Hair Removal Methods: The Only Guide You'll Ever Need!

What if the secret to a great beach body was taking it all off?

No, we’re not talking about your cute summer bikini. Instead, we’re talking about unwanted body hair.

By mastering different hair removal methods, you can enjoy silky smooth skin on both the beach and the boardwalk.
Keep reading to learn every hair removal secret under the sun!

One Size Does Not Fit All

Below, we’ve outlined the best forms of hair removal for you to try. That’s the good news.

The bad news is that you’re likely going to try multiple methods before you find the best solution. Every body is different, and none of these are a “one size fits all” solution.

Some solutions are also going to be more budget-friendly than others. For example, laser hair removal is very thorough, but that can cost hundreds of dollars. Unless you want to reach deep into your wallet, it’s important to understand the other possible solutions.

With that in mind, let’s dive into the different ways to remove hair!

Somebody Shave Me

Our guide has to start somewhere, so why not start with something everyone is familiar with?

Shaving is the first step in hair removal for most people. And as hair removal methods go, it has some benefits and some drawbacks.

For example, shaving only removes hair at the skin level. That’s why we must repeatedly shave: because that unwanted hair will just keep coming back, day after day and week after week.

Some people dislike shaving because they get razor burn. However, you can typically avoid this problem by using sharper blades and higher-quality shaving cream (or, alternately, shaving oil).

It’s tough to beat shaving when it comes to budget hair removal options, though. You may pay only a couple of bucks for a blade and a few bucks for packs of replacement blades.

Long story short? If you like the results of shaving, this may be the only hair removal method you need. Otherwise, you may want to turn to a professional.

Wax On, Wax Off

Are you familiar with the phrase “no pain, no gain?” That’s pretty much the perfect description of waxing off unwanted hair.

Waxing has a well-earned reputation for being painful. It’s not hard to see why: your body hair is being torn out directly from the root!

That pain gets some serious results, though. The results last far longer than simply shaving hair off at the skin level. It will be weeks before you have to worry about your hair coming back.

As an added bonus, regular waxing makes the whole process less painful. That’s because your body hair becomes finer after repeat sessions.

A professional waxing may range from $15-20 all the way to $90-$100. The main factor is just how much hair you need to have removed. The more they yank, the more you pay!

Smooth, Creamy Goodness

Let’s face it: the pain of waxing is not for everyone. And shaving can be both annoying and time-consuming. If you want to save time and spare yourself some pain, you should check out depilatory creams.

These creams tackle hair at the chemical level. You put them on unwanted hair and leave it alone a few minutes before washing. By that time, the unwanted hair is dissolved.

The whole process is nice and painless, and you can usually buy creams as cheap as $5. However, these creams may not always work well on thicker body hair. And even if it works well, it’s a lot like shaving: hair may be back as early as the next day.

Nothing Sweeter Than Sugar

“Pour some sugar on me.” It’s not just a catchy rock lyric. It’s also a way to remove unwanted body hair!

Think of sugaring as a waxing alternative. And as alternatives go, it has its own set of benefits and drawbacks.

At first glance, the process of pouring on sugar paste (or sugar gel) and then ripping hair out seems exactly like waxing. But one of the big benefits of this process is that it is less painful than traditional waxing.

Despite the reduced pain, you get the same long-lasting results that you would normally get from waxing. That means kissing body hair goodbye for a minimum of 3 weeks.

The only real drawback here is the price. Depending on where you go and how much hair you remove, sugaring can be just as expensive (if not a little more so) than waxing. Adventurous people can save money by purchasing home kits or simply making their very own paste or gel.

Lasers: Hair Removal Goes Sci-Fi

The idea of using a laser to zap your hair probably sounds like something out of science fiction. But if you have the right skin tone and hair color, this is one of the most practical solutions.

Basically, the laser detects your hair pigments and then zaps hair away at the root. After at least 6 sessions, most hair is gone and the remaining hair is a bit lighter.

The process doesn’t really work well if you have lighter hair or darker skin, though. And the entire process may take between $250 and $1,000 depending on how much hair you are having removed.

When the smoke clears, the hair may be gone for up to a year!

Electrolysis: A Serious Solution

If you want to get really serious about hair removal, you can always try electrolysis. As a bonus, this method is really safe and even approved by the FDA!

As the name implies, electrolysis uses electric current to zap each hair away at the follicle level. And it’s a very long-lasting solution: if you rigorously attend each session, hair in the targeted areas may never grow back.

What’s the catch, you ask? There are really two catches: time and money.

This process takes a lot of time because you must typically spend at least 15 sessions (30 minutes per session) to fully remove hair. And it takes a lot of money because each session runs about $50.

Ultimately, this is neither cheap nor quick. But it’s the most thorough hair removal solution.