Women are expected to be as hairless as possible from the hair down. It is, however, so much work to maintain a hairless body. Who wouldn't want to make this easier by choosing the fastest and longest-lasting hair removal method?
The great thing is, because of the need and demand for good hair removal products, men and women do not have to settle with disposable razors and see stubble the next day. New products are coming out that promise a closer shave and even a hair-free life.
Here are 3 of the newer hair removal methods that promise better results than your old-style razor.
The Epilator
The newest version, the electric epilator, is vastly different from the spring epilators that came out in the 1980s. Beyond being electric, they are also cordless, making them easy for you to use all over your body. The best thing about them is that they will remove any hair that is at least 0.5mm, which will be too short to be waxed.
Epilators are basically mechanical tweezers on a rotating head made of plastic. When the head is spinning, these tweezers will open and close, gripping, pulling, removing, and discarding the hair.
The Pros Of Epilators
If you want the best results, you need a hair removal method that will pull from the roots, so that there is no need to redo the work for at least three weeks. Because these epilators are handy, you will not need to go to a professional salon for hair removal.
Because there are no blades, there is no danger of the skin getting cut in the process. Still, the hair grows slower and thinner, which means no rough stubble. If you have sensitive skin, this is the best solution for you, and it can be used on almost every part of the body (face, underarm, arms, legs, and more).
As an investment, epilators only require a one-time purchase, and there is no need to replace blades. Plus, they are waterproof so that they can be used on both wet and dry shaving.
The Cons of Epilators
What most people report is that epilators are a bit painful, especially at the beginning. As you get used to it, though, you will learn to adapt and get used to the pain. Still, you might want to watch out, especially when you want to use it in more sensitive parts of your body.
Another disadvantage is the length of time it takes to finish removing hair. It is certainly not as fast as shaving, because you may need to do many passes over the skin to remove smaller and more delicate hair strands. In some situations, users have reported having ingrown hair and redness.
Epilators can also be quite loud, plus they are not as effective on men because they have thicker and coarser hair.
The Electric Razor
Electric shavers are not the same as razors and epilators, although people tend to confuse one with the other. Actually, electric razors came before epilators, about 50 years ahead.
The first models were much more basic, with only one foil cutting element where the hair goes in. The latest models have multiple cutting elements, including advanced motors and foils. The foil element is where the hair enters and inside, a rotating blade will cut it. These parts are all perfectly aligned to cut stubborn hair close to the skin.
Electric shaving is, in fact, one of the most common ways to remove hair, specifically the legs, arms, and the bikini line.
The Pros of Electric Razors
Women looking for a fast, painless, and uncomplicated way of removing hair will find the electric razor perfect. Whether you do a wet or dry shave, the results are satisfactory at all times. Plus, you are less likely to have ingrown hairs.
Compared to epilators and laser, an electric razor is the cheapest option for women. For a low price, it is efficient and effortless to use.
The Cons of Electric Razors
Of the three methods discussed in this article, electric razors are the least effective in maintaining a close shave for an extended amount of time. First, there is the stubble that itches from time to time. The hair also grows back significantly faster so you will need to shave more often.
Unless you are very careful or experienced, you might end up with cuts and nicks all over your body. So beyond perfecting your technique, you will need to maintain and replace the blades.
Laser Treatment
Laser and IPL (intense pulsated light) devices are the answer for people who want to stop having to shave or remove hair. A few days of regular treatment spanning months (because hair does not grow all at the same time) should cover the different patches of hair growing at various rates and timelines.
While there are laser and IPL products for use at home, it is better to go to a professional for guaranteed success. The issue is that in some places where you want to remove hair, they are not as pretty or easy to access with your own hands. Laser uses a single laser beam to target the melanin in hair follicles to stop the regrowth of hair. On the other hand, IPL uses broad-spectrum light. Because of this, laser treatment works best for people with darker skin and hair. For most people, 4 to 12 treatments will ensure no more regrowth, but other women will need a touch up between 6 to 12 months.
The Pros of Laser
Laser hair removal is hugely popular because it is touted for being a more permanent solution. First, you will need to sit through several treatment sessions spanning months (allowing any hair left to grow), but once you stop seeing hair growing, then you will most likely be hair-free in this part of the body.
Beyond delivering permanent results, laser is also very effective. Sure, there might be people out there who will still see some rogue strands or regular regrowth (in extreme cases), but most will be incredibly happy never to have to shave their legs again.
The Cons of Laser
Laser technology that is used to remove hair is highly effective but may be painful, especially when done by inexperienced technicians. Plus, it is normal to see some side effects like swelling, temporary redness, some discomfort, pain, and itching. However, if you go to a professional, there should be fewer to no side effects.
Comparison Of The Three Methods
Now that you have an overview of the three newest ways to remove unwanted hair, one question remains. Which is the best? Which one should you go for?
1. Price
When it comes to cost, anything other than laser comes out on top. While newer clinics begin to offer laser hair removal, you are always better off going to someone more reputable and thus, a bit more expensive.
On the other hand, an epilator and electric razor require an initial investment, but only the latter is more expensive in the long run because of the need to purchase new blades.
2. Outcome
As a more permanent hair removal solution, laser can deliver a significant loss of hair over time. If there are any that survive the procedure, they should be much finer and almost invisible. You will need to go through several sessions first to remove any new batches of hair.
Shaving has the worst outcome of the three. This is because the hair is only cut at the skin level, while the rest of the hair remains in the bulb. Hair will grow back, and you will need to shave as often as every day.
Epilators, on the other hand, pull the hair from the roots so that regrowth is slower. Over time, the hair feels finer and will be less visible as opposed to the thicker regrowth common with shaving.
3. Pain
All three methods come with a certain level of pain. Epilators are almost always uncomfortable (or even painful, especially at the beginning) and are, thus, unsuitable for sensitive parts of the body. Shaving will only hurt when you get cut or nicked, and this can be reduced over time as you perfect your technique.
Laser may also hurt, simply because the laser beams release a hot pulse on your skin to kill the hair. This is why they use a numbing cream to reduce the pain due to the procedure.
4. Ease Of Use
Shavers and epilators can be done at home, with the razor being more efficient. The epilator might have trouble especially with finer hair, so you might have to go through them a couple of times to remove. Shaving can be done very quickly and easily once you get the hang of it, but if you have to do it every day, you might not be saving time in total.
Various methods deliver different results, but the fact remains that they have their own advantages and disadvantages. Some might be more successful but more expensive (laser), while others might be effective but painful (epilator).
You need to consider the area where the hair is, whether it is a sensitive part of your body, and how often you prefer to remove the hair. It is completely normal to mix and match these methods to remove hair from the different parts of your body.