Hair Removal Tips

Hair removal has been in vogue for many thousands of years and ancient Arabians as well as people of South Asia practiced methods of hair removal like threading and waxing for removal of hair to achieve smooth, silky skin.

Hair Removal Tips

More and more people are keener than ever to do away with face fuzz, hair on the armpits, legs, bikini line and any other body parts, especially women. While the old stand-by, shaving, has given way to bleaching, waxing and newer treatments like lasers, the latest to join the fuzz-busters gang is Vaniqa.

Vaniqa is a prescription-only topical cream that has been FDA-approved for reducing and inhibiting the growth of unwanted facial hair. The active ingredient in Vaniqa is eflornithine hydrochloride, used to treat African sleeping sickness and certain cancers and this product works by inhibiting an enzyme that is needed for cell reproduction and other cell functions necessary for hair growth. Application requirement is twice daily to areas of unwanted facial hair with noticeable results observed after 4-8 weeks of therapy. Its makers claim that Vaniqa continues to reduce facial hair growth for up to 8 weeks after discontinuing treatment.

Shaving is a temporary method of hair removal since it cuts the hair off at the skin surface and is fast to put into practice. Shaving for hair removal is recommended only after applying moisturizer to the skin, like water, shaving gel, body wash or hair conditioner, to help the razor glide over the skin so it does not cut or scrape it.

Waxing is popular in many cultures as it keeps hair growth away for a longer time than other methods. Waxing also removes superficial tanning from the skin and makes it smooth as dead cells are removed. It is especially effective in removing large amounts of hair at one time and involves using previously warmed wax, spreading it over a section of the skin in the direction of hair growth, then applying a clean cloth or disposable waxing strip over it, patting it in place then, after ensuring the hair has become embedded in the wax, quickly puling it off in the opposite direction of the hair growth. This action pulls out hairs from the follicles. Another version of waxing includes cold waxes, available usually attached to strips, which are patted onto the skin. Caution is advised when waxing as excessively heated wax can burn the skin.

Depilatories and Electrolysis are other favorable methods of hair removal. A depilatory is applied to the area with unwanted hair and left on for 3 to 15 minutes, during which time the chemical dissolves the hair and the resulting substance is wiped/washed off after the appropriate time to reveal smooth skin. Electrolysis involves inserting a fine needle into the hair follicle and applying an electrical current to the follicle root. This procedure actually burns the hair root, theoretically preventing it from producing more hair and though it is slow and expensive, electrolysis is great for permanent hair removal.