Armpit hair on women is like mosquitos. They are annoying, we don’t want them near us, and quite frankly, we do not understand why they even exist in the first place. For many years we have been exploring, trying and testing various ways to remove unwanted body hair. And so far, we have narrowed it down to five hair removal methods.
Shaving
This immediate, cost-effective, convenient and short term solution to hair removal is probably the most common one. You can do it yourself, and at your own pace, it is, however, a short term solution as hair growth will start to show within a couple of days. There are some negative aspects to shaving, such as cutting yourself, ingrown hairs, folliculitis, irritated, inflamed skin, and not to mention the time and effort it takes up.
A recent survey conducted online showed that shaving voted the most hated beauty ritual and that women spend about 72 days shaving their legs alone in their lifetime. Let’s face it, shaving sucks.
Waxing
This method is a form of semi-permanent hair removal which removes hair from the root. It works as an exfoliating treatment, waxing can be slightly painful for some, and if not done correctly may damage the hair follicle and irritate the surface of the skin.
Hair growth from waxing can be seen after 4-5 weeks in the area treated. However, there are some adverse effects to long term waxing such as skin losing its elasticity, redness and itching after the treatment.
Epilator
An epilator is an electrical device that mechanically removes hair by grasping multiple strands simultaneously and then pulling them out. How epilators pull out hair is similar to waxing, although unlike waxing, they do not remove cells from the epithelium of the epidermis. Epilators work well if you are looking for a DIY hair removal solution that is similar to waxing. However, one major downfall to this one is that, like with waxing, you need to grow your hair out for the device to be able to yank those hairs out.
Depilatory Creams
Depilatory creams work by dissolving the hair on the surface of the skin because the root of the hair does not get damaged, hair growth will be rapid. This method is quick and convenient and can be done at home. This method is generally painless as long as the instructions are followed carefully and sensitive areas are avoided.
There are some cons of using depilatory creams such as they may have a bad odour because they contain chemicals. These chemicals could damage your skin and cause irritations; there is a risk that they create an allergic reaction which could cause some stinging and discomfort.
Laser Hair Removal
When you mention laser hair removal to someone, they would automatically think about how painful and expensive it is. Although all things considered, the expense is just a short term one compared to other treatments and lets you save money and time in the long run.
Technology has come along way in this field, and not all lasers are painful. In fact, if you do experience pain, either your therapist is treating you on the wrong settings calibrated for your skin type or the technology used is not very good.
Diode lasers are considered better technology to IPL because they target the hair follicle alone and destroy it. This, in turn, prevents hair regrowth as the hair follicle has been damaged. During treatment, you should only feel a warming sensation.
Glo Laser and Beauty use a pain-free laser called the Alma Soprano Ice, treatment times for underarms are only 15 minutes long, and you generally would only need 8 – 12 sessions to be hair-free.
That is all five hair removal methods available today summed up.
They all have their place for everyone. We hope at least you have a better idea of which would suit your needs more.
Read More:
What’s the best hair removal system
Advantages of using an IPL hair removal at home
Top tips for successful laser hair removal