Monday, January 18, 2010

Is it better to shave your legs, wax them, or laser hair removal?

I'm not planning on getting laser hair removal to remove my hairs on my legs, but I'm just wondering which one you think would be less painful or the best for my skin. I feel awkward with hairy legs and I have gym for 40 weeks in school (every Friday). Anyway, I have sensitive, dry skin, and my legs are really hairy! Shave, wax, or lasers?Is it better to shave your legs, wax them, or laser hair removal?
The average woman has around 11,000 hairs on her legs and 2,500 under her arms - here's how to find the best method for you to get rid of them!





BLEACHING


What you need: Bleach cream


What it does: Uses lightening ingredients to disguise hair


Where: Face and lower arms


Lasts: Up to two months


Pain factor: Nil - unless you leave it on too long


Insider tip: Never bleach immediately after using skin products containing alpha-hydroxy acids because this can cause scarring


How: Wash the area to make sure there is no makeup on your skin that could react with the chemicals in the bleach. Apply as directed and for as long as stated. Wash off.





TWEEZING


What you need: Tweezers


What they do: Pull the hair out at the root


Where: Best for eyebrows


Lasts: Four to six weeks


Pain factor: It hurts a little, but applying ice before you pluck will numb the pain.


Insider Tip: or the best results, choose tweezers with flat, slanted tips rather than pointed ones - they grasp hair better and are less likely to scratch your skin.


How: Quickly and in the direction of hair growth.





SHAVING


What you need: Razor


What it does: Cuts the hair at the surface of the skin


Where: Underarms and legs - bikini lines and facial hair are not really appropriate for shaving because the hair grows back blunt, making it noticeable on the face and itchy on the bikini line.


Lasts: One to two days


Pain factor: Nil unless you slip, but using a single-blade razor minimizes the risk of cuts


Insider Tip: Use hair conditioner instead of soap - it doesn't dehydrate your skin.


How: Soak in the bath for two to three mins before you shave to expand the hair follicles, giving a closer and longer-lasting shave. Apply shaving cream then shave upward, then downward. Rinse and moisturize.





DEPILATORY CREAM


What you need: A cream formulated for the area you're going to treat


What it does: Uses chemicals to dissolve the hair just below the skin's surface


Where: Anywhere


Lasts: Two to three weeks


Pain factor: Nil - though they can smell pretty horrid


Insider Tip: Apply a little soya milk after you've removed the cream - ingredients called sernine protease inhibitors stop hair growth and keep you smoother longer.


How: So simple. Apply as directed, wait as long as stated, and shower off. Avoid hot water and perfumed products on the area for at least 3 hours after application to reduce the risk of irritation.





WAXING / SUGARING


What you need: Prepared wax strips: hot wax used with cloth or sugaring solution (usually made with sugar or lemon and honey)


What it does: Pulls the hair out at the root


Lasts: Four to six weeks


Pain factor: Pretty high, especially around your bikini line. Taking a mild painkiller like aspirin helps.


Insider tip: Start waxing in winter - hair must be at least 1/8 inch thick to be waxed properly and you're less likely to be noticed in the winter months. Also, as each waxing thins hair, the regrowth will be less noticable when the summer months arrive.


How: Apply talc to soak up skin oils, which prevent the wax from sticking. Apply wax strips or hot wax and cloth. Leave for 3 seconds and then pull quickly up in the direction of hair growth. Remove excess wax with warm water and avoid perfumed products for 48 hours.





Sorry this was so long - I figured I would tell you everything I know on hair removal. I didn't include laster treatments because I myself dislike the procedure. Way too expensive for me...





Good luck!Is it better to shave your legs, wax them, or laser hair removal?
Well...





I shaved the first year that my legs grew hair


And I got horrible ingrown hairs, very painful and ugly


I didn't wear shorts once that year





Then I waxed for about 4 years, every 2 months or so


Loved it! But it hurt! And I still got a ton of ingrowns!


But no stubble, which is nice





And now I'm in the middle of my laser treatment


I'm having my legs, bikini area, and underarms done


It's a package of 6 treatments (once every 2 months)


And I've only had one treatment so far but the hair on my legs and bikini and underarms is about half as thick as it was before the treatment. I love it! I'm only 18 and I'm looking forward to never having to shave for the rest of my life after these 6 treatments!


The down side is the whole process cost me about 4 grand =(


But if you can afford it's definitely the way to go.


But, the laser is fairly painful, it's about as bad as waxing but lasts a little longer.


Instead of a dozen ';rips'; of pain it's more like a hundred pulses of laser at the same pain level. But it's permanent!


And if you get waxing done at a salon or spa it's going to cost more in the long run than the laser removal!


And btw, I'm pretty sure I'm the hairiest person in the world.


It's terrible, but I'm on my way to smooth skin and I love it!
Waxing lasts longest but it has to be done by a professional or else it will bruise and hurt very badly. Shaving just has to be done every other day, laser hair removal is very painful...I had 5 sessions done on my underarms and it HURTS! 5 years later and I have to shave every other day again, so it's NOT permanent.
I use Veet. It's painless and lasts longer than shaving. If you have dry skin, then just moisturize.
taser them
shave.
wax
  • pimple
  • No comments:

    Post a Comment