Dare to Go Bare

A Look into the Consuming Process of Hair Removal

by Stephanie Jimenez

In a recent study more than 75 percent of women expressed having unwanted hair.  But what causes unwanted hair growth?  How much body hair we have depends on our genetics, yes, but it also depends on our hormone levels.  While there are many ways you can remove unwanted hair, the list of options can be very confusing at times and for that very reason we chose a few of the most common hair removal techniques.  Along with a few pros and cons, we hope the following helps educate you in making you choice.
Shaving is the most common way to remove unwanted hair.  While the effects are temporary, lasting around one to three days, it is generally painless, fast and cheap.  Shaving involves using a razor and a moisturizing shaving cream/gel containing aloe vera and vitamin E, which reduces skin irritation.  Side effects of shaving include: stubble, cuts, ingrown hair and skin irritation.  Contrary to popular belief, shaving does not cause hair to grow in thicker.
Waxing is another temporary hair removal process, although its effects generally last from three to eight weeks, making it a better long-term hair removal solution.  Waxing involves using warm or cold wax that is applied to the skin and then quickly removed.  It is an effective treatment but it can also get a little pricy depending on how often you frequent your salon, and is best suited for large areas of hair, including the legs and the pubic area.  Negative side effects include temporary pain and ingrown hair for some.
An ancient technique of hair removal, threading is especially popular in Arabic countries; eyebrow threading is the most popular form of threading.  Threading uses a long twisted loop that is rotated to create coils that trap the hair, which is pulled from the skin and broken off.  Threading can lead to pain, scarring and ingrown hair.  It is an inexpensive way to remove unwanted hair and results last about a week; however, threading has the added benefit of causing hair to become thinner over time.
Electrolysis is a hair removal process in which needles send an electric pulse into the hair follicle, thereby hindering future hair growth.  This technique is especially recommended for those with more body hair as well as coarser body hair.  A slow process, electrolysis is nevertheless effective, offering more long-term results after multiple sessions.  The cost of the treatment depends on the professional performing the service, but it can range from $50 to $100 per session.  Side effects can include scarring, pain and in rare cases, bacterial and viral infections.
Another hair removal technique relatively new to the beauty world is laser hair removal.  It is a long-term hair removal technique and about four to six sessions are generally needed in order to remove hair permanently.  In this technique, a laser pulse is used to destroy hair.  However, laser hair removal can be very costly.  Just like Electrolysis, the costs is truly dependant on the professional performing the service, but small areas can cost around $1,000 while removing hair from the bikini area costs roughly $1,200.  Laser hair removal is recommended for women with more body hair that is also coarser in texture.