Healing Connections

Hair and its removal is a complete perplexity to most adults. Those that have it want easier methods to remove it, those that don’t have it look for ways to recapture it.

Shaving is the most common way to remove hair. It’s quick and simple but it has its drawbacks. Since the hair is only removed at skin level, it starts growing back in as little as one day. Shaving actually stimulates the hair follicle and speeds up growth causing your hair to come back thicker and coarser than before. It’s also a good way to get those little nicks and cuts that sting!

Tweezing removes hair below the skin level and has fairly long-lasting results. It’s most commonly used to remove facial hair, especially from the eyebrows. Tweezing is a slow and painful process, as each hair has to be pulled out. But, the upside is that if you do it over a long period of time, it can lead to permanent hair removal.

Threading can be used on any part of the body but is most commonly used on the chin, upper lip and eyebrows. Rows of stray hairs are yanked out with twists of cotton thread. It’s good for people with sensitive skin but requires a lot of attention to detail and again, this is a method that has the “ouch” factor.

Pumice stones can also be used for hair removal by rubbing the hair briskly without actually grinding into the skin. It can be used on any part of the body, except for the face, with surprisingly good results. This method has a good following of those who wish to do things the all-natural way (without pain).

Waxing, like tweezing, removes hair below the skin level. It is recommended for your body’s most visible areas. The results last from six to eight weeks and leave your skin soft and smooth. With waxing, warm or cold wax is applied to your skin and then a waxing strip is placed over the treated area. The strip is then pulled off to remove the hair. Waxing is not nearly as painful as it sounds. The key is to hold the skin taut during the process. Pulling off the strips feels about the same as pulling a Band-Aid off your skin. Waxing is not recommended for people with very sensitive or problem skin. In addition, it shouldn’t be applied to sunburned or chapped skin, cuts or weak scars.

Sugaring is one of the oldest methods of hair removal and is similar to waxing. You make your own sugar mixture and then apply it. Take one cup of sugar and mix it with the juice of half a lemon and some molasses. Then add this mixture to a bowl of honey. Microwave it for 2 to 4 minutes until it has a smooth consistency and then cool it down to a comfortable temperature. Apply cornstarch over the area to be sugared and then apply the mixture over it. Last, apply a cloth or waxing strip and then pull it off when the applied mixture is cool.

Depilatory creams and lotions dissolve hair from the skin’s surface chemically using high PH levels. This method of hair removal is painless and gentler on your skin than shaving or waxing. It works especially well on bumpy or sensitive areas like under your arms, over your upper lip or on the bikini line. You simply apply it, let it set for a few minutes and then rinse it away along with all the hair. However, if you have sensitive skin, check for any reaction with a small test area before making a full application.

Hair growth inhibitors slow the re-growth of body hair. They are applied immediately after hair removal to saturate the exposed base of the hair follicle and this starts the process of slowing down hair growth.

With all the methods of hair removal available, knowing your options can help you choose the one that will work best for your skin, your life style and even your pain tolerance. The bottom line is to find a method that both you and your skin can live with.