Different Hair Removal Methods and Their Pros and Cons

By  //  December 17, 2019

Men and women alike love it whenever they can flaunt their strong, dense, and shiny hair – not so much when this hair is present in less desirable areas.

Men and women alike love it whenever they can flaunt their strong, dense, and shiny hair – not so much when this hair is present in less desirable areas.

In these cases, they seek their preferred method of removing hair, and there are certainly various methods to choose from. 

So what makes one method more preferable than its alternatives? Your personal choice certainly takes the lead in deciding, but there are many factors that could influence your decision. After reading our guide, you’ll be surprised how your preferences can change!

Here’s an overview of the most common hair removal methods:

1. Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is one of the best permanent hair removal solutions. The technique depends on using a device that concentrates light beams on the hair follicles, causing sufficient damage to the follicle and preventing it from growing again. 

Laser hair removal can be done in hair salons, but that can be very expensive. The treatment will require a number of sessions, and, depending on the areas you want to remove hair from, the cost will quickly build up. On the other hand, laser hair removal can be done at home by purchasing a device.

To understand your options, you can read OGLF’s write up about the best devices to remove hair permanently at home. This method cuts down the costs significantly. 

While it’s practical, offers a permanent solution, and can be used over any area, it takes some time to get complete results. It can cause some degree of irritation, and it’s not suitable for darker skin tones. 

2. Shaving

Shaving is the most common and easiest method for removing unwanted facial and body hair. It is an inexpensive, easy, painless, and fuss-free solution. Simply run a razor/electric shaver over your skin, and poof — it’s gone. 

Despite its practicality, anti-shaving individuals have a strong reason to find it ineffective.  Shaving will certainly remove the hair instantly, and even keep it at bay, but it’s a short-lived benefit and the hair will reappear in a day or two because shaving only cuts the hair at the skin’s surface. The newly grown hair will also have a blunt end, making the hair shaft look thicker when the hair regrows. 

3. Physical Removal

Instead of shaving the tip, you remove the hair by the follicle physically. This method is preferred as it lasts longer; you’ll enjoy your hairless skin anywhere for a long time (up to four weeks), depending on the area of the removed hair. A shortcoming of physical removal is that it usually inflicts a moderate to a high amount of pain. 

There are several ways for removing the hair physically, including the following:

a. Plucking/Tweezing

Using tweezers, you can pull out the hair by the follicle. The drawback is that you have to pluck individual hairs. If you’re removing facial hair over the mouth or are reshaping your eyebrows, it can be pretty practical. But if you want to remove hair off your legs or hands – well, let’s not even think of that. 

Using tweezers, you can pull out the hair by the follicle. The drawback is that you have to pluck individual hairs. If you’re removing facial hair over the mouth or are reshaping your eyebrows, it can be pretty practical. But if you want to remove hair off your legs or hands – well, let’s not even think of that.

b. Threading

Just like using tweezers, threading is an alternative method used for removing facial hair. Threading can remove hair faster than tweezers, but this method requires a skilled practitioner. Most people won’t be able to remove their own hair, even if they can use threads to remove someone else’s. It’s also not practical when it comes to removing hair over a big area. 

c. Epilating

Epilating comes to save the day when you need to remove large amounts of hair from your body. It’s also one of the fastest techniques in removing facial hair, but it has its limitations.

Sensitive areas won’t tolerate the pain coming from epilating, and it won’t be effective in areas that need a high level of accuracy, such as eyebrows. 

d. Waxing 

Waxing is another effective way to remove hair from a large area in an instance. The wax is spread over the desired area in the direction of the hair, a piece of cloth is applied over it, and then it’s quickly pulled off.

Most of the hair is removed with the first application, but it requires several times of application until all the hair is removed. 

Waxing is a suitable method to remove hair from various parts, including pubic hair. But it usually requires a visit to a hair salon or a professional to do the job, although some home products are also available. While it provides longer-term results, it’s still a temporary method of hair removal.

It can be painful and can cause skin irritation, and salon treatment can be costly over time. It also needs a certain length of grown hair to adhere to; otherwise, you won’t be able to pluck off short hair. 

e. Sugaring

Sugaring works in the same way that waxing does, but it’s made out of natural ingredients at home, which makes it preferable for many people. Removing hair by sugaring also leaves the skin in better shape, as it becomes nourished with the natural ingredients.

It’s more cost-effective and practical; its ingredients are made of heated sugar or honey, which are usually available at your home. 

The downside of sugaring is that it can cause burns if not applied with caution. It shouldn’t be applied to inflamed or damaged skin either, as it will cause more irritation. 

4. Depilatory Creams

Depilatory creams contain chemicals that weaken hair follicles, making them less prone to grow again quickly. It’s not a permanent solution, but it decreases the amount of hair growth.

It’s best used for legs and arms, but not so much for sensitive areas. As it contains strong chemicals, some people can be annoyed with its strong smell. 

5. Medication

There are certain cream medications that stop the growth of hair in the applied area, but they have to be prescribed by doctors. This method offers a permanent solution during the time of application, but hair usually grows again 8 weeks after stopping the treatment. 

Choosing the most suitable method of hair removal comes down to your own preferences. You’ll consider different factors of practicality, ease of use, accessibility, and duration of the results.

Depending on your preferences, you can go for practical shaving, physically removing the hair by different methods, or using depilatory creams.

For more permanent results, you can choose to remove the hair by laser or seek a doctor for prescription medication.