back thicker or darker, so dermaplaning does not cause textural changes in hair regrowth.
Gillette
Get an ultra-close shave with the Gillette Venus Embrace Razor. Five curve-hugging razor blades and a moisture gel strip for a smooth glide provide unsurpassed comfort without missing a hair.
This razor leaves skin feeling dramatically smoother even longer than the original Venus 3-blade razor, and the sleek handle has an enhanced grip for shaving any area with ease. It also includes two refill cartridges.
Japonseque
Or, treat yourself to the salon experience of dermaplaning at home with Japonesque’s Dermaplaner Facial Razors. These ultra-sharp and precise Japanese stainless steel blades remove facial hair and peach fuzz while gently exfoliating the top layer of the skin.
By removing surface debris like dead skin cells, these facial razors clear for better skincare absorption from serums to moisturizers. It also creates a smoother surface for flawless makeup application.
To use, start with a clean, dry. While holding the skin taut with one hand, use the other to hold the razor at a 45-degree angle and work in small sections with short, downward strokes. It’s best to avoid the sensitive eye area, hairline, and sides of the nose.
Wipe the blade with a cloth between passes and always clean it with alcohol before and after use. Apply any typical skincare products after dermaplaning, and cover the blade with the included protective cap when not in use. Be sure to also replace the blade with a new one when it begins to dull, and only dermaplane at home once a week.
Stacked Skincare
Stacked Skincare’s Dermaplaning Tool also removes facial hair, exfoliates, helps skincare products penetrate more effectively, and smooths the skin’s surface for more flawless makeup. But in addition, it also combats dryness, clogged pores, dark spots, signs of aging, and uneven skin textures when used regularly over time.
This award-winning, aesthetician-developed tool has a sterile, single-edge, surgical stainless-steel blade with 5% nickel and instantly reveals a smoother, brighter, more luminous complexion. The large blade is designed to cover more surface area in less time and is replaceable as well. Each blade lasts for four weeks with the recommended once-a-week facial.
The durable, reusable aluminum handle has the perfect weight for blade control and no-slip comfort in the hand.
Use this tool in the same manner as the Japonesque Dermaplaner described above, or by following Stacked Skincare’s diagrams:
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Dermaflash
Another award-winning hair removal device is the Dermaflash Luxe+ Advanced Sonic Dermaplaning + Peach Fuzz Removal. This one incorporates boosted sonic speed for superior—yet gentle—anti-aging exfoliation, improved cellular turnover, and easy removal of peach fuzz and dead skin, which is clinically proven to improve skin tone and texture over time.
This dermaplaning tool glides effortlessly over the skin to remove debris, dead skin cells, and facial hair to instantly reveal a silky-smooth canvas for makeup application. The microfine edges provide ultimate closeness and precision while the safety features deliver maximum comfort and protection with no nicks or scrapes.
A consumer panel survey on Dermaflash’s website shows that after 4 weeks of use, 100% of users saw an instant improvement in skin texture, 100% said skincare absorbed faster after use, 100% said it effectively removed peach fuzz, and 97% instantly saw brighter, more radiant skin.
After cleansing with the Preflash Cleanser, use the same technique as described above on dry skin, then apply any skincare products.
This aesthetician-recommended device is suitable for all ages, skin types, and tones, including sensitive skin. The set includes the Luxe+ dermaplaning device, four single-use micro fine edges, the Preflash Cleanser, and a charging cable and base.
Depilatory Creams
Containing the chemical thioglycolate mixed with either sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide, depilatory creams melt hair away by disrupting the chemical (disulfide) bonds that hold skin and hair cells together. They remove the hair shaft but not the hair root, so hair will grow back. After leaving the cream on for three to fifteen minutes (depending on the instructions), the hair is simply wiped away.
These creams are great for larger areas like legs, and work of thicker, coarser hair as well with longer-lasting results than shaving. However, the chemicals can be abrasive or irritating, so always start with a patch test before committing to a large area of skin.
Sally Hansen
Dermatologist-tested, Sally Hansen’s Cream Hair Remover Kit is ideal for use on cheeks, jawline, upper lip, and chin, but be sure to avoid the hairline, eye area, and brows. This kit includes the Cream Hair Remover and Aftercare Extrasmooth Skin Conditioning Lotion. Infused with vitamin E to soften and smooth the skin and willow herb and pumpkin seed extracts to reduce the appearance of hair regrowth, this kit gives fast and pain-free hair removal results.
Nair
A true classic, the Nair Hair Removal Lotion with Aloe & Lanolin is a depilatory cream designed for the body. The dermatologist-tested formula removes unwanted body hair and wipes it away in as little as minutes for hair-free skin that lasts for days.
Aloe and lanolin also soothe and moisturize the skin while helping to prevent irritation. This lotion has a fresh, clean scent that doesn’t overpower and is suitable for most skin types, but should not be used on the face.
SoftSheen-Carson
SoftSheen-Carson’s Magic Shaving Powder works just like magic by removing the thickest, coarsest hair with ease. After combining the can’s powder with water, the paste will wipe away hair in four to ten minutes while keeping razor burn at bay.
Waxing/Sugaring
Another typical hair-removal technique, waxing pulls hair out by the root for results that last for three or six weeks at a time. For the best results, however, you should wait until your hair is a quarter-inch long, and be careful not to burn your skin with too-hot wax.
Sugaring is similar to waxing but replaces warm wax with a natural, sugary, honey-like substance. While it still pulls hair out like regular wax, anything left on the skin can easily wash away as sugar is water-soluble.
Both of these methods can cause irritation, redness, and ingrown hairs, so be sure to read all the instructions and wax with care.
GiGi
The GiGi Cream Wax Microwave Kit includes a gentle wax formula that is heated in the microwave to comfortably remove unwanted hair and reveal soft, smooth skin with no residue. Recommended for even sensitive skin types, the kit also includes the brand’s Pre Hon Cleanser to prep the skin, Wax Off to remove residue, Post Wax Concealer to reduce irritation and prolong the effects of waxing, Slow Grow to help slow hair regrowth, five small spatula applicators, five large spatula applicators, 10 small muslin strips, and 10 large muslin strips.
Sugar Me Smooth
A more natural alternative to waxing (as the paste contains only sugar, lemon juice, and water), many consider sugaring less irritating to the skin as it only adheres to the hair. Unlike wax, the sugaring paste does not need to be heated, but the “flicking” motion needed takes some practice. Sugaring is also safe for both the face and body.
Included in the Sugar Me Smooth Body Hair Removal System is one Prepping Powder (2 oz), one Body Sugaring Paste (6.2 oz), one Soothing Solution (2 oz), and two large reusable flicker applicators.
Epilator
An epilator is an electric device that removes unwanted hair by using small, fast-moving discs to grip and painlessly pull the follicle at its root without nicks, burns, or irritation. Gentle on all skin types, it will not cause hair to grow back faster or thicker.
Revele
The Revele Final Touch Facial Hair Remover has a built-in LED light to illuminate the area and make hair removal easier. Ideal for even the finest hairs on the cheeks, chin, upper lip, and eyebrows and around the size of a mascara tube, this epilator device is super portable and convenient for on-the-go touch-ups and travel.
The removable precision head allows for easy cleaning, but the device does require two AA batteries not included. It is also dermatologist-approved and hypoallergenic.
IPL
IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy is a more permanent solution to hair removal. It relies on directing light at the pigmentation in the hair, thereby heating, damaging, and killing the cells that cause hair to grow. This procedure can cause some pain, but it’s comparable to a mild sunburn or being flicked with a small rubber band.
Slight swelling is also common and can last for several days, but the results are eventually permanent. Living hair follicles treated with IPL are completely destroyed and typically won’t grow back. It is recommended to use an at-home IPL device once a week, but for faster results, it can be used two times a week.
Kenzzi
The Kenzzi IPL Hair Removal Handset safely removes unwanted hair anywhere it grows on the face or body and stops it from growing back for long-term hair reduction. With its large light window that covers more skin surface and requires fewer light flashes, the average treatment time for the legs, underarms, and face is just nine minutes.
Most see full, long-term hair removal results after 12 uses, as well as noticeable hair reduction after just three or four. Some experience complete and permanent hairlessness while others require periodic touch-ups.
IPL is suitable for all but the darkest skin tones because the device needs a contrast in hair color and skin tone to target the melanin pigments and interact with them properly. For that same reason, it also may not be as effective on light blonde, red, or white hair on very fair skin tones.
To use, start by shaving the area you want hairless. Plug in and turn the device on, then select the intensity level. Working in sections, hold the light window flush against the skin and click the large button on the front to activate the light flash, repeating until the entire area has been covered.
After the session, be sure to moisturize the entire area.
For questions, concerns, or article ideas, feel free to reach out to our eCosmetics Beauty Editor directly at beauty@ecosmetics.com
