Vaseline, a petroleum jelly-infused product, has been used for years for its many effects. People use it to heal their dry and cracked skin and even to prevent diaper rashes in their babies. It is also commonly used in creams, deodorants and lotions.
There is another benefit of this product that not everyone knows about. Vaseline can also be used for hair removal. If you use the right technique and mix the right ingredients, you can make your own hair removal product. Let's see how it works.
Table of contents:
- Part 1: Can Vaseline really remove hair?
- Part 2: Can Vaseline hair removal produce permanent results?
- Part 3: What are the benefits of removing hair with Vaseline?
- Part 4: How to prepare the ingredients for Vaseline hair removal?
- Part 5: How does Vaseline remove hair?
- Part 6: What should you not do when removing hair with Vaseline?
- Part 7: What can I do to achieve permanent hair removal results?
- Part 8: Conclusion
Can Vaseline really remove hair?
Vaseline is a common household product used by everyone from children to grandparents. While most people know it for its quick and long-lasting moisturizing effects, few are aware of its other benefits like hair removal. So yes! Vaseline can remove hair from your body and leave your skin smooth, soft, supple and fuzz-free.
It can be used alone or in combination with other household products, but most users prefer to mix other products for faster and better results. When applied to the skin, this moisturizing product weakens the hair follicles so that the hairs attached to them loosen and can be easily removed.
Can hair removal with Vaseline produce permanent results?
The main function of hair follicles is to promote hair growth. At the root, the cells are constantly dividing and so the hair grows longer and longer. For permanent hair removal, this cell division must be stopped, which means that the hair follicles must be completely destroyed.
While Vaseline can weaken hair follicles, it cannot completely eliminate them. Therefore, you will not get permanent results if you use Vaseline as your ultimate hair removal tool. However, you can still get just as good results with it as shaving, waxing, or depilatory creams.
What are the benefits of removing hair with Vaseline?
If the results are only temporary, what is the point of using Vaseline for hair removal? We have an answer for you:
- Moisturizing Effect: Vaseline itself cannot moisturize your skin, but it can help lock moisture in the dermis. Therefore, it is a great moisturizer that can make your skin soft, smooth and supple.
- Easily available: Vaseline and all other ingredients used in combination with it are easily available in any store near you, so you don't have to spend hours looking around or surfing the internet to find an effective hair removal product.
- Affordable: This Vaseline-based product is a good option when it comes to price. You can buy a pack for less than €5. This pack will last for a long time since only a small amount is used per session.
- Lightens skin tone: Regular use of Vaseline along with turmeric and milk can help fade the tan on your skin and lighten the skin tone. It can make your skin clear, healthy and glowing
How to prepare the ingredients for hair removal with Vaseline?
You can use Vaseline exclusively for hair removal, but you can also add some other ingredients to make the process easier, faster and more beneficial. Below are the most common ingredients used in combination with Vaseline:
- Turmeric powder: ½ tablespoon
- Raw milk or milk powder: 3 tablespoons
- Vaseline: ½ tablespoon
- Chickpea flour: 1 tablespoon
- Honey (optional): 1 tablespoon
All these ingredients are mostly available at home or easily available in the market. Turmeric is a natural antioxidant, while milk makes your skin soft, honey has healing properties and petroleum jelly moisturizes the skin.
Mix all these ingredients in a bowl slowly until they form a paste. The paste should be neither too thick nor too watery. You can slightly change the amount of ingredients to achieve the right consistency.
How does Vaseline hair removal work?
The paste is ready to be applied to the skin. Now you need to prepare your skin and then apply the paste.
Preparations
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Clean your skin: The skin surface where you are going to apply the paste must be clean. You can use either a cleansing foam or a soap to remove impurities from your body. Then gently pat the area with a towel or cloth to dry it thoroughly.
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Patch test: The ingredients used in Vaseline are not suitable for everyone. Also, the addition of other ingredients like chickpea flour can irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction. So, first apply the paste on a small area and then decide whether you can use it or not.
Hair removal:
Now the hair removal begins. Let's look at the steps:
- Apply the thick Vaseline paste to the area with unwanted hair in the direction of growth
- Leave it for some time so that the mixture can penetrate the hair follicles and work on them efficiently
- Once it is dry after 15-20 minutes, peel the paste off your skin in the opposite direction of hair growth
- Cleanse your skin with water and you're done
If you use Vaseline without any other ingredients, apply it in small circular motions and let it dry for 30 minutes to an hour. After this time, you can wipe it off against the grain.
What should you not do when removing hair with Vaseline?
Use Vaseline on wet skin
If you use Vaseline, do not apply it to wet skin. Firstly, it will not adhere well to your skin and will make hair removal ineffective. Secondly, it will prevent your skin from breathing properly, so moisture will remain trapped. This moist area can be a breeding ground for fungi, which can lead to infections.
Leave Vaseline on the skin for a long time
If you leave Vaseline on your skin for too long, it can clog your pores. This clogging of pores can cause acne, rashes and pimples. Therefore, it is advisable not to leave Vaseline on your skin for too long, especially if you have oily skin.
It can also trap dirt, dust and other impurities that make your skin dull and dirty.
Get started without patch testing
Allergic reactions caused by Vaseline are not very common, but it is better to be safe than sorry. You may not be aware of your allergies, so you should do a patch test before applying the mixture. You can apply a small amount to your upper arm or leg to see if you experience any reactions.
No proper preparation for hair removal
If you prepare the skin thoroughly before applying Vaseline, the treatment will be more effective. Additionally, applying it to dirty skin can trap the dirt, cause skin irritation, clog pores, and lead to rashes.
That's why it's important to cleanse your skin thoroughly before hair removal. You can also use exfoliating products to remove dead cells and make your skin smoother.
What are the disadvantages of Vaseline?
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Allergic reactions: Although it is rare, if you have sensitive skin, any petroleum jelly-based product can cause an allergic reaction, resulting in redness, itching, and rashes.
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Difficult to cover larger areas: For hair removal with Vaseline on larger areas, you must first prepare a large amount of the mixture. Applying, waiting and removing can be exhausting
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Time-consuming: If we compare this method with others, it is very time-consuming because you have to wait almost half an hour to an hour to let the mixture dry. Also, a single application does not show satisfactory results. You have to use it daily to get the expected result.
What can I do to achieve permanent hair removal results?
Vaseline hair removal does not provide permanent results. Also, you will need to invest at least an hour a day to get the desired results. To save time and get a permanent hair removal solution, you can try IPL hair removal.
IPL hair removal is more reliable because it is effective for most people. Unlike Vaseline, the light from an IPL device destroys hair follicles and inhibits hair growth for a long time. It is also less time-consuming and you don't need daily sessions.
Want to do it at home? Try the Ulike Sapphire Air 10 hair removal device . Treatment with this compact IPL device can reduce 96% of your unwanted hair within 2 weeks. Moreover, it is FDA approved and therefore safe to use. Moreover, there is no risk of developing an allergic reaction or acne with IPL treatment.
Conclusion
Ever since Vaseline came into the market, people have loved it because of its versatile uses. One of these uses is hair removal. You can avoid the painful waxing, plucking or picking by using Vaseline instead. By mixing Vaseline with some ingredients like turmeric, milk and gram flour, you can make a perfect mixture for hair removal.
Then you just need to apply this paste and remove it after a while. However, it does not have the same effect on everyone. Those who are not satisfied with Vaseline can switch their hair removal to IPL hair removal.