Find The Best Hair Removal Method For You

from bath and body

The average woman has around 11,000 hairs on her legs and 2,500 under her arms - here's how to find the best method for you to get rid of them.

Bleaching

What you need : Bleach cream.
What it does : Uses lightening ingredients to disguise hair.
Where : Face and lower arms.
Lasts : Up to two months.
Pain factor : Nil - unless you leave it on too long.
Insider tip : Never bleach immediately after using skin products containing alpha-hydroxy acids, because this can cause scarring.
How : Wash the area to ensure there are no cosmetics on your skin that could react with the chemicals in the bleach. Apply as directed and for as long as stated. Wash off.

Tweezing

What you need : Tweezers.
What it does : Pull the hair out at the root.
Where : Best for eyebrows.
Lasts : Four to six weeks.
Pain factor : It hurts a little, but applying icebefore you pluck will numb the pain.
Insider tip : For the best results choose tweezers with flat, slanted tips rather than pointy ones - they grasp the hair more easily and are less likely to scratch the skin.
How : Quickly and in the direction of hair growth.To avoid overplucking brows, draw on the end shape you'd like to achieve and stick to this.

Shaving

What you need : Razor.
What it does : Cuts the hair at the surface of the skin.
Where : Underarms and legs - bikini lines and facial hair aren't really appropriate for shaving as the hair grows back blunt, making it noticeable on the face and itchy on the bikini line.
Lasts : One to two days.
Pain factor : Nil unless you slip, but using a single-blade razor minimizes the risk of cuts.
Insider tip : Use hair conditioner instead of soap - it doesn't dehydrate your skin.
How : Soak in the bath for two to three minutes before you shave.This expands the hair follicles, giving a closer, longer-lasting shave. Apply shaving foam or hair conditioner. Now shave upwards, then downwards. Rinse and moisturize.

Depilatory cream

What you need : A cream formulated for the area you're going to treat.
What it does : Uses chemicals to dissolve the hair just under the skin's surface.
Where : Anywhere.
Lasts : Two to three weeks.
Pain factor : Nil - though they can smell pretty horrid.
Insider tip : Apply a little soya milk after you've removed the cream - ingredients called serine protease inhibitors stop hair growth and keep you smooth longer.
How : So simple. Apply as directed, wait as long as the directions tell you and shower off. Avoid hot water and perfumed products on the area for at least three hours after application to reduce the risk of irritation.

Waxing/Sugaring

What you need : Prepared wax strips; hot wax used with cloth or sugaring solution (normally made from sugar or honey and lemon).
What it does : Pulls the hair out right at the root.
Where : Anywhere.
Lasts : Four to six weeks.
Pain factor : Pretty high, especially around your bikini line. Taking a mild painkiller like aspirin helps.
Insider tip : Start waxing in winter-hair needs to be at least three millimetres long in order to be waxed properly and you're less likely to notice this in the winter months. Also, as each waxing thins hair, the regrowth will be less noticeable when the summer months arrive.
How : Apply talc to dry up skin oils, which may prevent the wax sticking. Apply wax strips or hot wax and cloth. Leave for two or three seconds, then pull quickly in the direction of hair growth. Remove excess wax with warm water and avoid perfumed products for 48 hours.