Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

 Hello all!  Sorry, am back to at least weekly posting now so here we go:

I know, we've had some sun!  Two things happen when the sun comes out; we see how tight last year's summer clothes are (very depressing) and we start to think about sorting out our bodies, in particular, de-fuzzing legs, underarms, bits - they all need our attention now but with so many options what to do?  Here's my beauty guide to your choices.

CHEAP, SIMPLE, QUICK

Razor

Now I love razors as they are quick and easy.  There's no truth in the beauty myth that if you shave your legs the hairs will grow back stronger.  What happens is that because you blunt the end of the hair it grows back the same thickness as the hair shaft, so there's no tapering.  In other words, it just looks sturdier.  However, if you have dark hairs this is less of a suitable option as re-growth is reasonably fast.

TRY:                          Gillette For Women Venus Razor

Price:                        £6.49

Stockist:                   boots.com

Hair Removal Cream

In my youth these were cumbersome, messy, smelly creams that were a real pain.  It didn't help that I was impatient and couldn't wait the full time.  These days, they have no unpleasant smell and curved spatulas to help with application & removal.

TRY:                        Escentially Smooth Hair Removal Cream

Price:                       £5.99, 100 ml

Stockist:                 Boots.com

        

   

Waxing

Not just for girls, waxing has many options for both men and women.  It is the main choice of hair removal and you can get home waxing strips, wax rollers or go to a salon.  In salons, the latest thinking is cold wax.  Now, I've tried them all and there's no getting away from it “discomfort” is involved.  However, waxing does give 2-3 weeks hair free pleasure.  You'll need to keep a pair of pointed tweezers at the ready for strays that grow back faster or ingrown hairs, but waxing does work.

TRY:                        Veet EasyWax Electrical Roll-On Kit

Price:                       £29.99

Stockist:                 veet.co.uk

Bleaching

I can’t be the only one who thinks of that scene in the brilliant comedy series Gavin & Stacey, where Nessa and Stacey are bleaching their upper lips!   Not removal, but disguise, bleaching does minimize appearance.  Be careful, bleaching can result in the hair becoming brittle and liable to break as well as possibly sensitising the skin.

TRY:                        Jolen Crème Bleach

Price:                       £4.40

Stockist:                 feelunique.com

Plucking or Threading

Like most people, I’ve only ever used plucking or threading for brows and I suspect that these methods are best suited to tiny areas.  Take care as when the hair is plucked out in the opposite direction to the natural fall of the hair growth, the follicle is likely to be distorted, so only pluck in the direction of the hair growth.

TRY:                        Tweezerman Fruity Slant Mini Tweezer

Price:                       £14.50

Stockist:                 tweezerman.co.uk

Epilators

Epilators are designed to pull the hairs out from the roots (just like waxing), but doing so through mini spinning “tweezers” that are electrically powered.  The advantages are that modern epilators work on short hairs of 2mm, so you don’t have to wait for the regrowth that you do with waxing.

TRY:                        Braun Silk-épil Dual Epilator 7891 Wet & Dry Cordless Epilator

Price:                       £169.99

Stockist:                 boots.com

IPL (Intense Pulsed Light)

Your IPL treatment can fairly claim a permanent reduction of growth.  This means it should be clear for a year, but it may grow back.  These treatments are expensive and they do not work on all skin types or colours, so check whether this is suitable for you before buying.  I know people who think the Philips Lumia is fantastic and it is a great home option.

TRY:                        Philips Lumia Precision Plus

Price:                       £450.00 (yes, I know, but no spending on waxing ever again)

Stockist:                 philips.co.uk

Laser

Laser is the most recent newcomer to hair removal. Legally, laser manufacturers can claim permanent hair reduction but not (to date) removal, and it is said to be an effective method of hair management. Currently, laser cannot successfully treat light blonde or white hair and, in fact, can strip the colour from some hairs, often leaving white hair remaining which then have to be removed with electrolysis.

TRY:                        Rio Laser Hair Removal System

Price:                      £102.12

STOCKIST:             argos.co.uk

Electrolysis

This is a professional treatment, not to be tried at home, but it is the only really permanent hair removal method.  Try it for small areas of hair that you want rid of – on the chin or neck – and see how you get on with the method.  Needles and electric current involved, but close your eyes and it’s over in nano-seconds.

TRY:                        Elainestoddart.com

Elaine will be able to recommend your best local practitioner.  My thanks also to her for her help in creating this article, as no one knows more about hair removal!