Our Go-To Hair Removal Guide
0Our Go-To Hair Removal Guide
If you’re looking for the best way to banish unwanted body hair, look no further. We analyzed the at-home methods to find you the best and most-effective options.
TROUBLE SPOT: BIKINI AREA
• Experts recommend waxing.
• Why? It removes the whole hair, so it yields the sleekest results and lasts the longest, usually between three and six weeks.
Waxing Pros and Cons:
• Waxing pulls the hair follicle out from its root, so you’ll avoid stubble. When hair grows back, you might even find that it’s softer. Unfortunately, waxing is not painless, and it can be somewhat messy.
Prepare to Wax:
• Trim hair first — you should have about ¼-inch growth for the wax to take hold.
• Soak a cotton ball in alcohol and smooth over the area to disinfect.
• Apply talcum powder to ensure that wax won’t stick to skin.
• Hold skin taut as you apply the strip and rub in the wax repeatedly, in the direction of the hair growth.
• Quickly pull the strip back, in the opposite direction, still holding skin taut. The faster you remove the strip, the more effectively you’ll remove hair and minimize discomfort.
• If you see a stray hair that the strip didn’t pick up, go over it once more. If that still doesn’t work, use tweezers.
• Twenty-four hours after waxing, apply a product to prevent ingrown hairs.
Completely Bare Bikini Bump Blaster; $10; target.com. Sally Hansen Ouch-Relief wax strip kit, $10; at mass retailers
Lessen the Pain: Avoid waxing the week before your period, when skin is most sensitive, and take an ibuprofen an hour ahead of time.
TROUBLE SPOT: UNDERARMS
• Experts recommend shaving.
• Why? The minute you spot stubble, you can shave. With waxing, on the other hand, you have to wait until the hair is about 1/4 inch long—awkward during tank-top season.
Shaving Pros and Cons:
• Because you can shave every day, you’ll never have to worry about fuzz. But in this sensitive area, nicks and cuts are more of a problem, especially because antiperspirants and deodorants can irritate them.
Prepare to Shave:
After prepping the underarm area with shaving cream, be sure to shave using both up and down strokes, because underarm hair grows in different directions.
