The Ultimate Guide to At-Home Hair Removal
You don't need to remove your hair, but if you want to, do it carefully and with plenty of knowledge. It's amazing how many people injure themselves, cause an unwanted reaction, or get an infection when removing their body hair. Let’s review the options and their pros and cons so you can make the best choice for you.
Shaving
Shaving is the easiest and most common way to remove hair. You can shave your face and body. For women, shaving the face is often called dermaplaning. It’s the same concept—you are using a razor to remove hair. It works great, does NOT increase hair growth but by shaving the hairs in cross section they can feel thicker as they grow out. The risks are nicks and razor burn.
Face: Use short dermaplaning blades, which are inexpensive and can be found on Amazon. There are also fancier options like the DermaFlash, which vibrates while shaving.
Body: A leg razor, you can use one marketed for women, like Venus, or a standard disposable option.
When shaving you want to make sure your skin is warm, damp and you have a good lubricate, typically in the form of a nice lather. My Body Wash is a great product to shave with.
Aftercare: When you shave, you're exfoliating your skin as well as removing hair, which means your skin will be more sensitive afterwards. Here’s what you need to do post-shaving:
- Always moisturize after shaving with a supportive Body Cream like Doctor Rogers.
- Stay away from active ingredients or treatment ingredients like glycolic acid or vitamin C for at least 24 hours.
Electric Trimmers
Electric trimmers are super easy to use and don't affect your skin as much because they don’t remove hair as closely as razors. You can use them anytime and anywhere to remove unwanted hairs but the after care is the same. Always moisturize after and stay away from active ingredients or treatments for 24 hours.
Hair Removal Creams
Hair removal creams like Nair work by destroying the keratin in your hair. However, since your skin also contains keratin, these creams can be irritating, particularly if left on too long.
Tips for Using Hair Removal Creams- Avoid exfoliation for three days before using these creams.
- Moisturize your skin before application.
- Do a test spot on your body following the products directions to see how you react. Wait at least 24 hours to see if you have any adverse reactions before treating a larger area.
- Always moisturize after and stay away from active ingredients or treatments for 24 hours.
IPL At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices
At-home Laser hair removal devices can be a great investment. The technology typically uses Intense Pulse Light (IPL) which is not as effective as in-office laser treatments. But, with regular long-term use, they can significantly decrease hair growth. It is usually recommended to shave prior to using.
Recommended At-Home Laser Hair Removal Devices
- Braun Silk-Expert Pro ($350): Cleared by the FDA, recommended by the Skin Health Alliance, and adjusts to skin type.
- Ulike Sapphire Air+ ($200)
- Nood The Flasher ($199): Has a large spot size, making it ideal for legs.
Note:Laser/IPL devices work best on dark hair and light skin. They are less effective on light hair and there is a higher risk of burns for people with darker skin tones.
Waxing, Tweezing, and Threading
These methods pull hair out by the root, which can lead to ingrown hairs and unwanted pigmentation, especially in people of color. They also damage the hair follicle, potentially causing the hair to grow back curly and ingrown.
Tips for Waxing and Tweezing
- Avoid exfoliation for at least three days before and after waxing or tweezing.
- Don’t go digging for hair, that can lead to scarring or infection.
- Always moisturize after and stay away from active ingredients or treatments for 24 hours.
Epilators
Epilators work by ripping the hair out from the root, similar to waxing. They carry a higher risk of ingrown hairs due to irritation it causes in the hair follicle. Always moisturize after and stay away from active ingredients or treatments for 24 hours.
Prescription Creams
Vaniqua (generic name Eflornithine) is a prescription cream that can be used to decrease hair growth. However, it’s a short-term solution as hair growth returns to normal once you stop using it.
Hope this helps you have great success with your hair removal. It is all about knowing the pros and cons of each method and how to care for your skin before and after to reduce complications. If you're looking for more facial hair removal device product recommendations, check out this Forbes article I contributed to - "The 8 Best Facial Hair Removers, According to Skincare Experts".
These recommendations are not sponsored. They are the result of Dr. Heather D. Rogers, MD evidence-based research and extensive clinical experience.
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