Hair removal is a time-consuming task. If you choose to remove your body hair, it always seems to come back faster than you expected.
You shave, and there is stubble the next day. You wax, and you get ingrown hairs, and there are always a few missed. Not to mention the pain from waxing is excruciating.
Even the creams and gels that remove hair just don’t last long enough, plus they smell awful.
Are there any permanent hair removal solutions? Well, yes and no.
Some hair removal methods can last up to a year, although some say they are truly permanent. All the methods will require some level of maintenance, but it is a lot less than shaving.
First, there is laser hair removal. This is pricey but has the best chance at keeping your body hair-free the longest.
Laser hair removal is usually done at a spa or even a doctor’s office. It requires eye protection, a professional, and keeping your skin out of the sun. But, for the most part, it is a quick appointment, and you can go right back to your normal activities with little to no pain.
Laser hair removal uses intense heat to burn the hair follicle, damaging it, so it doesn’t grow back.
One of the reasons so many people love laser hair removal is that there is no downtime. You don’t need to let your hair grow to a certain length as you do with waxing. You shave the night before your appointment, and the laser focuses on the root of the hair.
Now, there is some pain, but it feels like a rubber band flick. Most laser treatment machines burst cool air out as it burns the hair to soothe that pain.
The hair tends to come back thinner, finer, and patchier from the first treatment. This method also helps reduce ingrown hairs and irritation from shaving. Most people need anywhere between two and eight sessions based on their hair thickness, the location of the hair, and how they react.
Once those sessions are completed, professionals recommended coming back every six months or year for a touch-up.
Although laser hair removal is a highly recommended method for permanent hair removal, it can be very pricey. And depending on how many sessions you end up needing, it can be quite the investment.
Another option for permanent hair removal can take longer to truly become permanent but can be less painful and more affordable: sugar waxing.
Instead of traditional waxing with cloth strips, sugar waxing is a natural method of using only sugar, lemon, and water to create a wax.
This is applied to the area, hardens a bit, and removes only the hair. The wax surrounds the hair and removes it from the root, rather than pulling at the skin like other forms of wax.
This makes the process much less painful and ensures the hair is removed at the root, meaning you have a more extended amount of time before hair comes back. The hair comes back thinner and finer with repetitive sugaring, and for many, not at all.
Even with these methods, there is no such thing as permanent hair removal, or it isn’t guaranteed. Everyone’s hair and skin differ, so although laser hair removal or sugaring can be lifelong for some, it can be less impactful for others.
If you despise shaving or waxing or whatever other methods you choose, these options could make a massive difference for you.
