Facial hair removal techniques are many. But which one is right for you?
Hair removal often comes at a price – it’s expensive to maintain, it can hurt (a lot) and can wear and tear your skin beyond comfort to the point where scarring is involved. Well, the thing is, there’s no all-natural, pain-free remedy for hair removal once and for all – at least not yet – but there are ways to do it in the least harshest, safest way possible that lets your skin be clear of unwanted hair whilst preserving the youth of your skin. Your job is to filter through the options to find which one is best for you and your skin type.
1. Waxing
These days, waxing is quite safe, since there has been a shift from petroleum-based waxes to soy-based ones. It can also be inexpensive relative to other hair removal techniques and, despite the short pain spurts, it’s a one-and-done deal. You may experience slight redness on the area waxed after a session, but it goes away within a few hours. Be sure to keep the area moisturized with a natural oil. Waxing removes hair from the root but is not permanent and will require regular and frequent upkeep. It is also important to get waxed by someone who keeps up with sanitation standards and properly disinfects the area before waxing.
2. Laser
Laser hair removal involves a pulsating light that is absorbed by the melanin in hair follicles, ultimately destroying the hair. Laser hair removal is fit for those with light skin and dark hair. If you have dark skin and dark hair, laser hair removal can cause a burn. It is generally safe, but be sure to ask the practitioner what types of creams and topical treatments he or she applies to your skin before and after, as those may cause irritation. Each treatment comes at a cost – some $150 to $500 a pop!
3. Electrolysis
Electrolysis is permanent hair removal that sends an electric current to the root of the follicle by use of a needle. It is quite tedious, painful and time consuming, as each follicle is targeted one at a time. Each session ranges between $50 and $100, and you’ll need many to finish the job – up to 25! I personally do not like this option for facial hair as I found from personal experience that it can risk scarring the skin or causing the affected area to look withered and older once healed.
4. Depilatories
Such creams are designed to dissolve hair at the skin, not messing with the root. The ingredients in these creams are far from natural and are full of toxic materials. While this method is generally safe, it exposes your skin to chemicals and runs the risk of causing a rash.
5. Shaving
The method we all know and have a love/hate relationship with, shaving has stood the test of time, and for good reason. It cuts the hair at the skin and is safe if done carefully. If you use a non-toxic shaving cream, you aren’t doing your body any harm. However, shaving must be done quite regularly to keep up with growth. Also, if you shave to often, you can irritate hair follicles and cause ingrown hairs and other unpleasant side effects. And, rest assured, contrary to popular belief and heresy, shaving does not make your hair thicker than before!
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Tags: body hair, electrolysis, facial hair, hair, male waxing, wax, waxing
