Summer officially kicks off in less than 2 weeks! (I measure this not by a calendar but by the first time I hear Fresh Prince and DJ Jazzy Jeff’s Summertime) Temperatures are rising and so are hemlines. We also have to get beach ready! Should you be so inclined, let’s go over some ways to remove unwanted hair.
Shaving: The quickest, easiest, and probably most convenient method of removing body hair. Grab a fresh razor and some shaving gel (try Skin So Soft Fresh and Smooth Silky Stay Shave Gel or if you’re in a bind try some hair conditioner). Shaving is best for the underarm area and legs (although I sneak and use it for my upper lip and sideburns). Try it anywhere else and you could possibly be setting yourself up for a very uncomfortable few days. Ingrown hairs can be a dreaded side effect from shaving, so read on for how to limit them.
Be sure to shave in the direction in which your hair grows. Shaving lasts 2-7 days depending on your hair growth cycle.
Cost: $5-$20
Waxing: Probably one of the most painful methods of hair removal (unless you grow used to it somehow), it provides one of the smoothest outcomes. Waxing is great for many areas like the arms, legs, and bikini area. The downside of waxing to brown skin? Because of the natural curl pattern of our hair, when we do things like waxing we’re left with tough ingrown hairs, a result of the kinky/curly hair follicle being trapped under our skin while desperately trying to poke its way to freedom. The best relief I’ve ever experienced for ingrowns is via a solution called Tend Skin. Dab some on the area (wait a few hours or up to a day after removing hair) to help avoid most ingrowns or at least provide relief for the ones that have already sprouted up. You may also find some temporary relief by using a gentle exfoliator on the area.
My sis recently made a DIY Tend Skin solution by mixing rubbing alcohol, witch hazel, and crushed aspirin. It smelled like Tend Skin and she swears it works. Since a bottle of Tend Skin lasts so long, I’ve got a ways to go before I decide to try her concoction.
But what about the dark spots that ingrown hairs can leave behind? Unfortunately they will likely need the help of a dermatologist to fade them. Hey, being brown isn’t always easy.
I strongly suggest getting waxing done at a reputable, professional salon (don’t wind up on a 20/20 special). I’d try to stay away from salons that use the same bowl of wax on everyone (though the heat does help to curb some of the bacteria–but why take a chance?). A number of salons have come under fire for unsanitary conditions that have sent their clients to the hospital because of infections. In fact, the state of New Jersey was recently considering banning genital waxing for that very reason. Yikes.
Though there’s tons of horror stories out there, I’ve sucked it up and have done bikini waxes (even the Brazilian) several times and though I’ve never given birth, I feel like I can compare waxing to it…lol. Not to downplay the pains of childbirth at all, but bikini waxing is no walk in the park. Once I’ve finished screaming at levels that would rival Mariah Carey’s, I’m often pleased with the super smooth results (remember when Maya from Girfriends first got one when they went to Jamaica?). Ingrown hairs are a big after effect of bikini waxing so be sure to arm yourself with Tend Skin and a gentle exfoliator to tame them.
While we’re on bikini waxing, let’s go over the different types:
Regular: cleans up just the sides of the panty line
Full: takes off the hair as described in the regular wax, but also does some grooming on the top in a triangular shape.
French: takes all hair off the front (except a small strip) and continues to just right before the back.
Brazilian: the Big Mama Queen Bee of waxing that takes off everything (and I mean everything) including any hair on your behind. You may be left with a slight landing strip or basically nothing at all. Not for the faint at heart. Work your way up to this by trying the other types first if you’re intrigued.
Waxing normally lasts 2-4 weeks depending on your hair growth cycle.
Cost: $10 (upper lip)-$75 and up
Depilatory Creams: Another relatively inexpensive and quick method of hair removal. According to about.com, depilatory creams use chemicals such as calcium thioglycolate and sodium thioglycolate which dissolve the part of the hair shaft that is above or very slightly below the skin surface. It can have a very strong scent, but doesn’t irritate most skins (very sensitive skins or skin that has been irritated via cuts or scrapes won’t fare well with this at all).
Prolonged use of depilatory creams can eventually cause adverse skin reactions and should not be used in conjunction with another hair removal method (i.e. using depilatory one week, waxing the next, etc.). Definitely perform a patch test on a small area of skin first.
This method lasts 4-10 days depending on your hair growth cycle.
Cost: $4-15
Laser Hair Removal: According to the American Academy of Dermatology, lasers send a low-energy beam through the skin that is absorbed by dark pigment (melanin) present in the shaft of the hair follicles. Since hair cycles as it grows, repeated treatments are necessary to destroy about 80 percent of the hairs. Different types of lasers may be used. The ruby, alexandrite, and diode were the first lasers approved for hair reduction. The intense pulsed light (IPL) systems are also used. These lasers work best on light-skinned, dark-haired individuals because dark pigments in the surrounding skin cannot absorb the light they emit. Lasers with longer wavelengths, such as the Nd:YAG lasers, have the ability to treat darker skin types including African-American skin.
I don’t have any personal experiences to draw on when it comes to laser hair removal, but it’s important to know that you’ll need to do extensive research on several dermatologists and ensure they have experience working with skin of color. The chances of hyperpigmentation and keloids can be great after laser treatment if not done correctly. As mentioned above, not every type of laser works on every type of skin. Start by asking your primary care doctor (or perhaps family and friends) for some referrals of dermatologists in your area, get some names, and then do an energetic background search on them like you were the father from Meet the Parents. Also expect 5-7 sessions to remove the hair with yearly touch-ups afterwards.
Cost: The cost runs between $150 and $500, or sometimes more depending on how many treatments are needed (source)
Electrolysis: According to WebMD, this is the only method of hair removal that is permitted to be called “permanent”. Electrolysis uses a tiny needle that slides down into the hair follicle until it reaches the cells responsible for hair growth. “Electrolysis destroys the cells that cause the hair to grow. The hair will release and slide right out and it won’t grow back there again — it’s permanent removal,” says Patsy Kirby, executive director of the American Electrology Association in Bodega Bay, Calif.
It can take up to 25 sessions (each being about 5-10 mins long) to remove hair and costs about $40-$90 per treatment.
Remember how I said being brown isn’t easy? Well since electrolysis can cause tiny scars on the skin, it’s not recommended for skin of color because it can cause hyperpigmentation and keloids. Womp womp.
Vaniqa: A prescription cream also known as eflornithine 13.9% that helps to block an enzyme responsible for hair growth. Some experts say Vaniqa is not a hair remover per say but best used in conjunction with other methods such as lasers. Other experts say it can work on its own (best for facial hair) but requires a patient commitment of 8 weeks to 6 months before full results are seen. Your best bet would be to sit with your dermatologist and have a heart-to-heart about whether this method is right for you.
Cost: Vaniqa costs between $80 and $225 per tube. Also add in any relevant costs associated with seeing your derm.
So there you have it. A breakdown on the different types of hair removal techniques and their possible effects on our skin.
What are your preferred methods for hair removal? Feel free to share your success and horror stories below.
Questions? Comments? See you in the comments section :)
~Danielle
June 10, 2010 10:01 am
Danielle, can I just say that you rock! This guide is perfect. I’ve always been afraid to visit “Brazil” but I might just do it this summer :)
June 10, 2010 10:47 am
The brazillian really isn’t that bad. I always take a 2-3 ibuprofens before (or few shots- whatever you prefer lol) and it’s bearable. Where you have a problem is when you wait for the hair to grow too long and then it becomes painful. Good luck!
June 10, 2010 1:12 pm
Oh, Sharon, you have a higher pain tolerance than I. While going through it for the first time, I thought I was going to die. The woman made fun of me because I was sweating. It hurt! It’s a body’s normal reaction.
Anyways. The after effects were nice. I haven’t done another since being abroad…I’m too scared.
But once I’m back in Atlanta, I think I’ll try it again for the summer. I’m going to try your ibuprofen trick. Or a few shots…I’ll think on it.
June 10, 2010 1:37 pm
I want Electrolysis/Laser Hair removal so bad!! I’m half Puerto-Rican so I’m hairy by nature, and if I didn’t have to shave my legs ever again in life, I swear I would be the happiest woman in the world. Thanks for this post because I am definitely going to look into this.
@Living Fly on a Dime…Trust me once you go to “Brazil” you won’t want it any other way. I went last summer for the first time and have been back every month since, lol.
@Dari, Sharon is right. The first time is a little nerve wrecking, but if you go consistently, you build up a tolerance to it. And definitely don’t wait til the hair gets too long, you’d be setting yourself up. I bbm/text while she’s doing it to take my mind off of it hehe
June 10, 2010 4:32 pm
i had several brazilians and i was more aware of the woman between my legs telling me to lift my leg up more than the pain. throughout the year, i VEET my legs and shave under my arms and bikin line and but i do brazilians whenever i plan to show a lot of skin.
June 10, 2010 6:10 pm
I get laser hair removal treatments from Ideal Image. It’s a great investment from what I can tell so far. I’ve gotten about 4 treaments and, seriously, my skin there feels like the skin on your forearm…very smoooooth! lol. Each treatment only lasts about 5 minutes tops and you can get a prescription of numbing cream to deal with pain. (It feels like a rubber band popping you with each zap.) So summer ready without the irritated skin and such! ;-)
June 10, 2010 9:13 pm
hey ladies, waxing is not enjoying but damn it looks good after :) I’ve been to tons of spas, Completely Bare, Bliss etc., you name it & still I’m left saying “never again” I did find one waxer that made me reconsider being “completely bare” I’ve been hooked ever since & I’m very sensitive. She’s located @ Valley here in NYC (Soho) I think it’s all about the waxers technique & the kind of wax used. I still take a motrin before I go at times but trust me you won’t leave crying when she’s done.
June 11, 2010 4:17 am
i’ve recently had one session of laser hair removal done and i can honestly say that i’m impressed with the results so far. the cutera laser is the only one FDA approved for skin of color. so if you decide to have laser hair removal, make sure this is the laser that they are using.
June 11, 2010 5:44 pm
Maybe I have a high pain tolerance b/c I don’t find Brazilians that unreasonably painful. Look for a salon that uses a hard blue wax to remove the hair that does not require a waxing strip. This may help and is better suited for sensitive skin.
June 17, 2010 11:19 am
this was a good article but recently I decided to try the smooth legs hair removal. Has anyonelse tried this? I find that it works to remove the hairs but the hairs grow back much faster than when I shave. Please share your experiences with this method, if you have any.
January 6, 2011 8:32 am
Woo……
Your blog is very interesting. Both men and women have come to be proponents of the procedure .But the truth is that the procedure isn’t for everyone and there are some risks. So you should solve the problem.Thanks…………..