The pros and cons of home depilatory methods
We all know how cheap and convenient this method is but regrowth is quick. If you have fair skin and dark hair, some roots may be visible immediately after shaving.
To prevent red bumps, use a fragrance and irritant-free shaving cream, such as Lab Series Maximum Comfort Shave Gel, €19.99. The Gillette Venus & Olay Sugarberry Razor, €15.29, has handy shave-bars attached to a 5-blade head. Use warm water and work against the grain for the closest shave. Don’t be tempted to use a body scrub afterwards, as the razor blade will have removed a surface layer of skin along with the hair.
Home waxing can be done hot or cold. The former is far more effective, so worth the heat-up time. Hair tends to be softer when it grows back and, as hair is pulled from the root, results are smoother than shaving.
Some regrowth is necessary to make waxing worthwhile, which means you aren’t free to go bare-legged every day. The mess involved can also be a pain. I like Veet Easy Wax Electrical Roll On, €20.34, as the stick makes application very neat and the wax suits all skin types. Nads Natural Warm Wax, €12.29, is more time-consuming and requires a microwave. However, the strips are effective and waxy residue is minimal.
Like waxing, an epilator yanks several hairs from their roots at once. Unlike waxing, there is no mess or preparation involved. The Braun Silk-épil 7, €179.99, is easy to pack and can be used in the bath or shower.
Factoring in the 2-year warranty, the device is more cost-effective than monthly salon visits over an equivalent period. You can use it on the face and body, wet or dry.
You need at least 0.5 mm of regrowth for the 40 tweezers to grab on to, as well as a fair bit of willpower to run them over large or sensitive areas. If you have both, this is a quick and effective route to super-smooth skin.
Hair removal creams are fast-acting, foolproof and cheap. Regrowth is typically slower than after shaving, as creams work to break down hair proteins close to the root. The cons are mainly chemical. Active ingredients like sodium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and calcium thioglycolate melt and dissolve hair in a matter of minutes, so it is no wonder these creams pose a high risk of irritation or even burning. They also tend to smell sulphuric. If you suffer from a topical skin disorder or sensitivity, this is an option to avoid (even depilatory creams labelled “for sensitive skin” require strong chemicals to be effective).
When performed correctly, electrolysis permanently removes hair. There are two types of electrolysis device: a needle epilator and a tweezer-style epilator. Both send electrical currents directly into individual hair follicles !to destroy the bulb. At-home devices work the same way as salon versions, but are nowhere near as effective. For safety’s sake, consumer tools send too weak a current to kill the bulb. Moreover, even specialists find electrolysis tricky, so the chances of perfecting it at home are slim.
This method sounds scary but if you are committed to staying hairless 24/7, I highly recommend it. Salon laser hair removal is very effective and can leave you hair-free after a short course of (highly expensive) sessions. Happily, the same lasers your local salon may use are available to consumers. The Tria Hair Removal Laser 4X, €449, is a handheld, professional-level diode laser system that targets and disables the hair follicle, which eventually falls out. The device can reduce growth by 70% three weeks after the second (fortnightly) use. The treated area can be made permanently hairless after 12 weeks. Tria is quite simple to use (though instructions must be followed exactly to yield any results), and comparably painless. Balanced against the money and effort you’d devote to other methods over time, it is definitely worth considering.
Available at Amazon.co.uk and Harvey Nichols Dundrum
Sunshine tends to highlight all the damage wrought by colouring and heat-styling. Shu Uemura’s new Instant Replenisher serum greatly improves the appearance of sensitised hair from the first use. Magnolia oil and ceramides combine to smooth and plump each strand, giving hair a salon-fresh shine.
Shampoo hair, towel dry and spray Instant Replenisher directly to hair, massaging through lengths and ends. Rinse thoroughly and blow-dry with a large, round brush to make the most of your replenished locks.
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