Shaving update
I have found that using hair conditioner instead of soaps or shaving creams for shaving all parts of the body results in a closer shave and softer feeling skin. Also don't forget to smooth on a nice skin cream afterwards.
I have found that using hair conditioner instead of soaps or shaving creams for shaving all parts of the body results in a closer shave and softer feeling skin. Also don't forget to smooth on a nice skin cream afterwards.
Types of Hair Removal
Hair Removal Method
The desire to remove excess or dark hair usually begins in adolescence and seems to continue until the day we die. Whether it is hair on the face, armpits, legs, bikini line, or other body parts, many women AND men are intent upon having the hair on their scalp be the only visible hair on their bodies.
There are many options available to remove unwanted hair, but few options to get rid of hair permanently. The different methods of hair removal from the old stand-by, shaving, to the new treatments, lasers and Vaniqa, are discussed here. Each person should chose a method or combination of methods that works best for them depending on cost, time available, skin type, and the desired hair-free area.
1. 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.
2. Hair Removal with Shaving
Shaving is the most temporary method of hair removal because it merely cuts the hair off at the skin surface. Shaving does not make the hair shaft thicker, darker, or grow faster or slower. However, the short hair shaft may be more noticeable as it grows out because it has a blunt tip instead of the normal tapered tip. Shaving should be done after applying some type of moisturizer to the skin to help the razor glide over the skin, not cut or scrape it. Common moisturizers include water, shaving cream, hair conditioner, or body wash.
3. Physical Hair Removal
Physically pulling the hair out of the follicle is a common and fairly inexpensive method of hair removal. None of these methods changes the color, texture, or density of the hair. The hair takes longer to grow back because it must grow to the surface of the skin before it is noticed. Because hair grows at different rates, some of the hair that has been physically removed may take more time to grow back in. Repeatedly pulling hair out of the follicle may damage the follicle enough over time to keep it from producing more hair.
4. Physical Hair Removal - Plucking
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.
5. Physical Hair Removal - Waxing
Waxing is an effective method of removing large amounts of hair at one time. In this method wax is warmed to allow it to be spread easily over the skin in the direction of hair growth. The hair becomes embedded in the wax, which cools and firms up grasping the hair. 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 that is still left on the skin must be peeled or scratched off. Caution must be used when heating wax so as not to burn the skin.
6. Physical Hair Removal - Sugar Waxing
Sugar waxing is a popular form of hair removal that works in the same way traditional waxing does. A thick sugary substance similar to caramel is spread on the skin in the direction of hair growth. The hair becomes embedded in the caramel. A cloth or paper strip is patted onto the caramel and then pulled off quickly in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling the hairs out of the follicles. The advantage of this method over traditional waxing is the clean up. The sugar substance is water-soluble and can be removed easier than wax by rinsing with water.
7. Hair Removal with Depilatories
Depilatories use a chemical called thioglycolate mixed with sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide to literally melt the hair away. Thioglycolate disrupts disulfide bonds, which are chemical bonds that hold skin and hair cells together. The disulfide bonds that hold hair together contain more of the protein cystine than do the disulfide bonds that hold skin cells together. Thioglycolate is more effective on disulfide bonds that contain cystine. The major side effect of a depilatory is skin irritation because the chemical can melt away skin cells.
A depilatory is applied to the area with unwanted hair and left on for 3 to 15 minutes. During this time the chemical dissolves the hair and the resulting jelly-like substance is wiped or washed off after the appropriate time. The chemical should be tested first on a small skin area at least 48 hours before applying it to a large area. Applying a hydrocortisone cream after hair removal may help decrease irritation.
8. Hair Removal with Electrolysis
Electrolysis involves inserting a fine needle into the hair follicle and applying an electrical current to the follicle root. This procedure actually burns the hair root theoretically preventing it from producing more hair. Each hair follicle must be treated individually and may take several treatments to destroy the follicle. Electrolysis is a permanent form of hair removal but it has several drawbacks. First, there are no standardized licensing guidelines for electrolysis so finding an experienced, effective technician is difficult requiring talking to clients who have experienced permanent results. Second, this method requires repeated treatments for up to 12 to 18 months. Hair follicles that are in the telogen phase are more difficult to destroy than hair follicles in the anagen phase. Shaving approximately 3 days before an electrolysis treatment ensures that the hairs that are visible are in the anagen phase. Finally, side effects can include pain, infection, keloid formation (for people who are susceptible), hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmentation.
9. Hair Removal with Laser
Laser treatment of various skin conditions has blossomed, as laser technology has become more understood. Hair removal is a common application of laser technology, but it is not permanent and not for everyone. Lasers work by emitting light at various wavelengths, energy output, and pulse widths. The wavelength used determines the skin structure it will affect such as veins, melanin, or water. Most lasers used for hair removal target melanin and are therefore designed to burn structures that contain melanin. The more melanin, the more damage. It makes sense that laser hair removal works best for light-skinned people with dark hair. As with electrolysis, hair follicles in the anagen phase are more easily destroyed than those in the telogen phase. Therefore, laser treatments for hair removal must be repeated. At this time it appears that laser treatment, while not causing permanent destruction of all hair follicles, does retard the regrowth of new hair.
10. Hair Removal with Vaniqa
Vaniqa is a prescription-only topical cream that has been FDA-approved for reducing and inhibiting the growth of unwanted facial hair. The active ingredient in Vaniqa is eflornithine hydrochloride, which has been used to treat African sleeping sickness and certain cancers. Vaniqa works by inhibiting an enzyme that is needed for cell reproduction and other cell functions necessary for hair growth. Vaniqa is applied twice a day to areas of unwanted facial hair. Noticeable results are usually observed after 4-8 weeks of therapy. Application must be continued for as long as inhibition of hair growth is desired. Vaniqa continues to reduce facial hair growth for up to 8 weeks after discontinuing treatment.
Ingrown Hair Removal
Ingrown hairs happen when a hair grows back the wrong way, causing pain. Quite a few men and women are troubled from time to time (or in some cases all the time) by ingrown hairs.
What is an Ingrown Hair?
An ingrown hair is a hair that curls and penetrates the skin with its tip. When the hair curls and penetrates the skin, inflammation occurs. Sometimes, the small ingrown hair can even be seen beneath the raised area.
Ingrown hairs are more common among people with very curly hair. Most ingrown hairs occur in the beard area. Ingrown hairs can also occur in the pubic area and the neck area. Bacteria, yeasts, acne, or fungi infections can further worsen the the ingrown hair.
What are the Symptoms of an Ingrown Hair?
Each individual may have different symptoms differently. The most common symptom of an ingrown hair is inflammation of the skin, followed by pus formation, redness, and itchiness.
Can Ingrown Hairs be Treated?
Yes. An ingrown hair often heals on its own. However, in the case of chronic ingrown hairs, treatment may include:
1. Allow the hair to grow longer
2. Depilatory cream
Depilatory creams are great for short-term hair removal.
3. Electrolysis
Permanent hair removal
Some Tips to Prevent Ingrown Hairs:
* Shave with an electric razor.
* Wash the skin before shaving.
* Shave in the same direction each time.
* Use an acne cream made with salicylic acid on the days that you do not shave.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating options include creams, lotions, or body gels, a slightly abrasive washcloth or glove specifically designed for exfoliation.
Do not exfoliate the skin if you already have ingrown hairs because skin irritation may occur.
Use shaving cream
Shave in the direction of the hair growth.
Do not shave against the grain
For men, downwards on cheeks, chin and moustache area, upwards on the neck.
For women, towards on the legs, underarms and bikini area
Ingrown Hair Removal Tips
The best way to deal with ingrown hairs is to prevent them before they begin.
You can do this by exfoliating before shaving and by exfoliating with a loofah or body scrub each time you shower. This seems to work by stimulating the skin and by keeping pores open. Some women find that consciously relaxing their muscles while hair is being removed helps to prevent ingrown hairs. After removing hair, you should avoid using heavy moisturizers or creams on your skin for a few hours. These can clog skin. You can use witch hazel, aftershave, toner, or even cold water after waxing, tweezing, sugaring or using an epilator. This tightens the pores and cleans the skin (NEVER use witch hazel, toner or aftershave on sensitive areas like the bikini line, and only use toner on your face). If you find that one part of your body is always affected by ingrown hairs, try using a different hair removal method on that part of the body.
Even if you take every precaution, you may still get some ingrown hairs. The best way to treat them is to let them heal on their own. Keep the area clean and the situation should clear up on its own. If the ingrown hairs get worse or itch or hurt a lot, you may have an infection. Check with your doctor or dermatologist for help. If you have ingrown hairs on your legs or bikini line, try to wear loose-fitting clothing for a few days so that the friction from the fabric does not aggravate your skin even more. Only start shaving, waxing, or using your regular hair removal methods again.
The desire to remove excess or dark hair usually begins in adolescence and seems to continue until the day we die. Whether it is hair on the face, armpits, legs, bikini line, or other body parts, many women AND men are intent upon having the hair on their scalp be the only visible hair on their bodies.
There are many options available to remove unwanted hair, but few options to get rid of hair permanently. The different methods of hair removal from the old stand-by, shaving, to the new treatments, lasers and Vaniqa, are discussed here. Each person should chose a method or combination of methods that works best for them depending on cost, time available, skin type, and the desired hair-free area.
1. 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.
2. Hair Removal with Shaving
Shaving is the most temporary method of hair removal because it merely cuts the hair off at the skin surface. Shaving does not make the hair shaft thicker, darker, or grow faster or slower. However, the short hair shaft may be more noticeable as it grows out because it has a blunt tip instead of the normal tapered tip. Shaving should be done after applying some type of moisturizer to the skin to help the razor glide over the skin, not cut or scrape it. Common moisturizers include water, shaving cream, hair conditioner, or body wash.
3. Physical Hair Removal
Physically pulling the hair out of the follicle is a common and fairly inexpensive method of hair removal. None of these methods changes the color, texture, or density of the hair. The hair takes longer to grow back because it must grow to the surface of the skin before it is noticed. Because hair grows at different rates, some of the hair that has been physically removed may take more time to grow back in. Repeatedly pulling hair out of the follicle may damage the follicle enough over time to keep it from producing more hair.
4. Physical Hair Removal - Plucking
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.
5. Physical Hair Removal - Waxing
Waxing is an effective method of removing large amounts of hair at one time. In this method wax is warmed to allow it to be spread easily over the skin in the direction of hair growth. The hair becomes embedded in the wax, which cools and firms up grasping the hair. 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 that is still left on the skin must be peeled or scratched off. Caution must be used when heating wax so as not to burn the skin.
6. Physical Hair Removal - Sugar Waxing
Sugar waxing is a popular form of hair removal that works in the same way traditional waxing does. A thick sugary substance similar to caramel is spread on the skin in the direction of hair growth. The hair becomes embedded in the caramel. A cloth or paper strip is patted onto the caramel and then pulled off quickly in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling the hairs out of the follicles. The advantage of this method over traditional waxing is the clean up. The sugar substance is water-soluble and can be removed easier than wax by rinsing with water.
7. Hair Removal with Depilatories
Depilatories use a chemical called thioglycolate mixed with sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide to literally melt the hair away. Thioglycolate disrupts disulfide bonds, which are chemical bonds that hold skin and hair cells together. The disulfide bonds that hold hair together contain more of the protein cystine than do the disulfide bonds that hold skin cells together. Thioglycolate is more effective on disulfide bonds that contain cystine. The major side effect of a depilatory is skin irritation because the chemical can melt away skin cells.
A depilatory is applied to the area with unwanted hair and left on for 3 to 15 minutes. During this time the chemical dissolves the hair and the resulting jelly-like substance is wiped or washed off after the appropriate time. The chemical should be tested first on a small skin area at least 48 hours before applying it to a large area. Applying a hydrocortisone cream after hair removal may help decrease irritation.
8. Hair Removal with Electrolysis
Electrolysis involves inserting a fine needle into the hair follicle and applying an electrical current to the follicle root. This procedure actually burns the hair root theoretically preventing it from producing more hair. Each hair follicle must be treated individually and may take several treatments to destroy the follicle. Electrolysis is a permanent form of hair removal but it has several drawbacks. First, there are no standardized licensing guidelines for electrolysis so finding an experienced, effective technician is difficult requiring talking to clients who have experienced permanent results. Second, this method requires repeated treatments for up to 12 to 18 months. Hair follicles that are in the telogen phase are more difficult to destroy than hair follicles in the anagen phase. Shaving approximately 3 days before an electrolysis treatment ensures that the hairs that are visible are in the anagen phase. Finally, side effects can include pain, infection, keloid formation (for people who are susceptible), hyperpigmentation, or hypopigmentation.
9. Hair Removal with Laser
Laser treatment of various skin conditions has blossomed, as laser technology has become more understood. Hair removal is a common application of laser technology, but it is not permanent and not for everyone. Lasers work by emitting light at various wavelengths, energy output, and pulse widths. The wavelength used determines the skin structure it will affect such as veins, melanin, or water. Most lasers used for hair removal target melanin and are therefore designed to burn structures that contain melanin. The more melanin, the more damage. It makes sense that laser hair removal works best for light-skinned people with dark hair. As with electrolysis, hair follicles in the anagen phase are more easily destroyed than those in the telogen phase. Therefore, laser treatments for hair removal must be repeated. At this time it appears that laser treatment, while not causing permanent destruction of all hair follicles, does retard the regrowth of new hair.
10. Hair Removal with Vaniqa
Vaniqa is a prescription-only topical cream that has been FDA-approved for reducing and inhibiting the growth of unwanted facial hair. The active ingredient in Vaniqa is eflornithine hydrochloride, which has been used to treat African sleeping sickness and certain cancers. Vaniqa works by inhibiting an enzyme that is needed for cell reproduction and other cell functions necessary for hair growth. Vaniqa is applied twice a day to areas of unwanted facial hair. Noticeable results are usually observed after 4-8 weeks of therapy. Application must be continued for as long as inhibition of hair growth is desired. Vaniqa continues to reduce facial hair growth for up to 8 weeks after discontinuing treatment.
Ingrown Hair Removal
Ingrown hairs happen when a hair grows back the wrong way, causing pain. Quite a few men and women are troubled from time to time (or in some cases all the time) by ingrown hairs.
What is an Ingrown Hair?
An ingrown hair is a hair that curls and penetrates the skin with its tip. When the hair curls and penetrates the skin, inflammation occurs. Sometimes, the small ingrown hair can even be seen beneath the raised area.
Ingrown hairs are more common among people with very curly hair. Most ingrown hairs occur in the beard area. Ingrown hairs can also occur in the pubic area and the neck area. Bacteria, yeasts, acne, or fungi infections can further worsen the the ingrown hair.
What are the Symptoms of an Ingrown Hair?
Each individual may have different symptoms differently. The most common symptom of an ingrown hair is inflammation of the skin, followed by pus formation, redness, and itchiness.
Can Ingrown Hairs be Treated?
Yes. An ingrown hair often heals on its own. However, in the case of chronic ingrown hairs, treatment may include:
1. Allow the hair to grow longer
2. Depilatory cream
Depilatory creams are great for short-term hair removal.
3. Electrolysis
Permanent hair removal
Some Tips to Prevent Ingrown Hairs:
* Shave with an electric razor.
* Wash the skin before shaving.
* Shave in the same direction each time.
* Use an acne cream made with salicylic acid on the days that you do not shave.
Exfoliate
Exfoliating options include creams, lotions, or body gels, a slightly abrasive washcloth or glove specifically designed for exfoliation.
Do not exfoliate the skin if you already have ingrown hairs because skin irritation may occur.
Use shaving cream
Shave in the direction of the hair growth.
Do not shave against the grain
For men, downwards on cheeks, chin and moustache area, upwards on the neck.
For women, towards on the legs, underarms and bikini area
Ingrown Hair Removal Tips
The best way to deal with ingrown hairs is to prevent them before they begin.
You can do this by exfoliating before shaving and by exfoliating with a loofah or body scrub each time you shower. This seems to work by stimulating the skin and by keeping pores open. Some women find that consciously relaxing their muscles while hair is being removed helps to prevent ingrown hairs. After removing hair, you should avoid using heavy moisturizers or creams on your skin for a few hours. These can clog skin. You can use witch hazel, aftershave, toner, or even cold water after waxing, tweezing, sugaring or using an epilator. This tightens the pores and cleans the skin (NEVER use witch hazel, toner or aftershave on sensitive areas like the bikini line, and only use toner on your face). If you find that one part of your body is always affected by ingrown hairs, try using a different hair removal method on that part of the body.
Even if you take every precaution, you may still get some ingrown hairs. The best way to treat them is to let them heal on their own. Keep the area clean and the situation should clear up on its own. If the ingrown hairs get worse or itch or hurt a lot, you may have an infection. Check with your doctor or dermatologist for help. If you have ingrown hairs on your legs or bikini line, try to wear loose-fitting clothing for a few days so that the friction from the fabric does not aggravate your skin even more. Only start shaving, waxing, or using your regular hair removal methods again.