Natural Hair Removal: 6 options for removing hair

Published: 09/20/2016 - Updated: 02/05/2018

In today’s world there are several options for eliminating hair, from tweezing, to lasers, chemicals, waxes, etc.  Yet, it’s important to know for all these options, natural hair removal is safe and equally effective, which is why being informed about these options could be useful for you.

A lot of these methods have been used for centuries, and even though there have been lots of variations with them over the course of the years, they continue to be valuable even today.

Waxing for hair removal

Waxing has been used since ancient times and is one of the most effective methods for hair removal.  It tears hair from the root, prolonging its recovery time.

To apply it you generally need to heat the wax in order to apply it uniformly over your skin.  Spread it around, and then in order to remove the wax, you need to grab one end of it and pull in the opposite direction of hair growth.  Repeat in the areas where it is necessary.  This could be a slow process at first, but you will get faster with practice.

Even though it is painful, waxing is a quick method of hair removal.  It can cause skin irritation and redness and is not at all recommended for delicate areas, but you can still apply it there.  If the wax is hot when you apply it you could burn your skin, which is why you should be careful with the temperature.

Wax hair removal can last from 6 to 8 weeks, and in order to reapply it you must wait until the hair grows at least half an inch.

It is advisable to use a moisturizing product for your skin after waxing, and there are also products that you can apply before waxing as well.

Threading

This method is ideal for small and delicate areas like the face, the eyebrows, and it also does not cause skin irritation.  It is just as fast as waxing.

It consists of using a cotton thread, which is tightened and rolled up before grabbing it with your fingers.  The device helps trap hairs and pull them from the root.  It is painful but it doesn’t take any longer than 10 minutes if used to eliminate facial hair.  You can find videos and tutorials on how to use this technique, yet it is advisable to see an expert so they can perform this type of hair removal.  It could require quite a bit of practice to be able to dominate this method.

Results are usually better than that of using tweezers because the threads can grab even the finest hair.  It can last for up to 5 days, depending on how quickly the hair grows.

Sugaring

If you feel like waxing is the best method for you but it seems a bit messy or complicated, you might find sugaring to be a simpler option for you.  Applying it is usually similar to applying wax, but different in that it is less irritating and is easier to apply and clean.  Because it is primarily made of sugar, just a little bit of water will help you eliminate the leftovers. 

Generally the mixture is prepared with sugar and fresh lemon juice.  Subject the mixture to the temperature necessary to form a kind of wax, which helps naturally remove hair.  Some people say that this method is painful but a little less painful than waxing.  Except for the mixture, everything else can be reused in new applications, all you need to do is wash everything necessary with water.

Pull the hair from the root; your results with last a lot longer.  This is a very advisable method, however, if you sugar preparation isn’t good enough, it won’t work.

Just like wax, you need to be careful with the sugar temperature when you apply it, because you could burn yourself.

This method is also better for skin, however, we do advise that you apply some hydrating product or cream after using it.

Friction hair removal

This consists of using gloves or special surfaces for rubbing the desired area.  The rubbing action weakens and cuts hair, yet it is not recommendable to use this method of very irritate or sensitive skin.  This can be used especially on the legs because it can irritate areas like the face or the bikini area.

Even though it isn’t painful, the effects are generally short-term and generally it is recommended to only use it on fine hair.

Shaving

This is perhaps one of the most widely used methods of hair removal.  It is quick and inexpensive.  A shaving blade is used, and it is recommended to use a cream or soap for facilitating the blade to slide, thereby preventing skin irritation or accidental cuts.

One of the most common inconveniences is that it cuts the hair, meaning that it doesn’t last very long.  You constantly need to repeat it.

We recommend you apply a moisturizing cream or product after shaving.

Tweezing

This is a mechanical method that uses tiny tweezers that you use to pull hair.  Irritation is minimal and because you extract the hair from the root, it grows slower.  This makes the effects much longer-lasting.  it is inconvenient, however, in that it is a slow process.  This means that it is usually only used on small areas like the eyebrows or the face.

About the author
  • Miriam Reyes

    Miriam Reyes is a professional expert in nutrition and dietetics. She has more than 12 years of experience in caring for patients with overweight and eating problems. She studied at the Universidad del Valle de Atemajac (UNIVA), where she obtained a degree in nutrition. Linkedin profile.

1 Reply to “Natural Hair Removal: 6 options for removing hair”
  • Stacy says:

    When I was younger Iused to be very concerned about my body hair. I’ve always had very light skin, and extremely dark hair. I started shaving when I was in third grade. Now that I’m older, and more confident in myself, I’ve realized that I don’t need to remove any hair. Rather that using any of these techniques, I actually let my hair just grow naturally, although theses are all very good suggestions.