Excessive or unwanted hair? This is usually more than just a simple "cosmetic" problem.



Most people have problems with hair. Some are missing it while others would like to get rid of it. Hair is usually removed from a part of the body for cosmetic reasons, although it may also be removed from a planned surgical site prior to an operation. Excessive hair is a very common problem for men and women. Different cultures have different expectations of which parts of the body can be hairy and which not. Unwanted hair is more than just an aesthetic problem. It can affect self confidence, social activities and consequently also mental health. Therefore hair removal methods were invented many years ago. Some are painful some not but most methods have only short lasting effects. Except electrolysis there is no permanent hair removal method.

The first methods were developed few thousand years ago. In those early times the look and proper visual appearance were already so important to the degree where different more or less effective ways to trim or remove hair were invented. In some cases this was done also because of medical or religious reasons. For example, shaved head is still part of some traditions in eastern religions. Today we are doing it mainly because we expect some parts of the body to be smooth and hairless.

Shaving is probably the oldest hair removal method. You only need a sharp razor to cut the hair. Shaving removes hair at the skin level and is suitable for hair on the legs, armpits, pubic area, and facial beard area in men. The process is simple but the smooth skin lasts only for a very short time. Men shave themselves on a daily basis only to have smooth skin that lasts for one day. Shaving has one big advantage - it is painless. However, hair quickly grows back from shaved areas and shaving can cause irritation.

Waxing is another ancient and still popular hair removal method used mainly by women. This is a technique used often in beauty salons as a way to remove hair from the legs or face. In this technique, warm wax is applied to the skin and then peeled off, pulling out the hair as it goes. This process is always painful. It is amazing how much we are willing to suffer just to look pretty.

Another simple method to remove hair is tweezing, mainly used for eyebrows.

Depilatory creams dissolve the hair just below the skin’s surface, creating a smooth effect, but the cream may irritate sensitive skin areas and should be used only on the legs.

Plucking with tweezers is a good technique for stray eyebrow hairs and other small areas. After all of these techniques, hair will regrow in about three weeks.

Sugaring is a type of hair removal system that uses honey and special strips to eliminate hair. A thin coating of the honey hair-removal gel is applied in the direction of the hair growth; a cloth strip is then placed on the gel and stroked firmly two or three times in the direction of hair growth. Holding the skin taut with one hand, the consumer picks up the lower end of the cloth with the other hand and pulls quickly in opposite direction of the hair growth. Proponents of this method say that hair does not return for four to six weeks.

Electrolysis permanently removes hair through the use of an electric current to destroy the hair’s root.

Removing unwanted hair is never associated with pleasure or something we would do in public. Home hair removal is the most common approach to this problem. Most popular methods like waxing, shaving, tweezing and various depilatories can be applied at home, hidden from unwanted views. In recent time some advanced methods like laser hair removal and electrolysis, usually available only in cosmetic salons, are now available also for use at home.

Home hair removal is increasingly popular all around the world. Many cheap products are available, they are simple to use and offer satisfying results. Of course, unwanted hair is not limited to women. Beside shaving men also use depilatories like Nair hair removal. Such products are considered painless but this depends on the skin type. In general, quite a lot of methods are painful. Most people put look and smooth hairless skin before pain. The most important criteria are effectiveness and lasting.

Home hair removal methods do not work the same way for everybody. People are different, have different type of skin and react differently to various products. If some method doesn't work simply try another. Since there is no effective way to permanently remove hair you only have to wait for some time and then you can use a different product or method. Sometimes similar products from different manufacturers produce different results so experimenting is a good approach to find a really good home hair removal method and product.

Hair removal is more than just an annoyance or cosmetic issue. Smooth skin contributes to better look which always leads to higher self-confidence, relaxed behavior in society and good feeling. If you have problems with excessive or unwanted hair you should act. If you are among those who want to remove hair on their own you will find that there is a plethora of effective and cheap hair removal products.