Hair on the arms is either vellus or terminal. The difference between the two is in the coverage and consistency. Vellus hair is light and sparse, while terminal hair is dark and thick. Although arm hair does not impact your health in any way, it can make you feel self-conscious. Remove it yourself with various home methods or have it removed professionally.
Step 1
Trim the hair with a pair of electrical shears or scissors, then shave the rest off. Wash your arms with warm water after trimming the hair, then lather on shaving cream. Run a razor blade over your skin in short, steady strokes to remove the rest of the hair. Wash the blade under the sink every few strokes to remove debris. Wash your arms when you are done and touch up any spots you missed.
Step 2
Schedule an appointment with a doctor who's certified in dermatology to get laser treatment. With this procedure, a high-powered beam of light gets shot down on the skin and damages hair follicles, causing the hair to fall out. For best results, four to six treatments spaced several weeks apart may be needed, according to MayoClinic.com.
Step 3
Rip the hair out with the aid of a home waxing kit. Trim your hair down with electric clippers, heat up the wax and apply it with the applicator tool. Do this against the grain of hair growth. Let the wax set up until it feels tacky, then flatten out the cloth strip on top of it. Leave a corner of the strip in the air and grab it firmly with your fingers. Pull down in a fast motion to remove the hair and wax. Repeat in all areas where you want hair removed.
Step 4
Place a damp, warm washcloth over your hair to prep it for depilatory removal. Apply a depilatory cream liberally and let it set up for the time recommended by the manufacturer. Apply a moist washcloth to your skin and wipe off the hair and cream. Repeat in all locations that you want hair removed. Depilatory creams have active chemicals that dissolve the hair.
Step 5
Grab a pair of tweezers to pluck out the hair. Use this method for small areas where there are only a few hairs. Grip the hair about 1/4 inch from the skin and pull straight out in a steady motion. Do not yank the hair or it can break off. Repeat with all the hairs you want removed.
Things You'll Need
- Electric shears
- Shaving cream
- Razor blade
- Waxing kit
- 2 washcloths
- Depilatory cream
- Tweezers
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