Top 5 Affordable Body Hair Removal Methods-Know Your Options

Body hair has always been looked down upon by many societies especially in the case of women. Upon attaining the age of 15 or 16 most young girls are seen looking for body hair removal options.

Even though having body hair has evolutionary benefits, they are seen as unhygienic when spotted on areas like arms, legs, armpits, upper lips, and sometimes even the genitals.

Now, owing to the latest developments in the trends, a lot of people have started resorting to hair removal methods as a form of grooming.

There is nothing wrong with removing the hair on your own body only if it is YOUR own choice.

Why do we have all this hair anyway?

One of the reasons humans are classified as mammals is because of body hair. These are salient features of the class Mammalia. Now the hair serves as an evolutionary advantage.

Apart from looking pretty, the hair on our heads keeps us warm by preserving heat.

Hair present in the nose, ears, and around the eyes protects the mucous membrane from dust and other small particles.

Eyebrows and eyelashes protect our eyes by filtering the amount of light and particles entering the eye.

And lastly, the subject in question, that is, the fine hair that covers the body provides us with warmth and offers protection to the skin.

Should I remove my hair?

To be honest, it depends.

If anything, the idea shouldn’t be forced upon you by someone who is not your healthcare provider.

There are many reasons you might want to remove your hair- you might want to do it because it makes you feel more confident while wearing revealing clothes, or to avoid body odor (armpits), to beat the heat, or for medical reasons like hirsutism.

What are my options?

There are a lot of options available based on your requirements. You just need to be informed and remember that what might work for someone else may not work for you, and that is okay. Some methods of hair removal can be painful depending upon your hair growth.

1. Waxing

The good old waxing method is a hair removal method loved by almost everyone. It is affordable, lasts up to a month, and rarely has side effects which make the pain coming along with it worth it.

Now, if you have a good enough tolerance for pain and your skin isn’t very sensitive, waxing might be just the thing for you.

It is easy and can either be done in a salon or at home by either using ready-to-use cold wax strips or hot wax.

However, if you want to go for a Brazillian wax, it might be the best idea to leave it to the salon professionals.

Precautions-

• Ensure the length of your hair isn’t too long before waxing
• Take breaks by applying ice packs to the skin about 30 min before waxing to reduce discomfort.
• Make sure the area to be waxed is clean and dry.
• Never wax sunburned or very sensitive skin
• Do not wax in case you have taken isotretinoin in the past six months.

2. Shaving by razor

Shaving is another popular hair removal method used by people. Shaving is considered to be an affordable, quick, easy to use, and painless method of hair removal. However, a lot of people believe that shaving can cause new hair to become thicker.

It is best for the removal of a leg, arm, and facial hair. However, it can cause ingrown hairs, especially in the pubic regions, and can also cause uncomfortable hair growth. In addition to that, it does not last as long as waxing.

Most people use this method as it is painless as compared to waxing and can be done in the shower at the last moment.

3. Threading

Threading is one of the oldest methods of body hair removal and is most popular in India. Threading is considered the best hair removal method in the case of eyebrows.

Threading, as the name suggests involves the practitioner using rolled cotton threads over hairlines to pull and remove unwanted hair.

The practitioner holds one end of a cotton thread using their teeth and the other loop in their left hand. The mid-portion of this thread is looped through the middle and index fingers of their right hand.

The loop is used to trap and pluck out unwanted hair from the root. Threading, unlike waxing and shaving, cannot be done at home.

However, the upside is that it is safer for the skin than wax and it does not cause any undergrowth as compared to shaving. The downside, it can only be used for smaller portions of hair growth.

4. Plucking using tweezers

Plucking, or Tweezing, is an easy and economical way to get rid of stray hair and can be done using a pair of tweezers. It is safe and does not harm the skin but it is not as fast as the other methods. However, you do not need to be an expert to pluck your hair. This method can be used for eyebrows, nose, upper lip, nipples, toes, etc.

DO NOT pluck the hair inside your nose.

5. Hair Removal Creams

Hair removal creams, also known as depilatory creams, are easily available in stores without a prescription.

Different types of depilatory creams are available for different regions of your body, therefore, be careful when you buy one. This method is affordable and can be done at home easily.

Make sure to use the cream properly. Do not leave it on for too long as it can burn your skin. Follow the directions carefully. Also, apply the cream to a small area to check for any allergic reactions before using it all over your body.

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