The Ultimate Guide to Hair Removal

The Ultimate Guide to Hair Removal

By: Briley Rakow

The beauty industry has grown exponentially since the onset of social media and the abundance of opinions that are voiced on platforms like YouTube and TikTok. Trying to keep up with the newest trends and best practices can be dizzying with the influx of ideas and ads that dominate technology today. With all of the options available to consumers today, the question quickly becomes: how do we know which option is right for us? 

Image by Akilah Frye.

Figuring out your entire beauty routine takes trial and error, so today we are starting small and focusing on hair removal. Between waxing, threading, plucking, and more, there are people who swear by each form of hair removal. To help dig through the clutter, we have created a guide to what each type of hair removal is and what goals they are best at accomplishing. 

Not all hair removal methods are created equally and different practices should be used depending on the area you are targeting. The skin on your face is much more sensitive than the skin on your body, so what works for one area may not work for another. Perhaps the most common area to need constant attention when it comes to hair is the eyebrows. In this area, plucking, threading, and waxing are the go-to options. 

Tweezers are the original facial hair-removal tool and are just as necessary now as they were upon their invention. If your goal is to maintain your current facial hair, plucking is a simple way to do so. Whether using tweezers every few days to keep your brows from growing together or just between other treatments to grab stray hairs, they are a must-have in every beauty routine. Plucking only removes hair from the surface, so it needs to be done more frequently than other forms of hair removal, but it is certainly the most cost-effective option available. 

Waxing tends to have a reputation for being painful, but when done by a professional, it can be quick and leave you hair-free for weeks. Wax can be irritating for people with sensitive skin and may even remove layers of skin depending on the person. For this reason, it is best to try on an area other than your face first to see how your skin handles the treatment. 

Threading is another common method for facial hair removal, having risen to prominence in the U.S. within recent years. Using techniques with threads to pluck hair quickly, threading is a more full-coverage method than tweezing and can shape your brows easier than waxing. It still needs to be repeated every few weeks to maintain optimum results and is just as, if not more, painful as waxing, but tends to be a little less aggressive toward the skin. 

The newest skincare craze in regards to hair removal has been dermaplaning, which is shaving your face to remove peach fuzz and dead skin cells. Dermaplaning is mostly used for facial hair outside of the brow region, and can offer immediate results of softer and younger looking skin. Having the service done professionally is the best way to ensure beneficial results and avoid injury, but it can be quite expensive. There are at-home dermaplane devices available, but consider consulting with a professional before using. 

When it comes to body hair, the options become even more complicated. The most commonly practiced is shaving. Using a razor to remove hair by yourself is cost-effective and simple, but also requires more frequency to achieve the same results. Body hair will grow back within a few days after shaving, so the upkeep is more strenuous than other forms of hair removal. Similar to tweezing, it can be used by itself or for general upkeep between appointments for other forms of hair removal. 

Waxing or sugaring can be practiced head-to-toe, so it is often used on body hair as well as facial. Sugaring is different from waxing because the sugar is applied in the opposite direction as hair growth and then removed in the same direction as hair growth to avoid ingrown hairs. The inverse is true of waxing. Both options are frequently used on the body and are good for longer-term hair removal as they prevent rapid hair growth, particularly when done continuously over time. Some areas are more sensitive to these treatments, so if you have never used either before, consider starting with your legs to see how your skin reacts.

The most painless way to remove body hair is by using a depilatory cream. After applying and leaving to sit for a few minutes, these creams remove all hair in the area upon being wiped off. This treatment is less prone to injury and skin lesions than shaving or waxing, but the chemicals may be irritating to those with sensitive skin. Depilatory creams work best for areas with a higher concentration of hair follicles on both men and women. 

Laser hair removal is the most expensive type of hair removal but also the most effective way to achieve lasting results. There are machines available for purchase and at-home use, but the best way to ensure results is to go to a professional. Laser hair removal is best for those who want complete and permanent hair removal, but it is not always lasting depending on your skin type and hair color. The lasers work by detecting the melanin in hair follicles and heating them up to prevent future growth. For those with lighter hair, the lasers may be unable to detect the hair follicles. As with every form of hair removal, it is always safer to consult with a professional before any decisions to ensure you are picking the right method for your hair. 

Whether you just want to manage your hair growth or remove it altogether, there are a variety of options available to help you reach your goals. With any at-home beauty treatment, it is important to discuss with your dermatologist or esthetician before using to avoid sensitizing the skin or causing any damage. How you decide to manage and maintain your hair is completely personal, and we hope with the right information, you can find the method that works best for you and your lifestyle. 

For more beauty tips, keep reading Square Magazine and follow us on Instagram @um.squaremagazine. 

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