Hair grows all over our bodies. There is no way around it. Some of us start to grow hair early in our life, some later. But we all grow hair eventually. When it comes to removing hair, and popular hair removal methods, one of the first question people have is which one lasts the longest. And which one is the best? Well, it all depends on several factors. But it is widely assumed that laser removal lasts the longest. And for small areas, plucking hairs individually with tweezers can last up to eight weeks. So, with that in mind, here are the popular hair removal methods, and their ups and downs.

Shaving

Shaving is the easiest and cheapest method for removing hair. We often rely on shaving when we are in a need of a quick fix. The problem with shaving is that it leaves your skin bumpy, stubbly, and in some cases, even bloody.

It is all due to the way shaving works. The razor we use for shaving cuts the hair at an angle, leaving the hair with a tendency to grow inward. This can cause ingrown hairs, particularly if your hair is curly.

Shaving can cause complications like scarring, breaking fine capillaries when removing hair, and permanent dark marks. The biggest benefit of shaving is that the razor has an exfoliating effect, which leaves your skin smoother. Shaving is one of the few hair removal methods that also cleans the surface of the skin of dead skin cells.

Hair removal cream

In the past few years, facial hair removal creams have gained popularity. The idea is that hair removal creams prevent ingrown hairs from developing. However, the downside is that they can cause chemical burns. After all, most of these creams are strongly alkaline. And the longer you leave the product on your skin, the higher the risk is for a burn.

These creams cannot be used on sensitive skin.

Peel off masks

Peel-off masks are mostly known as a remedy to get rid of dead skin cells on your face. They help remove impurities from the outermost layer of the skin. But they also help with hair on your face. Because they work in a similar fashion as waxing, they pull small hair out of your face as well. And you can effectively use them to get rid of small hair in your upper lips area.

Epilating

Epilating is a process in which with a hand-held device we run along the skin’s surface and remove hair. This hair removal method works on all body parts, and it is mostly designed for large areas. Say the legs area, underarms, or bikini area.

The advantages are you get an ultra-smooth and lasting hair removal method. Epilating can last up to four weeks, and it is a mess-free method.

The downside, however, is that it can be uncomfortable in more sensitive areas. Epilators can remove hairs as short as 0.5mm, which is less than waxing. For example, waxing requires length of 2mm of hair for optimal results. Epilating effectively removes that “need to wait for waxing”.

Threading

This hair removal method works only for small areas. Women use it to get their eyebrows fix and other facial hair. Threading is the least damaging method for your skin. It is gentler than tweezing. The only downside is that you can use it only on small areas.  Because hair is removed from the root, regrowth is slow.

Waxing

Waxing is by far the most popular hair removal method. It works by removing a top layer of skin every time you use it. That is why you have to be as gentle as possible. And while it is good for removing hair on your body, you should avoid using it on the skin in the eye area.

Waxing can be done with both hot and cold wax. Once you apply on the skin in the direction of hair growth, you wait for it to become solid, and strip it off against the direction of the growth. Pulling the wax pulls hair out with it.

The advantages are it keeps your skin hair-free for a couple of weeks. However, on the downside, waxing can be painful, and you have to wait until your hair is long enough so that you can wax again. If you hate the feeling of regrowing hair, waxing has to be combined with something else. Waxing can also miss very short hairs. And dermatologists recommend that you avoid waxing if you have skin disorders like psoriasis or eczema.

Laser treatments

Laser hair removal is the latest trend in the hair removal industry. The claim is that laser can permanently remove hair. That is not true. Yes, doing a couple of laser treatments will prevent hair from growing back for a year, or a couple of months, but hair will regrow again. One huge advantage is that laser treatments help your skin rejuvenate thanks to the formation of new collagen.