We love thick hair on the head, but anywhere else on the body and it is a beauty disaster. Perhaps, body hair was useful for our ancestors who lived in caves and it served to keep us warm, but as we evolved we discovered fashion, and sweaters and shawls came to replace the need for body fuzz. It is, in fact, now a vanity must to be fuzz-free, and not just for women who have always loved smooth skin, but also for men.
We have two types of hair on our body—vellus hair, which is soft, fine and short, and terminal hair, which is darker, thicker and coarser. Dr Rekha Sheth, consulting dermatologist, and founder of Yuva Skin and Hair Clinic in Mumbai, says, “Most women have vellus hair on their chest, back and face, but that is hardly noticeable. However, in some women, especially those with hormonal issues or due to genetic make-up, vellus hair is darker and thicker. Terminal hair is usually thicker than vellus hair and grows in the armpits and pubic areas as girls and boys reach puberty.” This is also when our quest to get fuzz-free starts.
While keeping body hair does not harm you, you do feel cleaner once that hair is off . Doctors also say that taking off the load in the pubic area and keeping the armpits hair-free are good for hygiene, especially in summer, or if you tend to sweat a lot.
Age-old tradition Hair removal is not new to the Indian woman. It is not just short dresses and tank tops that have pushed us towards hair removal; our traditional beauty secrets have recipes using natural ingredients like turmeric, lemon juice, wheat husk and fl our to bleach and reduce hair growth. Today, not many of us have the time to grind turmeric and make these concoctions, so we have moved on to modern methods like shaving, bleaching, waxing, depilation (using hair removal creams), plucking and threading as temporary methods for hair removal. Some people also opt for permanent techniques like laser, which is becoming a preferred way of hair removal among women. Whatever method you choose, ensure that you minimise the chances of rashes, redness and follicular infection.
So, exfoliate your skin the day before to remove dead skin cells and bring to surface any ingrowth if stuck under the top layer of your skin. It is important to moisturise. Here are the few hair removal techniques:
Shaving
It is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to remove hair from your body, especially legs, underarms, and the bikini area. To get good results, use triple-blade razors meant for women, as they help cut the hair closer to the skin, and chafe the skin less. Razors for women also have a moisturising strip to minimise burning. For a smooth shave, soften the hair; so it is a good idea to shave after a bath. Use a shaving foam with skin softener to soothe irritations. Th is also enables a closer shave. On your legs and arms, always shave against the direction of hair growth, for pubic areas shave in the direction of hair growth to avoid ingrown hair and razor rash. Your hair does not grow out coarser or thicker after shaving, as is popularly believed. Moisturise your skin generously post shave.
Advantage: It is fast and easy on the pocket. Disadvantage: You need to shave almost every other day to avoid a rough stubble. Also, there is the danger of cuts and skin sensitivity.
Waxing
It is one of the most preferred ways of hair removal. It is a method of semipermanent hair removal as it removes hair from the root. Th is works for any area of your body including legs, arms, underarms, face, back and pubic area. When waxing for the first time, it is a good idea to go to a professional.
If you are doing it at home, test the temperature and consistency of the liquid wax by applying it to a small area on the inside of your wrist. Then, dip the spatula into the wax, take a small amount and apply the wax over the area to be treated in the direction of hair growth. The liquid wax should flow smoothly. Place the disposable strip directly over the wax and smoothen it with your palms in the direction of the hair growth. Hold the skin firmly and pull the strip in the opposite direction of hair growth. Do not apply wax over a larger area than can be covered by the strip.
Advantage: This keeps your skin smooth for long. Hair grows back in two to three weeks. It has a skin-brightening effect since waxing also removes the dead skin layer. Disadvantage: The in-between waxing period can be tough as you need to let your hair grow at least 1/4th of an inch before waxing again. If not done properly, waxing can lead to ingrown hair.
Threading
It is an ancient Middle Eastern practice that is useful for removing facial hair. In this method, the expert uses twisted threads to pull out individual hair from the root. It is ideal for removing hair from smaller areas or hair that is scattered.
Epilating
Epilating is done using an epilator, which is an electrical device that removes hair by mechanically grasping multiple strands simultaneously and pulling them out. Epilating is similar to waxing, except that in this, the top layer of your skin is not touched. So, it is good for women with sensitive skin or those prone to rashes post waxing. Regrowth is similar to the way hair grows back in waxing and so, you remain smooth for a longer period. It is good for removing hair from arms, legs, underarms and bikini line. All you have to do is move the epilator slowly over your skin against the direction of hair growth to pull out hair from the root. Slower you go, the better the finish.
Depilatory creams
Hair removal creams have chemical agents that break the sulphur to sulphur bond in the keratin of hair, thus literally melting the cuticles. So you actually wipe away hair from your body.
If you are a fi rst-time user, do a patch test to make sure the cream does not irritate your skin. Wash a small area of skin with water and mop dry. Apply the cream and wait for 10 minutes, then wash with lukewarm water. If the skin is normal after 24 hours, you can safely use the cream. However, if you experience irritation or redness, wash off immediately with lukewarm water. Check with your doctor if there is a burning sensation or skin darkening. It is good for underarms, legs, arms and bikini line.
Advantage: Using creams is an easy and painless way of hair removal. Emollients in the cream keep the skin smooth. It is ideal when in a hurry. Disadvantage: For many, pigmentation can become a problem with repeated use of chemicals.
Laser It is a non-surgical medical procedure that uses laser—an intense, pulsating beam of light—to remove unwanted hair. It works by passing a light beam through the skin. When the light beam hits the hair follicle, the intense heat destroys the hair follicle instantly.
It is good for removing thick, dark hair on your face and body. It slows hair regrowth but you will need a few sessions to get an extended hair-free period. Get this treatment done at a reputed and certifi ed treatment centre. They will do a patch test before the actual treatment to test your levels of sensitivity. You might experience a little redness on the skin post a session. Use a good moisturiser and sunscreen to protect your sensitised skin. Good for bikini line, face, back and chest.
Advantage: It is almost painless. Good for dealing with excessive hair growth related to hormonal issues. Disadvantage: Can make your skin sensitive to sunlight. Despite claims, you cannot be permanently hair-free with laser. Hair does grow back but very slowly. It is not very effective on thin or light-coloured hair.
(In Arrangement with SMARTLIFE)