Whether it's shaving, tweezing or waxing, the majority of us are constantly fighting the battle to remove unwanted hair. There are so many different types of hair removal products/methods on the market today that it is nearly impossible to choose one. Hair removal can be achieved through depilation (removing part of the hair above the skin's surface) or epilation (removing the entire hair). For many consumers, temporary methods at regular intervals are acceptable. Mechanical epilators pulls out the hair and should not be used on sensitive skin areas such as face, genitals, or armpits because the method tends to be painful. In addition, the hair must be about 1/4 inch long to work, and the epilator could still miss some hair.

Tweezing tug hair out from its root, but is a very laborious method since each hair must be removed severally. Some pain, skin irritation, and inflammation of the hair follicle can occur. Shaving is the most temporary method of hair removal because it nothing else cuts the hair off at the skin surface. Shaving does not make the hair shaft thicker, darker, or grow faster or slower. Plucking hair with tweezers is an effective way to remove hair but can be very time consuming. The hair shaft must be long enough to grasp with tweezers. Waxing pulls sections of hair out from its root. This method can be very painful and pain-reducing gel is often recommended before applying the wax. Some skin irritation can occur from pulling off the wax as well as inflammation of the hair follicle.

The wax is then quickly pulled off in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling the hairs out of the follicles. Cold waxes are available usually attached to strips, which are patted onto the skin. Wax should not be on skin that is chapped, sunburned, or on the face if you are using a facial product. Sugar waxing is a popular form of hair removal that works in the same way traditional waxing does. Sugaring is a method of hair removal that has been in use for thousands of years.

Friction

Though it is a less common method of removing hair at skin's surface, some consumers find it primarily useful for fine hair on legs. In this process, a rough surface is used to buff away hair at the skin's surface. The mitt usually has rough strips or a smoothing surface coated directly onto the mitt.

Bleaching

Bleaching is actually not a hair removal method, but rather a way to make the hair less noticeable. This is especially useful for areas that already have thin but dark and therefore noticeable hair like the arms, face, or neck. Bleaching is performed by applying a chemical to the desired area, which removes the pigment from the hair.

Shaving

How It Works: Using a razor, a person removes the tip of the hair shaft that has grown out through the skin. Some razors are completely disposable, some have a disposable blade, and some are electric. Guys often shave their faces, and women often shave their underarms, legs, and bikini areas.