Body hair removal

Removing Unwanted Body Hair
 

The removal of body hair is becoming more and more popular throughout the United States and businesses that offer hair removal methods are seeing a rise in male customers.  Benefits include decreased body odor, maximizing muscles and figure and for some increased sensation of the area shaved.  There are no proven medical benefits however, and removing body hair should be a personal choice.  The decision to remove body hair should only be made after some thoughtful research on the topic.
 

 The options available to remove body hair vary in cost, effectiveness and trouble to maintain.  The most popular choice is shaving, either with a disposable or electric razor.  Shaving is the most economical choice but on the down side needs to be repeated frequently. 

Shaving has been used widely by men and women for shaving the face, legs and underarm's.  Some people are now taking it one step further by shaving their chest, back, and/or their genital area.  Shaving these areas is the most cost effective way to remove body hair, but the process will probably have to be repeated every day or two. 

How often you shave will depend on how smooth you want the area to be and whether having stubble in the area is acceptable to you.  Using a brand new blade, some shave gel or cream and a light touch will garner the best results.  There are oil glands at the base of a hair follicle, these oil glands becoming irritated by shaving, is what leads to the red, itchy bumps many experience following a shave.  Lotion or antiseptic cream can be applied to soothe the area or you can dissolve two aspirin and one drop of glycerine in 1/4 cup of distilled water, then rub the mixture on the shaved area.
 
Another fairly inexpensive method for removing hair is depilatory cream.  It can provide temporary hair removal, is easy to use and can be completed quickly.  You should always read the directions, use the cream on the area of the body it was formulated for and test it somewhere on your body, the inside of the arm is a good choice, before you use it.  Depilatory creams work by chemically dissolving the hair just below the skins surface.  Due to the “chemical burning” of the product it can also burn the skin, which is why it is necessary to test it first.  People who have sensitive skin may not be able to use these creams at all.  For the best results lay a warm wash cloth over the area first, to soften the hair and open follicles to better absorb the cream.  If the cream is left on longer than recommended it can cause skin irritation, but if it is not left on long enough it does not remove all the hair.  Depilatory creams should not be used on the genital area or around the eyes.
 
Many people who get tired of shaving opt for waxing or sugaring to remove large areas of body hair.  Some see waxing as too painful or uncomfortable to be an option, but others say it’s not as bad as it sounds.  To wax an area of the body spread warmed, not runny or hot, wax over the area.  Then place strips of cloth on top, once the wax cools pull up and back against the direction of the hair growth.  Waxing provides smooth results that last four to six weeks.  The area will probably be swollen, red and sore for up to two days, you can apply a cool compress for discomfort.  After waxing it is best to keep skin care to the area down to a minimum, only using water and a light moisturizer.  Sugaring is very similar to waxing, with a sugar paste being used is place of the wax.  The sugaring paste is warmed and applied like the wax.  Sugar paste generally sticks only to the hair not the skin, making this a more comfortable option for many.  Sugaring, like waxing, only needs to be repeated every four to six weeks.
 
Another choice, gaining in popularity, is electrolysis and laser treatment hair removal.  In the case of electrolysis an electric current is passed thorough small needles to the hair follicle, destroying it and preventing hair growth.  Laser treatments work much the same way with a laser being aimed at the hair follicle.  There is no garnet that either of these methods are permanent, although afterwards the hair will grow back finer and in smaller amounts.  Both of these options are fairly expensive and should only be preformed by a qualified professional.
 
When making a choice to remove body hair, first make sure you will like the look and feel of your skin without the hair.  Only then should you proceed in looking at options for hair removal.  When choosing the method look for one that is comfortable for you in expense, up keep and side effects.  Removing body hair, whether in the pubic area or on the chest, is a decision that should only be made after careful thought and planning.