Most bodies are hairy – we can’t escape that, and some of us don’t want to! However, if you do want to remove unwanted hair, there are few different ways to choose from.
The main hair removal methods include:
- Shaving: plastic razor or electric shaver, this is the most common way to remove hair
- Waxing: 1,2,3, rip! Ripping hair out from the root by waxing is also popular
- Sugaring: Like waxing, but using sugar instead for a more natural hair removal method
- Epilating: epilators are electronic beauty tools that pluck hair from the root
- Hair removal cream: apply these creams and rinse off for easy hair removal
- Trimmers: sometimes you just need a trim rather than total hair removal and these electronic beauty tools can help
- IPL: Intense Pulsed Light from a hair removal device provides long-term hair reduction over time
- Laser hair removal: lasers target hair at the root to damage the follicle and provides long-term hair reduction after a number of sessions
- Threading: involves using a cotton or polyester string to pluck hairs out, usually used for facial hair
- Tweezing: simply plucking out hair with tweezers is suitable for some hair removal
- Electrolysis: this permanent hair removal method works by sending a current from a metal probe down each individual hair, causing a chemical reaction that kills the hair at the root
Some hair removal methods are better for certain areas of the body/face, price budgets, and lifestyles - not to mention pain thresholds!
In this guide, we will take you through the pros and cons of each method for each part of the body / face and help you discover the one that suits you best.
What is the best permanent hair removal?
If you’re looking for longevity with your hair removal, Electrolysis is probably your best bet, as it actually kills the hair at the root rather than damageing / inhibiting it like lasering and IPL.
What method of hair removal lasts the longest?
Waxing, epilating, sugaring and other methods that remove hairs by the root tend to last a lot longer than hair removal creams, shaving, or trimming.
Which hair removal is best?
Some women like their body hair just as it is, and others choose to remove almost all of it – both are fine! However, there are naturally better hair removal methods for different parts of the body, e.g. your upper lip hair and leg hair are going to need slightly different care.
We will take you through the pros and cons of each method for:
- Facial hair
- Leg hair
- Armpit hair
- Pubic hair
How do I remove facial hair?
Whether you like your face smooth for makeup application or prefer to remove your upper lip hair, there is more to facial hair removal than a standard razor. Here are the pros and cons of each method.
Shaving facial hair
Pros
- Probably the quickest way to remove facial hair
- Easy to see what you are doing
- Pain-free – if you avoid the cuts / nicks
- Can feel very strange … but dermaplaning (a tiny scalpel to remove dead skin and ‘peach fuzz’) is a thing now and that is essentially shaving your face!
Cons
- Shaving only cuts hair above the skin so it will grow back very quickly (in around 2-3 days)
- Can leave you with a ‘stubbly’ feeling you might not want on your face skin
- Using a razor can feel quite harsh on soft, delicate facial skin
- You can nick and cut yourself if not careful
- Can cause shaving rash
- Might accidently shave off your eyebrow – whoops!
Waxing / sugaring facial hair
Pros
- Lasts longer than shaving / hair removal creams, as hair follicle is ripped out from the root (around 4 weeks)
- Benefits increase the longer you keep it up
- Can be cheap if you do it by yourself at home – better for areas like upper lip rather than eyebrows!
Cons
- It’s probably going to hurt!
- It can leave redness / a rash
- Can irritate sensitive facial skin
- Is quite expensive if you get it done professionally
Facial hair removal cream
Pros
- Easy, pain-free way to remove facial hair
- Cheaper than a lot of methods
Cons
- Often has an unpleasant odour, especially when it’s under your nose!
- Doesn’t last very long as it only clears hair from the surface (not the root)
- Can irritate those with sensitive skin
Lasering / IPL / Electrolysis for facial hair
Pros
- Perfect for smaller areas of the face, like the upper lip / eyebrows
- Provides longer-lasting or permanent hair removal so you don’t need to worry about it
- Don’t have to worry about regular ingrown hairs, cuts, shaving rashes, etc.
Cons
- Much more expensive than shaving / waxing / etc. but is more cost-effective long-term
- Permanent facial hair removal can be a very long-term commitment to get the results you want
How can women get rid of facial hair at home?
Yep! Waxing, shaving, dermaplaning, hair removal creams can all be done at home if you wish – just read up on it before you do it and
How do you stop chin hair growing?
If a hair wants to grow… it’s going to grow.
You can try plucking out hairs or waxing them to keep them at bay for longer. If you want to be rid of it for good, looking into more permanent solutions like laser or electrolysis could be a better option.
Summary
- Facial hair can be tricky to remove, especially if you have sensitive skin
- Shaving or dermaplaning your face can give a smooth finish, but doesn’t last very long
- Waxing eyebrows / the upper lip can be painful and irritate the skin, but results last longer
- Long-term / permanent hair removal lasts longer, but is expensive and takes longer
How do I remove leg hair?
Hairless legs have become the norm for most women, making it one of the most targeted areas when it comes to hair removal. But which is the best way to get those smooth, hair-free legs? Here are a few of the best leg hair removal methods.
Shaving leg hair
Pros
- Shaving leg hair with a razor is one of the cheapest and most easily accessible ways to remove hair from your legs
- It’s easy too! A few extra minutes in the shower with your razor or electric shaver and you’re done.
- You can quickly tackle other areas with the same razor, e.g. your bikini line
- If you replace the blade frequently, lubricate the skin with a shave foam or gel, you can achieve smooth, hair-free legs
- Pain-free – if you avoid the cuts / nicks
Cons
- Shaving only cuts hair above the skin so it will grow back very quickly (in around 2-3 days)
- You can nick and cut yourself if not careful
- Can cause shaving rash and ingrown hairs
Waxing / sugaring leg hair
Pros
- Lasts longer than shaving / hair removal creams, as hair follicle is ripped out from the root (around 4 weeks)
- Benefits get better the longer you keep it up
- Not too expensive if you do it by yourself at home (if you’re brave enough!)
- Less likely to cause ingrown hairs
Cons
- The legs are a big area for waxing so it may take a while
- It can be very painful, especially for large areas
- Can cause ingrown hairs
- Is quite expensive if you get it done professionally
Hair removal cream for leg hair
Pros
- Easy, pain-free way to remove leg hair
Cons
- Often has an unpleasant odour
- Doesn’t last very long as it only clears hair from the surface (not the root)
- Can be hard to apply to large areas like the legs in the shower as you have to wait for it to work before you rinse it off
- Can irritate those with sensitive skin
Lasering / IPL / Electrolysis for leg hair
Pros
- Provides longer-lasting or permanent hair removal so you don’t need to worry about it
- Don’t have to worry about regular ingrown hairs, cuts, shaving rashes, etc.
Cons
- Much more expensive than shaving / waxing / etc. but could be cost-effective in the long run
- Can be a very long-term commitment to get the results you want
- Better for smaller areas like the face / arm pits / bikini area as the legs will take a long time
Summary
- Shaving legs seems to be the easiest and way to remove leg hair, make sure you invest in a good razor, exfoliate before and moisturise after
- Waxing / sugaring is great for long-term hair-free legs, but can take a while!
- The legs are a very large area to laser or use other permanent hair removal methods and will end up very expensive
How can I remove hair from my stomach naturally?
Use any of the methods above!
The stomach is a large area like the legs, so maybe go for the same method that you use on them, e.g. a hair removal cream or waxing.
How do I remove hair from my armpits?
Although a lot of women are embracing the freedom that comes with not shaving your armpits, let’s face it, a lot of us still do. But what is the best way to shave those pits?
Shaving armpit hair
Pros
- Quick and easy to remove arm pit hair in seconds
- Super cheap, and you can shave other areas while you’re at it
- Pain-free, so long as you don’t cut yourself on accident – ouch!
Cons
- Grows back very fast, leaving that ‘stubble’
- Can make armpits sore if shaving every day
- Can cause ingrown hairs
Waxing / sugaring armpit hair
Pros
- Longer lasting results than shaving / using creams
- Benefits get better the longer you keep it up
- Not too expensive if you do it by yourself at home (if you’re brave enough!)
- Less likely to cause ingrown hairs
Cons
- Can be very painful in this area
- Have to allow it to grow for a few weeks before waxing
- Can be expensive to get it done professionally
Hair removal cream for armpit hair
Pros
- Easy, pain-free way to remove armpit hair
- Can easily be applied in the shower to this area
Cons
- Often has an unpleasant odour
- Doesn’t last very long as it only clears hair from the surface (not the root)
- Can irritate sensitive skin
Lasering / IPL / Electrolysis
Pros
- Provides longer-lasting or permanent hair removal so you don’t need to worry about hairy armpits every couple of days!
- Less likely to cause ingrown hairs, cuts, shaving rashes, etc.
Cons
- Much more expensive than shaving / waxing / etc. but could be cost-effective in the long run
- Requires a long-term commitment to the treatment to get desired results
Summary
- Shaving armpits couldn’t be easier and is most people’s preferred method of hair removal
- Waxing / sugaring is quite fast for this area, but can be very painful!
- Lasering / electrolysis / IPL will leave your armpits hair-free for longer, and as it’s a small area, it should work well
How do I remove hair from my pubic area?
Pubic hair / bikini line hair removal can be a very sensitive subject – so it’s important to find the best removal method for you. Here are the pros and cons of pubic hair removal options.
Shaving pubic hair
Pros
- Shaving pubic hair with a razor is one of the cheapest and most easily accessible methods out there
- You can use your razor or electric shaver in the shower and combine it with tackling other hair on your body, e.g. your leg hair
- Pain-free – if you avoid the cuts / nicks
Cons
- Let’s face it, pubic hair can be quite awkward to reach by yourself with a razor
- Shaving slices hair just above the skin so it will grow back very quickly (in around 2-3 days)
- You can nick and cut yourself if not careful – and that’s going to hurt!
- Can cause shaving rash, ingrown hairs and ‘stubble’
Handpicked content: Guide to ingrown pubic hair
Waxing / sugaring pubic hair
Pros
- Getting a professional wax makes it easier to reach pubic hair – for the therapist at least!
- Lasts longer than shaving / hair removal creams, as hair follicle is ripped out from the root (around 4 weeks)
- Can be better for holidays by the beach / pool than shaving
- Benefits get better the longer you keep it up
- Less likely to cause ingrown hairs
Cons
- It is often very painful to wax your pubic hair
- Can be embarrassing
- It’s quite expensive if you get it done professionally
Hair removal cream for pubic hair
Pros
- Intimate hair removal cream can be a great alternative to shaving and waxing
Cons
- Vaginal hair removal cream often has an unpleasant odour
- Doesn’t last very long as it only clears hair from the surface (not the root)
- Can be hard to apply to pubic area in the shower as you have to wait for it to work before you rinse it off
- Can irritate those with sensitive skin – and can be a little scary to put it near very sensitive skin ‘down there’
Lasering / IPL / Electrolysis for pubic hair
Pros
- Works best on smaller hairy areas like the bikini line
- Provides longer-lasting or permanent hair removal so you don’t need to think about it as much
- Don’t have to worry about regular ingrown hairs, cuts, shaving rashes, etc.
Cons
- Much more expensive than shaving / waxing / etc. but could be cost-effective in the long run
- You’re in for a long-term commitment to get the results you want
Summary
- Shaving pubic hair can leave you with bumpy, stubble-y skin, but is still probably the easiest way to get rid
- Waxing / sugaring or using something like an epilator is going to hurt, but does last much longer than shaving and often has better results
- Lasering / electrolysis is great for small areas like the bikini line, but it’s going to be expensive!
Is it healthier to shave pubic hair or not?
The healthiest thing to do with your pubic hair is to leave it as nature intended. That doesn’t mean shaving or removing hair is unhealthy if you follow good hygiene and product advice, but shaving is not healthier by any means.
What are the best natural hair removal products?
If you like to use hair removal products, but sometimes get sick of the waste from home-waxing or the amount of plastic used in shaving products, it can be tough to find suitable products.
But it doesn’t have to be that way! Lot of companies are putting a spotlight on sustainability and making products that are kinder to the environment.
Here at H&B we are big fans of Nads, a hair removal company with a natural, eco-friendly products like washable and reusable cotton wax strips. They’re totally vegan and use natural ingredients, without compromising on results.
Last updated: 27 May 2021
