MaryElise.com :: Beauty > Hair Today Gone Tomorrow Guide

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
By Mary Elise Chavez
Posted February 2006

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From facial hair to body hair, many women seek out every possible solution to ridding their bodies of fur. But which ones are best? Below we have broken down seven options for hair removal, including the price and length of results.

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Tweezing -- $3-30 -- Results 3-8 weeks

Tweezing pulls hair out from its root, but is a very laborious method since each hair must be removed individually. Some pain, skin irritation, and inflammation of the hair follicle can occur. Time consuming and painful, thumbs down.

Depilitories -- $5-10 -- Results 1-2 weeks

Wipe on, Wipe off, right? Depilatories have been described as chemical shaving. Depilatory creams or lotions contain chemicals that dissolve the protein structure of the hair and cause it to separate from the skin. Some depilatories can increase acne and cause skin irritation or chemical burns if the formula is too strong or the cream left on too long. Yes it can work, but with the pungent scent and irritating effects, thumbs down.

Electronic Hair Trimmers/Razors -- $10-50 -- Results 3 days-1 week

On the market these days, are almost pain-free electronic hair removers. The hair must be about ¼ inch long to work, and the epilator could still miss some hair. However, these are easy to use, quick, and inexpensive, these get a thumbs up.

Waxing -- $6-$$ -- Results 3-8 weeks

Waxing pulls sections of hair out from its root. This method can be very painful and pain-reducing gel is often recommended before applying the wax. Some skin irritation can occur from pulling off the wax as well as inflammation of the hair follicle. Wax should not be on skin that is chapped, sunburned, or on the face if you are using a facial product such as Retin-A or Differin as these weaken the skin and the skin tearing could result when the wax is pulled off. Hair needs to be at least 1/8 inch long for waxing to be effective. Make sure to moisturize thoroughly before a visit to your skincare technician. The most popular method by far, waxing can be painful, but find yourself a fabulous technician, and it's the way to go. Thumbs up.

Electrolysis -- $$$ -- 3-6 months

Electrolysis is a very laborious method since each hair must be treated individually. With electrolysis a needle is inserted under the skin and an electric current is passed through the hair follicle to damage it. A qualified professional should perform needle electrolysis and it can be very expensive since it is time consuming and multiple treatments are needed. Electrolysis can be painful and there is a risk of scarring and infection. Estimated cost for completed treatment is $1,000-$3,000 for legs. Results are long lasting, but some hair may grow back. Ouch! Thumbs down.

Laser Hair Removal -- $$$ -- 3-6 months

Laser hair removal is FDA approved. Working with small areas of the skin, the laser beam destroys hair follicles and impairs hair regrowth. There is less pain and it is less time-consuming compared to electrolysis, but there can be redness or pigmentation changes of the skin. Laser treatment works best on people with light-skin and dark hair. In addition, laser treatment will not work on deeply embedded hair follicles such as the underarm or the bikini line. A licensed professional should perform laser hair removal. Laser is very expensive and multiple treatments are necessary. The estimated cost for completed treatment is $500-1,000 for facial hair removal and $2,000-$3,000 for legs. Results are long lasting, but some hair may grow back. If hair grows back, it is sparse and finer. Got the cash? Thumbs up, but why not go for the superior Pulsed Laser...

Photo Epilation/Pulsed Laser -- $$$$ -- 3-6 months

Photo epilation is FDA approved. This treatment uses an intense pulsed light to destroy hair follicles instead of the laser treatment’s steady beam. Photo epilation will work on underarms, bikini lines, light and dark-skinned people since the device can be adjusted to skin type, location, and depth. The photo epilation beam is broader than laser, so the treatment can be done in less time. A licensed professional should perform laser hair removal. There are minimal side effects, but a series of treatments are necessary and the estimate for total cost is high, $2,000-$3,000 for legs. Results are long lasting, but some hair may grow back. If hair grows back, it is sparse and finer. Better than Laser...thumbs up!