Body hair comes in two distinctive types--vellus and terminal. Vellus hair is light-colored and fine and mostly affects women. Terminal hair is thick and dark and most commonly grows on the face, arms, back, chest and legs of males. Having this hair does not pose any health problems, but it can be hard to deal with aesthetically. There are multiple techniques to remove body hair.
Lasers
Laser hair removal is a long-term solution. This is done by a trained doctor who presses an instrument against your skin. A high-powered beam of light is shot into your skin and zeroes in on the hair follicles. As a result, the hair falls out. The Mayo Clinic says you may need four to six treatments spaced a number of weeks apart to achieve favorable results. This type of treatment is good for larger areas like your back and legs.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis is a permanent hair removal procedure where a licensed esthetician or electrologist inserts a fine tipped needle into each hair follicle. An electrical current is sent to the tip, the follicle gets destroyed and the hair then falls out. This can be done in areas such as the neck, underarms and in between the eyebrows. Electrolysis is both time consuming and expensive. A single 30- minute hair removal session can cost over $1,000.
Shaving
Shaving is done with a razor, shaving cream or gel and water. You can shave areas such as your face, arms, chest or legs. After washing your skin, leave it wet and apply shaving cream. With short and steady strokes, run the razor across your skin to remove the hair. After every few strokes, rinse the razor in the sink to remove the cream and hair. If your hair is really thick, trim it down with scissors or electric clippers first. Shaving will only keep you free of hair for a couple of days.
Waxing
Waxing hair removal involves hot wax, an applicator tool and a durable cloth strip. You can do this at home with a kit or you can get it done at a spa by an experienced technician. After heating the wax, apply it to your skin with the applicator tool and let it set up. Once it is tacky, apply the cloth strip over top and flatten it out. In a steady motion, grip the edge of the strip with your fingers and rip it off in a fast, downward motion. You can wax areas like your genitals, knuckles, back of neck or chest. This technique will keep you hair free for several weeks.
Dissolving
Depilatory creams have active ingredients that dissolve keratin, the protein that composes hair. To use a depilatory, apply a warm washcloth to your skin to soften the hair, then add a liberal amount of cream. Leave it sit on your skin for as long as the manufacturer recommends. With steady pressure, wipe the hair off with a damp washcloth. Depilatories can be used in areas like the arms, stomach, chest and underarms. Make sure to avoid contact with your mouth, eyes or open skin. Run a test patch on your forearm beforehand to make sure you are not allergic. KidsHealth says depilatories can keep you hair free for several days to two weeks.
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