Unwanted body hair is more than just a nuisance, for some people it can have a devastating effect on their self-confidence, leading to a lack of self esteem and even depression. Facial hair, hair around the nipples, and back and stomach hair are areas of particular concern. There are plenty of options however, when it comes to removing unwanted body hair, that will give you excellent results.



1. Shaving - The advantages to shaving are that it's quick, easy and relatively cheap to obtain smooth skin. However the results are short lived, as the hair will grow back very quickly. Women should never shave facial hair, as the hair will grow back coarse and stubbly and will make the situation worse in the long run.

2. Depilatory Creams - If you want to remove hair quickly, depilatory creams will do the job more than adequately. They are very easy to use and the effects last longer than shaving. They work by 'burning' off the hair just below the skin surface which is why the effects last a reasonably amount of time, the way they work can also be a disadvantage as people with sensitive skin may not be able to tolerate the 'harshness' of the action.

3. Bleaching - Strictly speaking this doesn't remove the hair, although it will lighten the hair to such an extent that it is far less noticeable. This technique is most often used for mustaches, and some women use it for the hairs on their arms.

4. Laser Hair Removal - This is the most permanent of all the treatments available, but also the most expensive, in the short-term, at least (savings on creams, waxing, and shaving offset the cost in the longer term). Laser light is used to 'zap' the hair at the base of the hair follicle causing it literally just to drop out. You will need a number of treatments spread out over several weeks, and some people report mild discomfort during the treatment.

5. Electrolysis - This method of permanent hair removal was first used over 100 years ago, it is well established and effective. It works by feeding a small of energy directly in to the hair follicle which permanently destroys the hair. You will need many treatments over a long period of time, and many people report moderate to severe discomfort.

6. Waxing - Waxing is most used for the legs, eyebrows, and bikini lines, but it is suitable for most areas of the body. It is a very effective technique, resulting in up to 3 weeks of smooth skin. The downside of waxing is that you need to let the hair grow out before subsequent treatments and not everyone is happy doing that. With waxing the hair is pulled out from the root, so I'll let you form your own opinions regarding how painful it can be!

7. Plucking - Good old fashioned tweezers are great for keeping eyebrows in check, or the odd ingrown hair, but have limited use elsewhere.

Which method you choose probably depends on how you are affected by your unwanted hair. If shaving, waxing or plucking is becoming a chore or is just not effective enough, then consider something more permanent such as Laser hair removal or electrolysis.