The Beginners Guide to Hair Removal

Shaving or waxing? Lasers or creams? Plucking or sugaring? It seems like the list of ways to remove unwanted hair goes on and on, and that a new trend pops up all the time. Navigating through the multiple techniques and products available for hair removal can be frustrating. However, with a little research the process can be much easier for those who are just starting to learn the basics of effective hair removal.

Before we get started, we have to mention that hair removal also comes with this common myth:

“My hair will grow back thicker and darker each time I remove it!”

Fortunately, the truth is that this is just plain wrong. Human hair grows back at a pretty standard rate, and simply removing the hair won’t change that. Some hair removal methods change the appearance of hair as it grows back, such as shaving which physically cuts the hair and leaves a coarse end, but the volume and speed of hair growth are not affected.

Now, with that out of the way, let’s explore other key aspects of hair removal.

Why Remove Hair?

While many consider hair removal to be entirely due to fashion and style, there are instances where hair removal can be much more comfortable as well. Everyone will have a different set of reasons, and there are many places on their bodies that people may choose to remove unwanted hair. The most common places are:

• Face
• Legs
• Underarms
• Eyebrows
• Bikini area
• Back

Each area of the body will be suited to certain types of hair removal, and often people use multiple methods of hair removal to achieve the results they are looking for. Some methods work better on certain areas of the body than others, and some should be avoided entirely depending on how they work. Here, we will break down the different methods for hair removal, and list which ones are most recommended for the different areas of the body.

Hair Removal Techniques That Work

Plucking

Plucking is simply the process of using tweezers to remove hairs one at a time by pulling them out of the skin with a slight tugging motion. Plucking removes the entire hair, including the root, and works best on small areas where you want a very specific or detailed result.

• Where to use it:
  • Eyebrows
• Pros:
  • Precise shaping
  • Easy to do
  • Inexpensive
  • Slow regrowth
• Cons:
  • Can be time consuming
  • Some find it painful

Shaving

Shaving is the process of using a wet razor or electric shaver to trim or cut the hair at the very surface of the skin. Shaving is simple to do and is able to remove short hairs from large areas of skin. Shaved hair regrows faster than other methods, because the hair and root are not completely removed. The cut hair has a flat end which is rougher than an entirely new hair, and grows back as stubble.

• Where to use it:
  • Legs
  • Underarms
  • Bikini area
• Pros:
  • Fast & easy
  • Inexpensive
• Cons:
  • Cut hairs have rough ends & coarse feel
  • Possible razor burn, nicks, cuts or irritation
  • Potential for ingrown hairs

Waxing & Sugaring

Waxing is similar to plucking, in that it removes the entire hair including the root from the skin. Warm or hot wax is spread on to the skin and a small sheet of paper or cloth is then placed on top the wax. Once it cools, the sheet is pulled rapidly away from the skin, extracting the hair which has become stuck in the wax.

Similar to waxing, sugaring spreads a mixture on to the skin and is allowed to solidify. The mixture is then either flicked off or removed with a cloth in the same way as waxing, removing the entire hair and root from the skin.

• Where to use it:
  • Legs
  • Underarms
  • Bikini area
  • Eyebrows
  • Face
• Pros:
  • Slow regrowth
  • Effective at removing hair from larger areas
  • Can be done almost anywhere on the body
• Cons:
  • Can be expensive
  • Usually requires a trained professional for best results
  • Requires a certain amount of regrowth before it can be done again
  • Can be painful

Depilatory Creams

Hair removal creams, also known as depilatory creams, work by dissolving the hair with chemicals. Once the creams are applied, they require several minutes to work, and then are usually scraped off the skin while in the shower. Leaving the cream on too long can be harmful and cause skin damage.

• Where to use it:
  • Legs
  • Underarms
• Pros:
  • Fast & easy to use
  • Inexpensive
• Cons:
  • Multiple applications sometimes needed
  • Creams can irritate the skin
  • Requires a bath or shower

Electrolysis

Electrolysis is the process of applying an electrical current to a hair follicle in order to permanently cause hairs from re-growing. Electrolysis requires regular appointments with a professional in order to achieve permanent hair removal results.

• Where to use it:
  • Eyebrows
  • Face
• Pros:
  • Permanent results
  • Precise shaping
  • Works equally well on light or dark hair
• Cons:
  • Can be expensive
  • Multiple appointments required for permanent results
  • Not suitable for large areas
  • Treatments can be uncomfortable

Laser Hair Removal

Like the name implies, this process uses a laser to penetrate in to the skin. The laser targets the hair shaft and follicle to prevent regrowth permanently. The targeted area will then lose the hair naturally within a couple of weeks following treatment.

• Where to use it:
  • Legs
  • Underarms
  • Bikini area
  • Face
• Pros:
  • Permanent results
  • Works extremely well on dark hair
• Cons:
  • Can be expensive
  • Multiple appointments required for permanent results
  • Some experience pain or discomfort

All of these hair removal methods have their pros and cons, but there are some products available that combine the best parts of these hair removal options without any of the negatives. Silk’n has developed the Flash&Go Hair Removal Devices for exactly that purpose.

Silk’n Flash&Go Hair Removal Devices

Utilizing the patented Home Pulsed Light (HPL) technology developed by Silk’n the Flash&Go Express and the Flash&Go Jewel hair removal devices help you remove any unwanted hair from head to toe and give you the beautifully smooth, hair-free skin you’ve always wanted. Completely painless, easy to use, and clinically proven to remove hair from a wide range of skin tones and hair colours.

Flash&Go devices use optical light energy to target pigments in the hair shaft in order to slow and disable hair growth with no damage to the surrounding skin. The energy source is adjustable to accommodate a range of skin tones and hair colours. Flash&Go is suitable on many areas of the body, including the face below the cheekbones.

We hope that you’ve found the advice in this article helpful – and now that you know about the different hair removal options, and the pros and cons that go along with each of them, you’ll be better equipped to evaluate and choose a method that delivers the smooth, hair free skin you want.

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