Hair removal tool

Thinking about removing unwanted hair from somewhere on your body? Check out the various options here with plucky tips on each one...

Depilation.

We're not talking about a haircut. This is about removing unwanted hair from elsewhere.

Why bother?

Why indeed? What's our obsession with the plucked-chicken look? Has Ugly Betty taught us nothing? Several seasons in pipeline apparently - but do remove if you prefer!
OK, OK, I know - summer holidays and swimming galas may require a tidy up.

The problem is, hair is there for a reason. It doesn't like being ripped out. However careful we are, angry red bumps and irritated skin are a hazard.

How to do it:

Shaving

Probably the most frequently used method.
Advantages: Quick, cheap, (usually) painless
Disadvantages: Stubbly re-growth, scratches, irritation/razor burn
Tips: Use a clean razor every time and plenty of sensitive skin foam. Never do dry. Shave in the direction of the hair growth. Then pat with a cool flannel.

Hair Removal Cream

This contains chemicals which dissolve hair at the roots.
Advantages: Painless, softer re-growth than shaving
Disadvantages: Not the greatest result. Can be messy. May irritate our skin. And have you smelt it?
Tips: Test a small area of skin first. Follow the instructions carefully.

Wax

Hairs are yanked out stuck to a wax strip. A bit like weeding a hairy garden.
It's available for DIY at home in ready-to-use strips or Hot Wax Kits. Or you can get it done in a salon.
Advantages: Good results, slow re-growth
Disadvantages: Pain, cost and the possibility of painful regrowth.
Tips: Read the instructions carefully before you start. Try getting expert at waxing legs before attempting under arms and bikini lines.

Bleaching

Dark hairs are bleached blonde to blend in with fair skin shades. Mostly used for that 'tache issue.
Advantages: no stubble, no razors and no pain
Disadvantages: not great for large areas of hair, or if our skin is a dark shade.
Tips: Go carefully. Dropping blobs on your best jeans leaves a tell-tale mark.

Plucking

Good old fashioned plucking. It's amazing what you can achieve with tweezers, privacy and Friday Night With Jonathon Ross to keep you company.
Advantages: Cheap. Easy. Good for those stubborn little hairs that just won't budge otherwise.
Disadvantages: Even if we get up to plucking one hair a second, most of us have hundreds on each leg. Yawn.

Tips: Don't gouge those in-growing hairs with the tweezers. You'll get spots and scars for your trouble.

Electrolysis

This is an expensive (we're talking hundreds), but permanent method of hair removal.
Advantages: Permanent. Job done. s
Disadvantages: It costs. And needs to be done by an expert. Wielding lazers is not for the amateur.
Tips: Find a reputable, recommended salon. Preferably when you're over 18. Our hairs may fade when we're past puberty. Plus then we'll have that Fat Cat salary.

So which to choose?

It depends on:

• Where the hair is : Shaving moustache hair = bad move.
• How much hair: No amount of bleach is going to achieve a Brazilian down below
• Our pain threshold: Waxing is not for the faint hearted.
• Our skin type: Sensitive skins may react badly to creams and waxing.
• Our budget: Who has £20 going begging for a salon treatment?

And remember: Just because our mates are waxers doesn't mean we should be.