Hair removal has become a part of many lives both women and men alike. No man wants women to be full of body hair and not take care of it. Whereas many men do it out of necessity, because of the type of work they are involved with, like bodybuilding, swimming, modelling, etc. To get to know things better here is, "10 Things To Know About Hair Removal".
IN THIS ARTICLE, "10 Things To Know About Hair Removal":
Why do we have hair?
What is hair made of?
How do you remove unwanted hair?
Does hair grow thicker if you shave?
Is hair removal painful?
Are hair removal creams safe?
Is there any permanent solution for hair removal?
What are ingrown hairs?
How do you treat ingrown hairs?
What should I do before and after hair removal?
Conclusion
Why do we have hair?
Long-time ago, we humans used to have dense hair all over our bodies.
The body hair helped in keeping warm during cold weather and also cool in hot conditions by sweating over the body hair.
It also protected us from getting wounded easily and by blocking the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun.
After some time, we started wearing clothes, and our body hair grew lesser over time.
Today we have sporadic hair on our bodies, except for a few areas like the head, eyebrows and groin. The individual pattern of hair is a result of heredity.
What is hair made of?
Hair is majorly made up of a protein called alpha-keratin. Hair grows from the hair follicles beneath the skin.
Alpha-keratin is a chain of proteins that are strong and rigid. It is found in the hairs, nails, and horns of many mammals.
How do you remove unwanted hair?
Body hair can be removed in a number of ways. The popular methods are shaving, plucking, threading, applying depilatory creams, removal by epilator, sugaring and waxing.
Laser hair removal and electrolysis are effective but expensive methods. Apart from all of these, there are other home solutions for hair removal.
The fastest method for hair removal is shaving, although it is temporary and new hair will be visible within 2-3 days.
Does hair grow thicker if you shave?
There is a common belief that shaving makes the hair to grow thicker. Well, it is not correct.
It is just a wrong perception. When our skin is free of hair, then afterward hair comes out, and we feel that the hair has thickened. But, a study shows that with a daily scalp massage, the hair can get thicker due to more blood circulation in the head.
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Is hair removal painful?
Not every method of hair removal is painful.
There are several ways for hair removal associated with more or less pain, which are waxing, threading, plucking, epilating, laser hair removal, and electrolysis.
There are some well-known techniques that are painless, namely shaving and applying depilatory cream.
Shaving does not cause pain unless you get nicks and cuts.
This option is easy and fast. But, the hair does grow back within 2-3 days.
The cost associated with shaving is very less. You require a good razor and a moisturizing foam or shaving cream.Although this process costs less, it is also associated with ingrown hair.
Depilatory creams are also painless, but it is not suitable for everyone. You might be allergic to the cream and, it might cause complications. So, it is always advised to examine the cream on a small portion of the skin.
Also, the cream should not be left on the skin, for more than the recommended time.
These creams are a little more expensive than the shaving method.
This method also gives ingrown hairs.
Are hair removal creams safe?
Depilatory creams are available for all types of skin. If you apply the cream as suggested by the manufacturers, it may not cause any harm.
But, hair removal creams consist of very reactive chemicals. Salts of thioglycolic acid and thiolactic acids are the most common ingredients in these creams.
These chemicals break down the protein of the hair and hence remove hair. The time required for hair removal depends upon the thickness of the hair.
However, if the cream is left applied for durations more than recommended, it might affect your skin.
Again, if your skin is sensitive or is affected, the application of the cream will cause further complications.
Is there any permanent solution for hair removal?
There are many methods for hair removal, but, there is only one process deemed as a permanent hair removal solution. It is called Electrolysis.
Electrolysis is a treatment that destroys the hair follicles. There is no chance for further hair growth by this process.
Though the process delivers a permanent result, it requires a lot of time depending upon the area for hair removal.
Complete removal of hair requires regular appointments. At times the hair removal may take several months.
The side effects are minimal. The procedure requires the insertion of a needle in the skin, which will cause pain and might result in redness of the skin. These symptoms usually fade away within a day or two.
The cost associated with electrolysis for hair removal is high depending upon the area of application. The number of appointments linked with the procedure adds to the expense.
The advantage of electrolysis is that it is permanent and can be applied to any area of your body.
The advantage of electrolysis is that it is permanent and applicable to any area of your body.
What are ingrown hairs?
Ingrown hairs are very common in people who remove their body hair.
After hair removal, sometimes the hair that is supposed to grow cannot get through the skin and remains inside.
While the hair is under the epidermis, it grows and causes small swollen structures on the skin to appear.
In many cases, puss remains in these bumps.
Ingrown hairs are very common in people who remove their body hair.
After hair removal sometimes the hair that is supposed to grow cannot come through the skin and remains inside. While the hair is beneath the skin, it grows and causes to appear small swollen structures on the skin. In many cases, these bumps are filled with puss.
How do you treat ingrown hairs?
Ingrown hairs can fix themselves but, in some cases, you have to take the ingrown hairs out with the help of tweezers.
THINGS REQUIRED:
- Sterile Needle
- Sterile tweezers
- Spirit
- Cotton ball
- Scissors
PROCEDURE:
- Gently clean the affected area with a spirit and a cotton ball.
- Use the needle to puncture through the bump and pull out the hair.
- To clear the puss use spirit with the cotton ball again.
- Pull the full length of the hair with the help of tweezers.
- Now cut the excess hair and let a small part of the hair remain outside.
- Wipe the area with cotton soaked in spirit.
What should I do before and after hair removal?
PRE AND POST-TREATMENT FOR SHAVING
In general, cleaning the skin of the area under consideration is always recommended.
You also have to make sure that the skin of the intended area is not affected in any way.
After shaving, it is good to apply an antiseptic liquid and a moisturizer.
PRE AND POST-TREATMENT FOR DEPILATORY CREAM APPLICATION
Before using hair removal cream, make sure that the cream suits your skin. Apply the cream on a small portion of your skin to test. Also, make sure that your skin is not affected by anything and does not have any cuts or bruises.
After the procedure, clean your skin thoroughly and apply some moisturizer.
PRE AND POST-TREATMENT FOR WAXING AND SUGARING
The starting requirement for waxing and sugaring is that the length of hair should be between 1/4 inch and 1/2 inch. The skin should be cleaned and dried.
After the procedure, the skin has to be cleaned.
PRE AND POST-TREATMENT FOR HAIR REMOVAL BY EPILATOR
Using an epilator is easy and does not require much preparation for the procedure. But, it is wise to clean your skin and exfoliate.
After the application of the epilator, it is best not to engage in hard activities and stay out of the sun for at least 10-12 hours. Wear loose clothes.
PRE AND POST-TREATMENT FOR LASER HAIR REMOVAL
In treatments like laser hair removal, hair has to be shaved off and, tanning is not allowed. Doctors may prescribe medication before the procedure. There must be no skin infections.
After the procedure, avoid direct sunlight and use sunscreen lotion.
PRE AND POST-TREATMENT FOR HAIR REMOVAL BY ELECTROLYSIS
Before electrolysis, do not remove your hair for 3-4 days. The hair should be long enough to pull them out. The skin should have no infections. Clean skin free of lotion and deodorant is necessary on the day of the procedure.
After electrolysis, avoid direct sunlight. Try not to sweat or do activities that might make you sweat. Wear light and loose clothing.
Conclusion
Many people love the sensation of smooth and fresh, hairless skin. But, maintaining hair-free skin is time-consuming and a hard job.
Hair-reducing treatments and permanent hair removal treatments are very costly and tend to take a lot of time.
While other methods are redundant and frequent, they take time and energy.
Hair removal is a personal aesthetic choice. Keeping up with your choice is a question of cost and convenience. Weigh your choices in terms of pros and cons and choose whatever feels best.
Do comment and tell us about which method you apply and which works best for you.
Image Credits
Woman photo created by rawpixel.com - www.freepik.com
Baby photo created by jcomp - www.freepik.com
Photo by Mel Poole on Unsplash
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