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Six ways to remove body hair naturally
Six ways to remove body hair naturally including shaving, waxing, and more.
Below are the six ways to remove body hair naturally:
- Shaving: Shaving is one of the cheapest, quickest, painless, and most easily accessible methods of getting rid of the body hair, resulting in smooth skin instantly. It takes only a few minutes to even cover large areas, such as the legs; it can be done in the shower as well. Any part of the body can be shaved. It is advised to lubricate the skin with shaving gel, shaving foam, soap, or shower gel before shaving to achieve better results. Small nicks and cuts may occur, but they usually heal quickly without scarring. Those with extremely sensitive skin may develop razor bumps. Using a lubricant while shaving, especially one that has natural anti-inflammatory ingredients such as aloe vera, can reduce the risk of razor bumps, nicks, and cuts. Because shaving only cuts the hair above the skin, it grows back very quickly. Hence, you may need to repeat shaving every few days. Shaving also has a risk of ingrown hair.
- Depilatory cream: Depilatory creams are also called hair removal creams. They contain chemicals that break down keratin bonds of the hair, making the hair so weak that it can be wiped or rinsed off. They are inexpensive and easily available. Most depilatory creams take less than 5-10 minutes to work. (This varies with each manufacturer; hence, it is advised to strictly follow the instructions that come with the product.) It can be used over any part of the body and is the best for parts of the body with coarse, thick hair such as the arms, legs, and underarms. There are gentler formulations specifically available for sensitive areas such as the face and bikini line. Because depilatory creams only work on the surface of the skin and not on the roots of the hair, the hair grows back quickly. Therefore, you may have to repeat every week or every few days depending on your hair growth rate. Depilatory creams often have an unpleasant odor, which some may not be able to tolerate. Those with sensitive skin may develop redness or allergic reactions after using this hair removal technique. In case of an allergic reaction, depilatory creams should be avoided, and consultation with a dermatologist may be required.
- Waxing: Waxing is not as easy and painless as shaving or depilatory creams, but results in the last 3-4 weeks. Waxing can cause pain and discomfort. It usually takes longer to remove hair and is done by a professional, which can be expensive. However, several self-waxing strips are also available for people to be able to wax their bodies on their own at home. Waxing can be done all over the body, including the face. Warm, melted wax is applied to the skin in strips and pulled off in the opposite direction of the hair growth. The wax adheres firmly to the hair and heat causes the hair follicles to dilate slightly, resulting in the entire hair, including the root, to be removed. With regular waxing, the new hair that grows out would become weaker over time. Hence, it becomes easier and less painful to wax. Those with extremely sensitive skin can develop significant redness, irritation, and swelling after waxing. Waxing may be contraindicated when the individual is undergoing other skin treatments such as skin peels, topical medications, or laser treatments; hence, it is advised to consult a doctor regarding the same. There is a risk of ingrown hair with regular waxing. This can be minimized by thoroughly exfoliating the skin before waxing to remove the dead cells and impurities that can block the hair follicles resulting in ingrown hair. There is also a risk of infection following waxing if proper hygiene practices are not followed. The hair must regrow at least a quarter of an inch before waxing can be repeated, which means a person would have to go through a period of having body hair before they can wax again. However, shaving and depilatory creams may be used because they work with any hair length.
- Sugaring: Sugaring is an ancient technique of hair removal that has now regained popularity. It may be done at home or by a professional. It uses a simple recipe of sugar, lemon juice, and water to create a paste, which can be made at home as well. The paste is applied over the skin and then pulled off in the opposite direction of hair growth. Like waxing, the hair is pulled off from the roots, results last 3-4 weeks, and the hair has to regrow to at least a quarter of an inch before sugaring can be repeated. Sugaring is less painful and damaging to the skin compared with waxing.
- Threading: Threading is ideal to remove hair from small areas such as the face. It removes the hair by the root. It is very precise, hence ideal to shape the eyebrows. The process is fairly quick; it involves using a thread to pluck out several hairs at once. It is typically done by a professional, but one can learn the technique of threading from a professional or watching instructional videos online. Results can last 3-6 weeks but can vary depending on the hair growth. Pain, discomfort, and redness are common during threading. Those with overly sensitive skin may develop significant redness, swelling, and irritation.
- Turmeric: Turmeric is a natural spice that is believed to have hair removal properties. It contains natural chemicals that may be able to slow or stop hair growth by weakening the hair roots. The results are slow and not dramatic like shaving or waxing, but it may be used alongside other hair removal techniques for its potential long-term benefits. Turmeric is safe for most people; it also reduces pigmentation and inflammation and has antimicrobial properties. Turmeric may be applied all over the body every day in the form of turmeric oil (which may be washed off after an hour) or homemade masks. Turmeric may be mixed with lemon, honey, gram flour, and milk or yogurt and made into a paste, applied over the skin, and allowed to dry. Once the mask dries out, it can be gently scrubbed off.