While hair removal was less common a century ago, fewer people today have significant facial hair. It is also uncommon to see a woman who does not shave her underarms. More men, especially athletes, have also adopted the practice of keeping their underarms free of body hair. According to the Hair Facts website, people who have more hair than is considered acceptable may be placed under social scrutiny. There are several methods of facial and underarm hair removal.
Shaving
Shaving is the most common method of removing hair from the face and underarms. Disposable razors are inexpensive, and you can complete hair removal tasks by yourself, according to Teen Health. Razors have one to five blades that cut hair at the surface of the skin, and some have a moisturizing strip to help reduce skin irritation. Coat the skin with shaving gel or cream before shaving to make the job easier and keep the razor from pulling on the hair instead of cutting it.
The downside of shaving, aside from the possibility of nicks and cuts, is that results typically only last one to three days.
Depilatories
A depilatory is a cream or lotion that dissolves the hair down to the surface of the skin, according to Teen Health. It is more commonly used on the underarms than on the face--this is because facial hair is typically coarser, so it is more difficult for a depilatory to dissolve that hair. If you have sensitive skin, a depilatory may cause a rash or burn on your skin.
Applying depilatories is typically a do-it-yourself task. Once the hair is dissolved and wiped away, results last from about three days to two weeks.
Waxing
Waxing is a technique in which you apply a sticky wax on the surface of the skin. You then place a cloth over the wax and quickly pull it off, along with the hair and dead skin cells. It leaves the skin smooth and lasts for three to six weeks. Waxing can be done at home or in a professional salon.
Waxing is usually not done on the face, but it can be an effective way to remove hair from the underarms.
The biggest drawbacks are the messiness of the wax and the discomfort of having the hair pulled out at the roots, notes Teen Health.
Laser Hair Removal
According to Teen Health, laser hair removal is a permanent means of hair removal. Lasers can be used to eliminate hair growth on any part of the body, including the face and underarms. In this process, lasers stop hair growth beneath the surface of the skin. It is the most expensive type of hair removal, procedure, but since results are permanent, you will not have to buy razors, wax kits or depilatories again.
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