Fit Beauty: To shave or to wax? Or is there a better way to remove hair?
essRemoving body hair isn't exactly high on most people's "fun things to do" list, but alas, for most of us it's just something that has to be done. I suppose the good news is that there are so many different hair removal methods out there (whether you're talking eyebrows, underarms, legs or bikini line) that we at least have some choice about how we'll free ourselves of excess hair. If you want to take a look at the long list of what's available, as well as know all of the pros and cons of each method, take a look at this article which gives a rundown on shaving, waxing, tweezing, removal creams and threading.
I admit that I've always been afraid of waxing pretty much any part of my body. Pulling hair out at the root just doesn't sound appealing to me -- although I suppose I'm somewhat of a hypocrite as I do enjoy tweezing my eyebrows. However, I know that there are tonnes of devotees out there that wouldn't think of using any other method. According to the piece, the pros really outweigh the cons as, even though it hurts, the pain is fleeting, the results are excellent and long-lasting, and it's cheap.
Shaving has always been my preferred method because it's fairly inexpensive (well, it was up until packs of razor blades became so pricey that they now get locked away behind the pharmacy counter for safekeeping), it's simple and it's painless. However, the results don't last long. You can really only expect to stay smooth for a day or two after shaving. Plus if you're doing your bikini line, you risk getting ingrown hairs and they are not fun.
As the article mentions, tweezing is pretty great for your face and there aren't many cons -- other than that you can't really do it on any other part of your body because it would take so long. Tweezing does hurt a lot at first but after a while you'll get used to it and after some practice, you'll be happy with the very precise results.
I'm not sure what my feelings are about hair removal creams. I remember trying one a decade ago that stank and was basically useless but I'd like to think that in the 10 years since, the technology has gotten better. The piece points out that hair removal creams yield similar results to shaving and many of them now smell great. However, it takes a long time especially since the hair will grow back quite quickly.
The final option listed is threading. I've only heard about the process in the last few years but it is supposed to be a great way to get rid of hair on your face, especially eyebrows. I've met a few people who have tried it and swear they will never go back to tweezing or waxing. According to the article, the major con with threading is that, since it's a relatively new trend, it's pretty costly.
If you want to know a bit more about each of these hair removal methods you can see the article in its entirety here.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
1-19-2008 @ 8:20PM
Parini said...
Actually, threading is dirt cheap. It costs me four dollars to get my eyebrows done. And threading isn't new at all. Threading has been around for hundreds of years and was and still is somewhat mainly practiced by people from India.
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1-19-2008 @ 8:39PM
bill said...
God gave us hair so we should let it grow
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1-19-2008 @ 9:39PM
JmA said...
I agree..threading is dirt cheap! I pay 8 bucks for my lip(which...12 yrs of threading it..I never get over the pain..it does hurt a lil more than getting yoru lip waxed..I wont lie) and my eyebrows(which I dont find hurts at all)..total..and i tip the lady the 2 bucks so for 10 Im set. So much better than waxing..neater looking..no braking out from wax on your skin..seems to last longer or maybe because Ive been doing it since high school..it doesnt grow back as much? I dunno.. :)
I highly recommend it to waxing or tweezing anyday!!!
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1-19-2008 @ 9:41PM
ann kirshner said...
anyone ever try laser hair removal. expensive, takes about a year depending on body part but permanent and smooth
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1-19-2008 @ 9:55PM
taylornicole said...
threading is very very good
but it hurts SO BAD.
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1-19-2008 @ 10:35PM
tsdennison said...
As A really hairy guy, whom my estranged wife had a problem with growth, how do I deal with it . My ex only complained about my shoulders and back.
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1-20-2008 @ 3:15AM
LOUIS PHILLIPpE said...
PLEASE TRY LASER REMOVAL. IT IS A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE BUT THE HAIR NEVER COMES BACK.
I had a very hairy back chest arms upper legs and in 5 three hours sessions I got rid of it for good.No pain.
No redness or chaffing.Very sanitary.
Done by a plastic surgeon in his office.
For only $800.00 I got rid of a thick angora sweater leg warmers and upper arms sleeves.
1-19-2008 @ 10:41PM
cece said...
Why is someone with little experience writing an article? Go try some new things and THEN write about it!
Threading is great and inexpensive! I think it hurts less than tweezing.
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1-19-2008 @ 11:01PM
Little Big Man said...
What exactly is threading and can anyone tell me how to get ride of these anoying and nasty hairs in my nose once and for all (barring and expensive lazer removal process)?
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1-19-2008 @ 11:04PM
mar mily said...
I'm surprised that epilators aren't included. They've come a long way and I couldn't imagine life without one. I purchased my Emjoi five years ago and I use it on my face, legs and armpits. It stung a bit until I mastered it but now it's a cinch.
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1-19-2008 @ 11:57PM
Ginny said...
Threading is not expensive. My threading person just upped her price to $7 and she gives my brows such a nice, natural shape. It takes longer than waxing, but for me, there's far less redness and it's more precise. For the person who asked what threading is, Indian, Pakistani and Middle Eastern women seem to specialize in this process -- my eyes are always closed but apparently they take cotton sewing thread and pull the hairs out by the roots with it. It doesn't hurt as much as if someone were trying to shape both my brows from scratch with tweezers.
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1-20-2008 @ 12:09AM
Di said...
Threading is great and lasts a long time but you have to let the hair grow back to get long enough to thread again.Laser is expensive and painful and grows back also.
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1-20-2008 @ 12:32AM
Cindy said...
I am quite surprised that sugaring was not listed as a way to remove hair. Sugaring is similar to waxing, but is less painful-at least for me. The paste can actually be eaten-I wouldn't recommend it. What makes it good is you can wipe if off unlike wax which you have to pull off. The method you use is to heat the paste, apply it like wax then use muslin strips and pull the hairs off. After using it a few times you get used to the sting. Sorta like pulling a band-aid off. I use Alexandra brand which can be found on the internet. Works just as well as the waxing but is much less painful.
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1-20-2008 @ 12:57AM
Mike Sanders said...
The byproduct of "ear candling," is a soft, darkened wax, which might be useful in the removal of excess hair, from the body. This natural wax, provides a ph-balanced, all-natural way of disovling the hair folicle, at the root. Although, it takes quite a bit of time to collect enough ear wax to perform a single dipillatory procedure, it is safe and painless. Ear-candling should only be performed by a registered candler, as the procedure involves the lighting of an ear-cone and can be extremely dangerous. Ear candles can be puchased through alternative medicine shops and practitioners.
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1-20-2008 @ 1:01AM
Julie said...
For those of you who can handle waxing, the cheapest, easiest alternative I've found is....don't laugh....duct tape! It works just like waxing, but is less messy, and extremely cheap!
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1-20-2008 @ 2:35AM
Chuckles said...
Oh wow that's so funny. Great idea, though! Could you write more about it? Does it hurt more than regular waxing?
1-20-2008 @ 3:05AM
Julie said...
I've been using duct tape for a few years now....it's definitely nowhere near as messy as waxing, doesn't hurt, once you get used to it - just stings a bit, and if you put your hand over the area you've just taped, the stinging stops. Another benefit is that once you tape for awhile, the hair grows in much sparser - yank out the roots and those won't grow again....Just apply a piece of duct tape to the area you want to remove hair, then quickly remove the tape, keeping the tape as close to the skin as possible....pull tape in the reverse direction hair grows. I normally just use it on my legs...I found it pretty painful on the underarms, and since that just doesn't take much to shave, I'll keep the taping to my legs!
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1-24-2008 @ 6:40PM
Tammy said...
How is clean up afterwards? Isn't duck tape pretty sticky?
1-22-2008 @ 7:14PM
Julie said...
The tape sticks to the hair. You might end up with a little stickiness on your skin, but it washes away easily - I haven't had a problem with it at all. Another benefit is that it also helps remove dead skin cells, so you actually end up with smooth, silky feeling skin. Almost like exfoliating. No mess to clean up afterwards - just throw away the used tape! Compared to waxing, well, how much does a roll of duct tape cost??? And it lasts long, too, so compare to the price of waxing, you're saving tons of money in the long run!
1-20-2008 @ 3:28AM
LOUIS PHILLIPPE said...
Laser removal is very cheap if you take into consideration that the hair never comes back.
It is also very sanitary painless and safe.
Particulary for the sensitive and delicate area of the nose
prone to infection.
I had 98% of my body done and I saved up to now in 2 years 4 times what it costed me to do it.
Forget threading pulling cutting or creams....you always need more.
Get an estimate.You'll see.
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