I would like to start off the article by reminding everyone that body hair is completely normal and growing it out is just as normal as removing them.

Now, as a woman with the capabilities of growing hair in every crevice of her body and loves the feeling of smooth legs over denim jeans, here’s what I have to say: if you’re going to remove your body hair, at least do it right.

In this article, I’ll be discussing my thoughts, tips, and tricks on the hair removal process.

Shaving

Shaving, I would have to say, is the most basic entry-level skill to removing unwanted hair. All you need is your trusty razer (make sure it’s not rusty!), some soap, water, and eventually some skill to get around those hard-to-reach areas like your ankles, knees, and parts of your vaj.

I shaved for a long time, especially during emergency beach trips when I couldn’t run to a salon, I still shave. Do I like it? No. Does it do what it needs to do? Temporarily. Would I recommend it? Sure, why not?

Pros:

• Quick remedy to removing unwanted hair
• It’s relatively cheap

Cons:

• Shaved hair tends to itch when it grows out
• Prone to ingrown hair
• The chances of cutting yourself are high
• Shaved hair grows out fast

Tweezing

Tweezing is my kryptonite, and I think many people will agree with the satisfaction that tweezing brings whether you’re pulling at your armpits, eyebrows, or in my case sometimes, the pubic area.

According to this article, tweezing is an art and there’s a lot you need to know about it before you even get into it, like which direction to pluck, which areas to pluck, and even how plucking can stimulate more hair growth.

You know what it doesn’t talk about though? What to do with bumpy tweezed armpit skin. Raise your hand if you have it! too. 

Pros:

• It’s fun to do (if pain is your middle name)
• It’s fast and cheap to do

Cons:

• It can really hurt (if pain isn’t your middle name)
• It can lead to ingrown hair, irritation and infections
• It can stimulate more hair growth

Threading

Hair threading is a hair removal technique and skill that uses a cotton thread to remove hair that originated centuries ago in Southeast Asia. 

It involves twisting, tapping, and eventually pulling hair up and away from the follicle.

This is my technique of choice when it comes to removing my eyebrow and upper lip hair because it’s gentler than wax, and hair growth is slow and steady with thin strands as compared to shaving.

As mentioned above, threading is a skill and I never had the interest to learn how to do so on my own, so I always get it done professionally. Having said this, not every threading experience has been ideal, but with the right hands, threading can actually be very awarding. 

Pros:

• It’s the best option for eyebrow and facial hair removal
• It’s a fast process with very little side effects after (just some redness)

Cons:

• Pain tolerance really depends on your handler and your pain tolerance

Waxing

To be honest, I love waxing when it’s being done on me especially when it’s at my favorite hair removal place on earth, No Strips Waxing Salon. But I absolutely dread waxing when I have to do it myself.

Yes, you can wax yourself at home. While stuck in this pandemic, I’ve explored the many ways to use hot and cold wax, and I’ve hated them all but I’ll share them with you anyways in case you have more patience than I do.

But first, introductions.

Waxing is basically the removal of hair with the use of wax, which can be hot or cold. Wax can be made out of a lot of things: sugar, fruit, chocolate, resin, you name it. It is also the most common and commercialized type of hair removal because it’s generally easy to do and it is also pretty affordable.

Here are my tips when waxing, whether on your own (don’t) or elsewhere (No Strips Waxing Salon!):

• Figure out if you like hot or cold wax. Each body is different and can tolerate temperature differently
• Research the products being used in the wax and do a spot test to check for allergies if you have sensitive skin
• Do the necessary aftercare to avoid the growth of ingrown hair

Pros:

• It’s an affordable hair removal option with long lasting results
• It’s quick and easy

Cons:

• It can be messy
• Depending on your skill level, it can be hard to do alone

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal is, dare I say, the bougiest of the hair removal treatments. It’s a more permanent approach to zapping away hair that you don’t want to deal with as it uses highly concentrated beams to destroy the hair.

It’s a convenient way to say goodbye to hair you never want to deal with, but it obviously comes with a price — and it’s not always affordable.

Pros:

• It’s a permanent solution

Cons:

• It’s could cost you a pretty penny

All in all, whether you choose to keep or remove your body hair and how you choose to do it is completely up to you.

What we do suggest is doing more research on the procedures of your choice and the best aftercare techniques as these can greatly affect hair growth, stimulation and skin health.

Enjoy being a hairless wonder!