WHAT ABOUT OTHER REMOVAL METHODS?
Did You Know…
Other hair removal professionals are legally forbidden to claim their method provides permanent results? That’s right! They are only allowed to promise permanent hair reduction. Electrolysis is still the only method approved by the FDA as a permanent hair removal solution.
That’s not to say other methods can’t play a role in helping to achieve some of your desired results; in fact, in some cases, they even complement electrolysis.
MOST FREQUENTLY USED
Lasering - Hair removal lasers beam pulses of light into the hair follicle attempting to destroy it. Its success rate relies on the amount of pigment in the hair as well as the amount of contrast between the hair and the skin. This procedure is restricted in most states to only being administered by a medically licensed professional because of its potential risks including paradoxical hypertrichosis ».
Laser hair removal is NOT FDA approved as a permanent hair removal method, nor is it covered by insurance for gender change procedures.
Waxing - Waxing, a form of epilating, is the process of hair removal from the root by adhering wax to body hair, and then removing this covering taking the hair from the follicle along with it.
Strip waxing, (soft wax) is accomplished by spreading wax thinly over the skin. A cloth or paper strip is applied, pressed firmly, and then quickly ripped against the direction of hair growth.
Stripless wax, (hard wax) is also applied directly to the skin. The wax then hardens when it cools, allowing an esthetician to easily remove it without the aid of strips. This method is beneficial for those with sensitive skin.
Sugaring - Also known as Persian waxing, sugaring has been around since 1900 B.C. but has significantly increased in popularity in the last few years because it’s a natural alternative to modern waxing. Its most basic ingredients include sugar, honey, lemon juice and water, making it water-soluble and absent of harmful chemicals. Sugaring, also a form of epilating, compares closest to stripless-waxing in the way it’s applied to the skin and in the results achieved when done by a trained esthetician.
Shaving - Shaving, or clipping, is the removal of hair using a razor or any other bladed instrument to slice hair at the level of the skin. Moisturizers that contain vitamin E have helped some women shave less frequently.
Tweezing - Tweezing, yet another form of epilating, is the removal or pluck of the hair from the follicle, usually one at a time, using a pair of handheld tweezers. Like threading, tweezing allows for better precision over waxing and over sugaring.
Threading - Threading, another form of epilating, is a method of hair removal originating in Iran, India, Central Asia and China and has become most popularly used in Western countries for trimming and shaping the eyebrows.
During threading, a thin cotton or polyester thread is doubled, twisted, 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, and it provides more precise control in shaping eyebrows. Threading is gentler on the skin than waxing.
There are a few different techniques for threading, including the hand method, mouth method and neck method but the mouth-holding method is the fastest and most precise.
Epilating - An epilator is a handheld device with a rotating roller that, when glided over the skin, removes unwanted hair like a bunch of tweezers all working at once.
Epilating is a term that refers to any hair removal that rips multiple hairs at once from the follicle, not just an electronic epilator. Sugaring, waxing, threading & tweezing are also forms of epilation; however, when referring to epilating, most people are referencing the use of an electronic epilator. Epilating is the best alternative to sugaring and waxing for people with overly-sensitive skin.
Depilatory Creams - A depilatory is a chemical composition used to remove hair by breaking down its protein bonds. It comes in several forms like gel, powder, and even roll-on sprays; however, the most popular are in the lotion & creams category. Depilatory creams take up to 15 minutes to work once applied depending on the thickness and density of the hair being treated. Once complete, the product can be wiped off with a cloth.
COMPARE + CONTRAST + COMPLEMENT
We know it's hard to decide which hair removal method is best for you. To make it a little easier, we took the most frequently used methods and provided information about how long its results last, cost, advantages, obstacles, recommendations on who should and should not use them, the pain factor, and what other method(s) it compares to in terms of what happens either on or beneath the surface of the skin.*
Finally, we’ve also included which ones can be paired together to complement your desired results without jeopardizing the integrity of the other.
+ Laser
+ Waxing
+ Sugaring
+ Shaving (Clipping)
+ Tweezing
+ Threading
+ Epilating
+ Depilatory Creams
+ Electrolysis
* Information provided is based on an average. Remember, everyone’s hair growth rate and pain threshold is unique and prices vary among service providers.
“Make your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.”