Beauty Byline with Sanah: Don’t Get Harried by Hair Removal

Are you tired of shaving every day? Have you been researching hair removal methods?

Managing unwanted hair can be hard, especially for those always on-the-go. But what if I told

you sugar, lemon and water may be the answer to your prayers?

Common hair removal methods include shaving, plucking, waxing, threading, laser, electrolysis

and depilatory creams. Shaving cuts the hair; plucking, waxing and threading pull the hair out

from the roots; laser hair removal destroys the hair bulb; electrolysis destroys the hair follicle;

and depilatory creams dissolve the hair shaft.

Electrolysis and laser hair removal are the more permanent options while the others offer

temporary or semi-permanent solutions. Each method of hair removal comes with its pros and

cons. I’m going to focus on waxing and threading for the purpose of this article.

Threading

A thin cotton or polyester thread (like you use in your sewing machine) is doubled, then twisted.

It is then rolled over areas of unwanted hair, plucking the hair at the follicle level. Unlike

tweezing, where single hairs are pulled out one at a time, threading can remove short rows of

hair, which is why it is the preferred method to shape eyebrows because of its precision and

accuracy. This method is best for smaller areas like eyebrows or face but not for the rest of the

body. Typical regrowth time is two to three weeks.

Waxing

There are two types of waxing, using natural sugar or a more artificial-based wax. Both

techniques lift hair from the root of the hair follicle and have a longer effect on the skin than

shaving. In both methods, users report seeing hair growth diminish over time.

Sugar wax is made of sugar, lemon and water. It is applied in the opposite direction of hair

growth to lift the hair and trap it in the stickiness of the sugar, then pulled out with the hair’s

natural direction. The process uses either strips or paste, but for effective removal, hair needs to

be at least 1/16 inch long.

There are many advantages to sugaring for hair removal. It’s the best option for sensitive skin

since it is organic, gluten-free and applied at room temperature. Because the sugar wax is not

hot and does not stick to the skin, there is also no risk of redness or irritation. Sugar waxing

causes less ingrown hair and is generally less painful than other hair removal methods.

Other wax is made from resins and a mixture of natural ingredients and chemicals, and must be

heated before application. Using muslin strips and wooden spatulas, waxes are applied in the

direction of hair growth and pulled out against it, which sometimes can cause redness and

inflammation - common side effects that can be prevented with proper post-waxing care. Hair

needs to be at least 1/4-inch long for waxing to be effective. Not all waxes work on sensitive

skin; hard waxes and special soft waxes are the best options in that case.

If you’ve been thinking about getting a wax, now is the best time to begin the journey. My

personal preference is sugar wax. In one year of consistent waxing, my hair is down 25% and

I’m able to go four to six weeks between waxes. Every body is different but take my advice and

start now - get waxed every three to four weeks so by the time summer rolls around, you’re

ready to put on that bikini!