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Email this articleDefuzzing the fuss of hair removal
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Weighing pros and cons of products designed to leave you less hair-ried
By Jessica Lander
Summer means it's time to strip down to the bare minimum in clothing. It also means dealing with the hassles of denuding oneself of unsightly hairs. Most treatments adhere to the adage: no pain, no gain.
Or are there exceptions?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, women (and men) spend millions of dollars each year on products to remove hair. For do-it-yourselfers, it's time to start shaving off some of that cost by getting the product that will work best for you.
DEFUZZING METHODS
Waxing
How long it lasts: three to six weeks
Pros: When waxing, hair is removed at the root level, taking it longer for regrowth to appear. This leaves skin smooth for a long time.
Cons: Pain. Hairs are ripped out at the root while also taking off the top layer of skin. Waxing produces inflammation that lasts for about a day. A do-it-yourself job can get messy if you don't have the finesse to keep the wax strictly on the applicator. Many people do not like the growing-out period required between waxes. It can be costly. Waxing is most effective when done by a professional.
Final verdict: This is by far the most effective way to keep hair growth at bay during bare season. Roll-on waxes eliminate some of the mess, as long as you can keep them clean. Sugar or honey wax kits work the same and include the same ouch factor.
Avoiding waxing woes: Wax works best when the hair is about ¼-inch long, so allow it to grow before attempting it or you'll really know the meaning of pain with no gain. People with diabetes should avoid waxing because they are more susceptible to infection. Also, teens using acne products should avoid waxing, as their skin will be more sensitive.
Shaving
How long it lasts: one to three days.
Pros: Shaving is by far the least expensive form of hair removal. You can opt for shaving creams or gels for extra moisturizing, but this is not necessary. If you do use a cream, remember there is no difference between male and female shaving creams. Save money by getting a scentless men's cream.
Cons: Shaving lasts the shortest amount of time of any hair-removal product. It also produces rashes, bumps, nicks and ingrown hairs.
Final verdict: For the best results, use a clean razor with a sharp blade. Wet your skin and let it soften before shaving. Shaving is actually a natural exfoliator. Dry shaving will clog the razor, as well as increase the risks for nicks and rashes.
Shaving nicks and tricks: Got bad scarring or cuts from shaving? Who doesn't? Apply Vitamin K gel daily to your legs to reduce the appearance of scars. Skin is super sensitive right after shaving, so let it rest for at least 30 minutes afterward before apply moisturizers to prevent inflammation. Style.com recommends using witch hazel or hydrogen peroxide after shaving to calm skin while also disinfecting cuts. Both products can also lighten regrowth, which reduces the frequency of shaving needed.
Avoiding ingrown hairs: Shaving can cause ingrown hairs, especially with women of color. To avoid this problem, always make sure you are using a sharp, clean blade. Try shaving only when necessary, not every day, and always do so after you have shampooed and conditioned your hair so your legs have time to moisturize. Use a cream or soap, not just water.
Hair-removal creams
(depilatories)
How long it lasts: Several days to two weeks.
Pros: Depilatories are chemical hair-removal products. Most come in a cream, gel or lotion. According to the Food and Drug Administration, hair-removal creams contain a highly alkaline chemical that dissolves the protein structure of hair. They're inexpensive and easy to find at any drugstore.
Cons: Hair creams are messy, smelly and commonly cause rashes, burns and serious inflammation, and not just for people with sensitive skin. Some people are even known to bleed from their pores after using them.
Final verdict: Never keep the product on longer than the recommended time. Never use to remove eyebrow hair. Do a skin test on a small area to check for sensitivity and effectiveness, as well as any allergic reaction. Use a calming cream or let skin soak after use to reduce inflammation.
Epilators
Pros: Epilators use a tweezer and electrical system to remove hair at the root while also allegedly killing the hair follicle, making the removal permanent. Epilators can be found at many drugstores today.
Cons: This system is hardly ever "permanent" and is very expensive. It also really, really HURTS. Ingrown hairs are common. Hair grows back irregularly, requiring you to tweeze between treatments.
Final verdict: This is best on small, hard-to-reach areas, rather than large areas. Soak skin afterward to reduce redness. Have a good pair of tweezers on hand to use on spots that are missed.
RATING PRODUCTS
Here's the lowdown on some products I've tried:
Nads hair-removal gel
Price: $19.99
Nads falls somewhere between a wax and a hair-removal cream. It works like both, but eliminates the pain factor, is less smelly and also less painful. Many scent varieties are available to make hair removal seem more like a spa treatment. It doesn't last as long as waxing, about four weeks tops, but it's more effective than a cream.
Schick Intuition razor (or Intuition Plus)
Price: $7.50 for the razor, $8 for replacement cartridges
Options abound in the razor world for shavers, but by far I have found the Schick Intuition or Intuition Plus to be the best. Both razors are exclusively equipped with a soaplike moisture bar wrapped around the triple-blade shaving head for extra moisture and a smoother shave. Legs come out of the shower feeling smooth and moist, no lotion required. The blades also adjust based on the angle of shaving and pressure applied for less nicks. Replacement cartridges are costly, but after years of suffering the effects of cheapo razors, the close, smooth shave provided by Intuition is well worth the cost.
Nair Lasting Effects hair-
removal roll-on wax
Price: $9.99
Nair's roll-on wax was one of the easiest waxing treatments available. There is minimal mess, as long as you clean the roller after each use. There's still the ever-present ouch factor of waxing, but such is waxing. The pain factor keeps it out of the No. 2 spot, but this low-priced product is definitely worth trying the next time you try a do-it-yourself wax.
Bic Soleil razors
Price: $5.79
This razor is cheaper than the Intuition and works relatively well for a small razor. It has a more effective moisture bar at the top than most of its ilk, and this one seems to actually moisturize. You'll still need to let your legs soak and use at least some soap. Nicks were less frequent. This product was the most cost effective for its performance value.
Nair hair-removal sensitive formula cream
Price: $5.99
As a general rule, I avoid hair removal creams, but this one seems to work well, while not making the skin break out in a painful chemical rash. Just make sure not to leave the cream on a second longer than your "test" indicated. The smell is still unpleasant, but not overpowering. Hair growth stays away for anywhere between a week and four weeks, making this cream the superior and effective way to go.
Epilady Legend
Price: $59.95
The Epilady Legend gives a lot of bang for its buck (which it should at the price it costs), but it is not for the faint of heart. It is certainly the most painful hair-removal product, as well as the most expensive. It pulls the hair from the root, and an electrical current is supposed to kill the hair follicle, making the treatment permanent. That's not really the case. It does keep hair at bay for about a month, but the ouch factor and price cancel out that value. You're better off sticking to a wax.
Source: Dayton Daily NewsAll rights reserved.