From the annoying peach-fuzz hair on your cheeks to the out-of-control bikini line, plus all the armpits, legs and brows in between – here’s the real mum’s guide to body hair removal methods, without touching a razor for this summer and beyond.
We have nothing against a traditional razor, however, these days there are SO many other ways to take on body hair, many of which you may not have considered!
Top body hair removal tips:
- Take a pain reliever before your hair removal appointment. If you suspect it’s going to hurt, be prepared.
- Exfoliate before hair removal, it’s the only way to get the silkiest, smoothest finish. Hair AND dead skin be gone!
- Don’t wear makeup. If you’re having hair removed from your face it’s a good idea to be fresh-faced. That way you won’t leave the salon looking like a zebra, nor will you have makeup being wiped around your face.
- Don’t undertake any new hair removal techniques on the day of an event. Allergic reactions CAN happen and ‘chicken skin’ can be sore and itchy.
- Having an intimate wax when you have your period generally isn’t a good idea. Your skin is more sensitive at this time of the month.
Moral support when waxing is always a good idea. via GIPHY
7 types of body hair removal that aren’t a traditional razor
1. Dermaplaning
PROS: A silky smooth face for your makeup and smug skin cell collection
CONS: Using a scalpel on your face is terrifying for first-timers
With the tiniest scalpel razor there ever was, shaving your face is now a thing. Whether you do it yourself or have a professional do it for you, dermaplaning is proving to have some amazing benefits for your skin.
Not only are you removing that fine ‘peach fuzz’ hair from your face (hello, hormones), but it also removes dead skin cells on the skin’s surface. It’s all worth it though, your face is a hair-free and smooth, glowing canvas for the next 4-6 weeks. It’s best to have a professional show you the correct dermaplaning technique, the first time around.
2. Eyebrow threading
PROS: No risk of burning and you can get a precise eyebrow shape
CONS: It takes longer than waxing and finding a perfect therapist can be exhausting
Eyebrow threading is exactly what the name suggests – it’s the process of removing eyebrow hairs using a piece of thin cotton thread. Much like epilation, threading removes the entire hair, including the root. It’s a quick hair removal treatment so don’t be alarmed if your technician holds the thread in their teeth as they twist and move it across your face – it’s all part of the process!
3. Hair removal depilatory cream
PROS: It’s quick and pain-free
CONS: It often stinks like a wet dog and you’ll have pubic hair confetti in your shower
Perfect for those more sensitive areas – *cough* bikini line, we’re looking at you – depilatory cream is in a league of its own.
Simply smooth the depilatory cream thickly over the body hair you wish to remove, wait the instructed time (normally 10 minutes) and then wash the cream, AND THE HAIR, away. It’s painless and results last around a week before hair starts poking through again. Use depilatory cream on the face, legs, bikini area and underarms.
4. Laser hair removal
PROS: Individual sessions are done quickly
CONS: The zapping can be uncomfortable and expensive
Safe, effective and hygienic, medical-grade laser hair removal is reportedly fantastic at hair removal and permanent hair reduction. Be warned though, it’s not a one-hit-wonder, it’s a process.
SILK Laser Clinic advises 10 laser sessions, six weeks apart – so you’re looking at around 14 months of treatments. From then, you’ll need maintenance treatments every six months. If you’re a brunette, great – but if you have red, grey or blonde hair the chances of Laser working on your hair is slim, as the laser is attracted to dark pigment hair follicles only.
5. Hand-held epilator
PROS: You can do it at home, on holiday, heck even in the car.
CONS: You need to exercise your pain threshold muscle to not give up
Similar to waxing but without any of the mess, an epilator plucks hair straight from the root. Some epilator models can be used wet or dry and usually, there are a couple of speed settings to choose from. The slower you go, the more effective it is in plucking hair out (think of it as a group of tweezers at work)!
This method of body hair removal can be a little uncomfortable but apparently, the discomfort eases the more you do it.
6. Intense Pulsed Light hair removal (IPL)
PROS: You can buy a machine for home use, no ingrown hairs
CONS: Not suitable for lighter hair colours
The closest thing to laser hair removal from the comfort of your own home, IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) gets rid of unwanted hair ANYWHERE on your body. IPL uses focused light wavelengths that generate heat, burning the growth cells in the hair. It’s a treatment best suited for women with darker hair. Impressive!
Even better, for busy mums, you can skip the salon visit and do your own IPL from home with machines like the Philips Lumea IPL Prestige, $891.
7. Classic waxing
PROS: It’s quick and you can do it from home.
CONS: This is in no way a pain-free picnic, holy Batman, ouch.
From your eyebrows to your lady garden, there really is no place wax can’t go. But holy smokes if you’re a first-timer, it’s best to leave it to the professionals.
The maintenance for waxing can be a fair bit, every six weeks or so you’ll need to revisit the salon to keep your face or body hair free which can hurt the hip pocket. Alternatively, you can buy wax kits for home which is a whole new level of bravery.
Sounds straightforward forward right? Kind of. There are different types of wax available to use when waxing body hair, here’s a quick, eye-watering run down:
- Soft wax – this is spreading a thin layer of warm wax on top of the skin with a wooden stick or roller. A cotton strip is then put over the top and pulled off, removing the hair. Typically used on large areas like arms and legs.
- Hard wax – forget the cotton cloth, hard wax is applied warm to the skin, spreading on sensitive areas like the top lip, underarms, and bikini area. The wax sets hard when cooled and then pulled off.
- Fruit wax – recommended for sensitive-skinned babes, fruit wax is loaded with fruit extracts and is antioxidant-rich and nourishes the skin. It’s gentler on the skin than any other wax and doubles as a skincare treatment.
- Chocolate wax – an anti-inflammatory wax, chocolate wax contains glycerine and skin-loving oils like almond and soybean, which make it ideal for skin that is prone to redness.
- Sugar wax – made from sugar, lemon and hot water, sugar wax is all natural and perfect for sensitive skin. It doesn’t stick to the skin, only the hair, so can be used multiple times. Zesty!
Yowsers. via GIPHY
That’s that, folks. Seven alternative methods of body hair removal for you to tackle this summer. Which one do you think is best for you – or if you are a razor kind of gal through and through, let us know in the comments below.
