Hair Removal Products
Visit any local drugstore or your favorite online pharmacy and “virtually” stroll down their hair removal products aisle, and you are sure to find dozens of products, all claiming to remove your hair, quickly, efficiently and safely.
Which product you choose should depend on several factors, including:
- The area of the body from which you want to remove hair
- How much hair you want to remove
- How much you want to spend
- How long you want the hair removal to last
Here’s a brief “tour” of what you will find down the hair removal aisle.
Razors: A simple temporary means of removing hair from the body, by drawing a blade gently across the skin and slicing the hair at the roots; available in men’s and women’s, disposable or replaceable heads, bikini or face, moisturizing or sensitive skin; prices range from less than $1 to $3 each.
Electric shavers and trimmers: A temporary means of removing hair from the body, using coils or foils that clip the hair off at the root; available for women's and men’s hair removal, wet or dry, rechargeable or cordless, body area specific; prices range from $14 to $50.
Epilators: A temporary means of removing hair which “grabs” (much like tweezing) several hairs at a time; primarily designed for women, body area specific, prices range from $19.99 to $59.99.
Depilatories and Epil Sprays: A temporary means of removing hair using chemicals based either in a lotion or a spray, which are generously applied to an area of the body, and removed after a fixed amount of time; available in men’s and women’s, scented or unscented, sensitive skin, body area specific; prices range from $2.19 to $8.99.
Sugaring products: A temporary means of removing hair using all natural or organic products, the base of which is sugar, that is liberally applied to the skin and covered with a special cloth, then after waiting the requisite amount of time, pulled off in a single quick movement, pulling the hair off with it; primarily designed for women; prices range from $5.99 to $19.99.
Waxing products: A temporary means of removing hair using a wax base that is liberally applied to the skin, covered by a cloth or special strip, and then pulled quickly away from the skin, pulling the hair out at it’s roots; available in men’s or women’s, but more generally unisex, body area specific, some use a cold process, others require heating, some use a no-mess strip or roll-on; prices range from $6.99 to $19.99.
Electrolysis products: Don’t waste your money on hair removal products for home-electrolysis use. They don’t work because they don’t generate enough energy to permanently kill the hair follicle. For permanent hair removal, see an electrolysis professional.