Hair Removal

In waxing, hot wax is spread on the skin, and a piece of cloth is stuck to the wax on the other side, wherein the hot wax sticks to the hair on one side, and to the cloth on the other side. The cloth is yanked suddenly off the skin, causing the wax and the hair, sticking to it come off the skin.

Waxing is one of the most common ways of dealing with unwanted hair over large areas like the legs and arms. It leaves the skin very smooth. However, while waxing causes some trauma to the hair follicle, thus causing some growth delay, it does not cause a permanent reduction in the hair. It is quite painful, and there is the risk of burns if one is not careful with the wax. It requires lifetime visits to the beauty parlour, or fortnightly or monthly sessions at home.

Both these techniques yank out individual hair from areas, which are not large - like the eyebrows and the lips. However, these are painful, non-permanent solutions, which require frequent use. This method also results in some growth delay.

Here, the hair is shaved off, either with a manual or an electric shaver. Sometimes, electric shavers are combined with machines, which pull the hair. Shaving is an easy way of getting rid of unwanted hair. However, it has no growth delay (unless combined with pulling, in which case a small growth delay is obtained). It causes the skin to become thicker, which makes the hair bristly. Finally, it can also cause small nicks and cuts, which do not look nice.

In Electrolysis, thin needles are inserted into the skin, to try and contact with the hair follicle. A small electric current is passed, which hopefully would damage the hair follicle. Electrolysis is quite painful and slow, with the technician targeting individual hair follicles. It requires repeated sessions, and can cause fine scarring on the skin. Finally, though permanence is claimed, several studies show the efficacy with regards to permanence as doubtful.