It can be pretty difficult to navigate through all of the hair-removal related brands and products on the market to make sure that you are only using cruelty free products.
It doesn’t make things easier when many smaller brands that do not test on animals are actually owned by larger brands that do.
We are here to help you find the best cruelty free hair removal method that suits your needs and your lifestyle. All of our solutions are for both men and women.
Cruelty Free Hair Removal
Shaving
Hair Removal Creams
Waxing & Sugaring
Epilating
Laser Hair Removal & Electrolysis
Shaving
You may wonder why razors are not automatically cruelty free. It’s true that in general razor blades are not tested on animals, but most of the main disposable razor manufacturers also create products that are tested on animals.
Gillette, for example, may not test their Venus razors on animals, but they sell other products such as shaving creams that contain ingredients that have been tested on animals.
There are unfortunately not too many 100% cruelty free cartridge razors on the market, but you can safely purchase a Preserve or a King of Shaves razor as both are confirmed to be completely cruelty free.
Preserve’s razors are also made from recycled materials, and their moisture strip is 100% vegan.
If you are interested in having a cruelty free and green shave, you may want to consider transitioning to a safety razor. Most safety razors are cruelty free, such as Jack Black (confirmed by PETA), and one safety razor will last for years, even a lifetime with good care.
As a rule of thumb, if the company only sells razors then they are most likely cruelty free. There is a small learning curve that comes with using a safety razor effectively, but men and women quickly feel the difference in shaving quality.
Most don’t look back after the transition is complete. While more environmentally friendly, the monetary savings are also pretty interesting!
Shaving gels, creams, soaps and foams often contain ingredients that have at some point in time been tested on animals, or contain ingredients that have been derived from animals such as glycerin.
You can make your own shaving creams and soaps but if you are a little strapped for time then there are quite a few options available on the market.
Kiss My Face, Alba Botanica, Avalon Organics and The Body Shop all sell cruelty-free shaving creams for men and women in scented and unscented versions.
Lush is also a great brand to consider for cruelty free, green and vegan products.
As with cartridge razors, many electric razor brands also sell other products that have been tested on animals.
According to the PETA database you can safely by a Conair shaver or trimmer, in both male or female versions.
Hair Removal Creams
The most popular brands, Veet and Nair, may be great quality products but their products have either been tested on animals or contain ingredients that have been tested on animals.
There is a good Australian brand called Nad’s that sells cruelty free hair removal creams for men and women, and they are also great for people with sensitive skin. (Update 12th May, 2017 - Tara in the comments below correctly pointed out that the product contains honey, so isn't a strictly a cruelty-free product).
Waxing & Sugaring
Most professional and store-sold waxes contain either ingredients that have been tested on animals, or animal-derived products such as beeswax.
If you want to continue to wax but also want to stay completely cruelty free, sugaring is the way to go.
You can make your own sugaring paste at home from sugar, lemons and water. A well-prepared sugaring paste is used at room temperature and can be applied to any area of the body.
There is an easy technique to use, and you may find that sugaring is less painful than regular waxing as it only adheres to the hair, not the skin.
Beware of a service advertised as “sugaring wax” in spas and salons – this is often a blend of sugaring paste and wax. Always ask if the location provides a traditional sugaring service.
Tweezing and threading are also great alternatives to waxing, but mainly on smaller areas such as the eyebrows or upper lip.
Epilating
If you have a preference for epilators there are quite a few options available for you.
Braun should be avoided as they are owned by Proctor and Gamble who are well-known to sell products that have been tested on animals.
PETA deems both Philips Norelco and Conair to be cruelty free, so there are quite a few choices out there. As a rule of thumb if you go with an electronics-only company you should be fine.
Using an epilator is also a lot more environmentally friendly than using disposable razors, so there is that to keep in mind.
Laser Hair Removal & Electrolysis
If you are tired of using the temporary options and are willing to make the investment in a more long-term solution then both laser hair removal and electrolysis are great options.
Electrolysis works better on smaller areas such as the face, and it is currently the only hair removal method that is approved by the FDA to provide permanent results.
Laser hair removal is a great method to obtain a good percentage of hair reduction, as long as you are the right candidate.
It may take a few sessions for the results of both methods to become apparent, but in the long run you should see a big difference in hair growth.
These treatments are definitely something to keep in mind if you are looking to significantly remove your growth of body hair.
