In the past, hair removal was something that done primarily by women.  Now, more and more men are seeking ways to rid themselves of their unwanted hair.  Wether you are interested in shaping your eyebrows or removing excess hair from your ears, neck, back, or chest, deciding what approach to take can be extremely confusing.  Here is a list of the most common hair removal options on the market today.

Shaving:  Removing excess hair growth with a razor is a temporary method that must be done on a daily basis.  While shaving can be fast, easy and inexpensive, it can also increase the occurrence of painfull ingrown hairs.  Once these hair become ingrown, infection can commonly occur.  Shaving can also so irritate the skin.  On the positive side, shaving does not cause the hair growth to become thicker. 

Waxing:  Removing excess hair growth by waxing is temporary and must be done on a regular basis.  It is common to regularly wax an area every few weeks to every few months depending on the rate of regrowth.  Usually, a honey based wax is heated and applied to the skin.  A special strip of cloth is pressed onto the heated wax for several seconds.  Once the wax hardens, the strip is quickly pulled off along with all of the hair.  Depending on the size of the area, this process can be very time consuming and very painful.  Cost: $10 to $80 depending on the size of the area  

Depilatories:  Removing hair growth with a depilatory is a temporary method that must be done frequently.  A depilitory is a cosmetic preparation containing an active chemical compound (calcium thioglycolate) which breaks down and weakens the proteins in the hair.  Once these proteins become weakened, the hair breaks off at the skin level and can be easily wiped away.  Extreme caution must be used when applying depilatories to the skin since they are extremely harsh and can potentially burn the skin.  Cost: $10 – $50 depending on whether you choose an at-home kit or a professional salon treatment. 

Tweezing/Plucking:  Removing hair growth with tweezers is a common temporary method of hair removal that must be done frequently.  While tweezing can be fast, easy, and affordable, it can also increase the occurrence of ingrown hairs which can ultimately lead to infection.  Regular tweezing also encourages the hair to become thicker.  Cost: $10 – $35 depending on the quality of the tweezer.

Threading:  Threading is a temporary method of hair removal that has been gaining popularity in this country within the last few years.  This method is typically done on the eyebrow/facial area and must be done frequently.  Threading is similar to tweezing, however instead of using a tweezer, the hair is removed thr0ugh the use of strings which are wrapped around the hair and then pulled.  Like tweezing, threading can also encourage the hair to become thicker, distorted and ingrown.   Cost: $10 and up depending on the size of the area to be threaded. 

Electrolysis:  Electrolysis is one of the oldest forms of permanent hair removal on the market today.  The hair is permanently destroyed by means of an electrical current.  First, a thin probe (smaller than the hair) is inserted into the base of each hair follicle where the root system lies.  Once the probe is in place, a small electrical current is distributed to the root system and the hair is then removed.   Treatment schedule’s vary depending on what method’s have been used to stimulate the growth in the past as well as the overall size of the area to be treated.  While electrolysis works well on any hair color, texture and body area, extremely large area’s such as your back, chest and neck maybe too time consuming.  In this case, laser hair removal may be more desirable.  Good results with electrolysis are dependent on the proficiency of the practioner as well as the type of technology.  Cost: Treatments fees are usually based on 15 minute increments and range in price from $30 up.  

Laser Hair Removal:  Laser hair removal is a procedure which utilizes an intense, pulsating beam of light to destroy unwanted hair.  During this procedure, the laser light beam is passed through the skin into the follicle area.  As this beam enters the skin, it searches for brown or black pigment (melanin) which is found abundantly  in the hair.  The laser energy heats the pigmentation found in the hair and kills the hair.  On average, 4 to 6 treatments are usually required for optimum results.  Results may vary depending on the technology used, the expertise of the practicioner and the amount of melanin found both in the hair as well as the skin.  Laser hair removal does not work on hair that lacks pigment such as blond, white, grey and even shades of red.  In the past, people of color were also not good candidates for laser hair removal.  However, with the advancements in laser technology, treating people of color is now possible.  Cost: Treatment fees vary and are dependent upon the size of the area to be treated.  Generally, prices per treatment start at $150 and up.

Choosing the best method doesn’t have to be confusing.  The most important question that you should ask yourself is what is your ultimate goal?  Are you interested in doing something that is temporary or permanent?  Once you’ve established your goal, the rest is easy.  If you are interested in permanent results, take a look at last weeks blog “What To Look For When Choosing A Hair Removal Practice”.  Carefully choosing the right practice can make all of the difference in the world!