Shaving
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You want quick, easy and inexpensive
A very popular method because it requires little skill to do at home and isn't painful. The worst part is often trading in hair for irritation, redness and bumps. To get a good shave trim down hair first, use a shaving oil, a quality razor and cream or gel. Afterwards lotion up and exfoliate and moisturize regularly to avoid ingrown hair and keep skin looking healthy.
To save on time, use electric. Try Philips Norelco BodyGroom 2030 or Bliss Philips Bikini Perfect Deluxe.
To make the hair less noticeable, just trim it down using one of the tools above. This works great if the hair isn't very dark or thick.
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Depilatories (Hair Removal Creams)
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You don’t want to pull it out from the root
If pulling the hair out makes you shiver, a hair removal cream is about a step above shaving in terms of how long the hair stays away. Basically the cream breaks down the hair so that it can be wiped off at or possibly a tiny bit below the skin's level.
The chemicals are very strong, so you may get a burn even if you don't leave it on longer than recommended and don't have sensitive skin. They're also known to miss random hair (especially when it's thick) and leave skin feeling dry, tight and itchy.
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Waxing
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Good for long-lasting hair removal
Even though it first needs to be about 1/4" long, waxing removes hair from the root and when done correctly, can be gone for a couple of weeks. While this can be done at home (get how-tos) it's best left to the pros. A crafty and experienced technician will do the job quickly, avoid unnecessary pain and keep you comfortable the entire time.
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Sugaring
Photo © ALETRIS, Scottsdale, AZ
Impatient or have sensitive skin
Like waxing, this technique removes hair from the root. The traditional technique using paste (not the gel) scores extra bonus points as hair only needs to reach 1/16” to be removed- great for those who don't like to wait. Both the gel and paste are made with natural ingredients and don't stick to skin that much so there's less pain and redness compared to waxing.
Sugaring can be done at home (get recipe and instructions for paste and gel), but the paste is especially tricky to use. Professional sugaring generally costs more than waxing, but worth the price.
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Laser / IPL Hair Removal
Image Todd Keith / IStock Photo
Dark body hair and light to medium skin
They use pulsed light to disable the hair follicle with multiple treatments. Those with light to medium skin tones and dark hair are the best candidates as the light targets the pigment (color)- good for hair, bad for skin.Prices vary depending the size of the area, the clinic and area you live. Affordable home devices are available including Tria Laser, Silk'n SensEpil and Remington i-Light Pro.
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Electrolysis
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You would like it gone forever
Using an electric current this method has the best track record as it's the only one approved by the FDA for permanent hair removal. Unlike it's other competitors, laser and IPL hair removal, it can be used on any hair color and skin color. However, electrolysis can be time consuming depending on how large of an area you'd like the hair gone from and multiple treatments are also needed to get the best results.
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Epilators
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You have a high pain threshold and want it pulled out
These bad boys remove the hair for you but take little skill compared to waxing and sugaring as long as you have some growth for them to grab. When done correctly, it also removes the hair out and can last for weeks. Imagine a bunch a little tweezers doing the work for you, electronically.
Most people say that it hurts like mad at first and then you get used to it over time. And epilators are known for causing ingrown hair (see how to avoid).
One that got a good review with my assistant Nicole is Emjoi Emagine (pictured left) which can be used on the body and face using 72 tweezers on dual heads, made for quick hair removal while minimizing pain.
Tweezing
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Great for stragglers
I would never suggest taking out hair one by one on the body. But if you missed a couple strays waxing or see some poking out from where you don't want- a tweezer can be a very handy helper.
