There are many different methods of hair removal for women. Some are permanent and some are not. And some involve more pain than others! Ouch! I’m afraid when it comes to hair removal the old saying- no pain, no gain- is very true. Let’s take a quick look at each method below.

Shaving

It’s fast, simple, cheap and relatively pain free (except for the occasional nick). However it has to be done often (for some people more than others), depending on how fast your hair grows. The frequency of it makes it more of a pain in the neck than any other kind of a pain.

Electrolysis

None of the above. This method is rather pricey and it takes a number of sessions to work effectively. I had my bikini area done a number of years ago and I paid in the area of $25-$35 a session although it took a year of sessions before I was done. So there is quite a commitment of time involved.

Laser Hair Removal

Very expensive. A standard session takes 15 to 20 minutes and costs between $150 and $250. Also a serious time commitment is involved.

Note- The FDA allows manufacturers to claim, “permanent reduction” and not “permanent removal” for their lasers (despite it being called laser hair removal). What this means is that although laser treatments will permanently reduce the total number of body hairs, they will not result in a permanent removal of hair through selective targeting of melanin in follicles of hair.

Depilatories

These products of which there are many on the market, such as Neet and Nair, remove hair at the skin’s surface but must be done fairly often (almost as often as shaving, with a few day’s grace). Notice I said “almost”.

Waxing

A quick, but not painless method of hair removal. In fact it is probably one of the most excruciating methods of hair removal. And sadly it yields temporary results. It lasts between 3 to 8 weeks and then, uh oh, time to pour hot wax on your skin and rip it off again. I cringe even writing this! If you consider plucking your eyebrows painful, then waxing is not for you.