Just like skin care, hair removal is also an essential part of our daily routine. Removing body hair makes us look neater, more presentable and well-groomed. The quickest method of hair removal seems to be shaving.
What if I don't want to shave my hair? Luckily, there are a number of other alternatives to shaving that you can try if you're tired of razors. Let's look at what they are and how they work.
Why Consider Alternatives to Shaving
Shaving is the preferred method of facial hair removal as it gives your face a smooth look. It is a good choice as long as you are an expert at it. Otherwise, beginners often suffer from cuts and scratches caused by razor blades. Besides, there are some other disadvantages of shaving:
- Razor burn: These are small, itchy rashes on the skin caused by the friction between the blade and the skin surface
- Ingrown hairs: Ingrown hairs are the painful bumps that form on the skin when hair grows back into the skin. They are more common in people with curly hair.
- Itching: You may feel itching as the hair grows back. This is because the razor blade removes the hair above the surface of the skin and irritates the hair follicles below. This leads to constant itching
- Folliculitis: It is an inflammation of the hair follicles caused by an infection. It can be caused by improper aftercare, incorrect shaving techniques or the use of dull, unhygienic blades.
Despite all the care, some people often struggle with irritation, redness, ingrown hairs, razor burn and bumps after shaving. If you are struggling with the same problems, you should opt for safer methods of hair removal. Let's look at what these methods can be.
alternatives to shaving
IPL hair removal device
IPL hair removal is a long-lasting hair removal technique. It focuses on the hair follicles rather than the surface hairs, so you get long-lasting results. The light energy from an IPL device passes through your hair to the roots, damaging the hair follicles responsible for hair growth.
You can have it done in a clinic or do it yourself with an IPL device for home use. The Ulike Sapphire Air 10, for example, is an FDA/CE approved IPL device for home use that provides almost painless hair removal. It has different modes that work even on thick and coarse hair.
Benefits of IPL Hair Removal
- IPL hair removal delivers results from 6 months to 1 year
- It prevents ingrown hairs, which means hair removal is almost painless
- The Ulike Air 10 is easy to use, so even beginners can easily perform their hair removal at home
- Sapphire ice cooling technology keeps the temperature under control and prevents burns
- Ulike's intelligent skin sensor technology automatically adjusts the mode to your skin color, preventing accidents during hair removal
Disadvantages
- Since IPL hair removal depends on the melanin concentration, it is not suitable for light hair such as gray, red and blonde hair.
- It is unsafe for dark brown to very dark brown skin tones
- IPL hair removal in clinics is quite expensive
waxing
Waxing uses a sticky wax to remove hair at the roots. There are different types of wax for different parts of the body . For example, you can use hard wax for sensitive areas and hot wax for larger areas of the body. The results of waxing last 3 to 5 weeks.
Advantages
- Hair removal with waxing is cost-effective
- no blades are needed, even beginners can do it at home
- Waxing can be performed on all parts of the body
- It works equally well for thin and coarse hair
Disadvantages
- It is painful
- After waxing, ingrown hairs, skin irritation and inflammation can occur
- Incorrect waxing techniques lead to uneven hair removal and thus to uneven hair growth
depilatory creams
Depilatory creams are like lotions, but with chemicals. These chemicals dissolve the protein bond of the hair and weaken the hair structure. Therefore, they can be easily wiped away with a spatula. The result after using depilatory creams also lasts longer than after shaving.
Advantages
- Since the hair is not removed violently, you will not feel any pain during the hair removal process.
- It is a cost-effective and beginner-friendly method
- The coarse hair on the body can be easily removed with depilatory creams
- The creams work within 3-10 minutes, which is quite fast and time-saving compared to shaving
Disadvantages
- The depilatory creams often leave a smell
- They can cause irritation and rashes on sensitive skin types.
- The ingredients such as calcium hydroxide in depilatory creams can cause allergic reactions
epilation
Epilation is a hair removal technique that uses electronic tweezers to pull out all the hairs in a specific area at once. These tweezers pull out the hairs by the root, leaving your skin hair-free for 3-5 weeks. This is faster than using manual tweezers, which pull out one hair at a time.
Advantages
- Epilation is quick and easy , even for larger body parts
- It works more effectively than waxing and shaving on shorter hair
- With proper care, you can use the device for a long time, making it cost-effective.
Disadvantages
- Since several hairs are pulled at once, it will be a bit painful
- The violent removal of hair causes redness and swelling
laser hair removal
Laser hair removal uses light energy to remove your hair. This energy penetrates to the roots of the hair and burns the hair follicles. This stops hair growth for 1 to 2 years, depending on the rate of hair growth. It is usually performed in clinics by professionals.
Advantages
- With the advancement of laser hair removal, it now also works on darker skin tones.
- Laser removes hair from the root so that ingrown hairs can no longer occur.
- The light used by a laser device is coherent, which makes the light more precise and effective for hair removal
- Only occasional touch-ups are required, making it easy to maintain in the long run
Disadvantages
- Temporary irritation may occur after laser hair removal
- Similar to IPL hair removal, the laser does not work on lighter hair colors
- It can be painful, especially when removing thicker body hair
electrolysis
Hair removal by Electrolysis is a nearly permanent method of hair removal that burns the hair roots and slows down hair growth. The practitioner inserts a thin wire into your hair. A current flows through this wire along the hair roots, damaging the hair follicles and causing the existing hair to fall out as well.
Advantages
- Electrolysis hair removal results last the longest. After electrolysis, you may need no or very few hair removal treatments
- There are no restrictions regarding hair or skin color that are eligible for electrolysis
- It is an ideal method of hair removal for small areas such as the face, chin and upper lip
Disadvantages
- It is painful and expensive
- The procedure is time-consuming because the needle must be manually inserted into each hair
- Your skin may be temporarily red, irritated and inflamed after the sessions
Conclusion
Shaving carries a greater risk of cuts, ingrown hairs and razor burn. Without the right technique and care, this method of hair removal will not be very successful for you. So if you are looking for a better alternative to shaving, you can try waxing, depilatory creams or epilation depending on your needs.
These methods are suitable for all skin and hair types and can produce results for up to a month. If you are looking for methods that last longer, try laser, IPL or electrolysis.
