In a never-ending quest to keep skin silky smooth and free of hair, the average woman spends more than 58 days over the course of a lifetime removing unwanted hair, according to a 2008 Zoomerang survey. While men do not spend nearly as much time removing hair as women, they do make a substantial investment of both time and money into the process.
Methods
Popular methods of hair removal include shaving, waxing, using depilatory creams, laser hair removal and electrolysis. Shaving removes hair at the surface of the skin, whereas all of the other methods delve deeper. Waxing pulls the hair and its root bulb out from the hair follicle. Depilatories dissolve hair and its root bulb, while laser hair removal and electrolysis destroy follicles with focused, intense energy.
Results
Waxing and depilatories leave skin feeling silky smooth. Since the root is removed with both of these methods, you cannot see the shadow of hair underneath the surface of the skin after removal like you can with shaving. Not only does shaving leave a visible shadow, stubble starts to grow after several hours, making shaving the method with the shortest-lasting results. Short-term results for laser and electrolysis can be patchy, since it is impossible to destroy all follicles during one session. After several sessions, hair will never grow back.
Cost
Waxing is by far the most expensive form of hair removal. While each waxing session is affordable, the amount spent over a lifetime adds up to about $23,000. Shaving costs a little over $10,000 over a lifetime, and depilatory creams cost around $10,500 for a lifetime's supply. Ironically, the largest one-time investment will save you the most money. On average, laser hair removal and electrolysis saves $7,000 over the course of a lifetime in comparison to shaving and nearly $20,000 in comparison to waxing, according to Zoomerang.
Upkeep
Shaving requires the most upkeep. On average, women shave every two to three days or about 12 times per month, according to Zoomerang. Most men shave every day. Waxing and depilatories require touch ups every two weeks. While laser hair removal and electrolysis require several hours and visits to complete, the processes never need to be repeated once finished.
Popularity
Due to its simplicity, shaving is the most popular form of hair removal among men and women. Waxing and depilatory creams are more popular among women than men. However, men are known to get an occasional eyebrow wax, and body builders have been known to wax their entire bodies. Due to the initial cost, laser hair removal and electrolysis are the least popular.
References
- The Free Library: Women Squander Time, Thousands of Dollars Removing Unwanted Hair
- "Milady's Standard Textbook of Cosmetology"; Milady, Diane Carol Bailey and Margrit Attenburg; 2008
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