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[1, 2, 3]
Hair Removal
Chapter 2
Waxing:
Waxing is one of the most effective temporary solutions to hair
removal, although it is fairly expensive. With this method, the
area in question receives an application of sticky wax and then
a strip of cotton is pressed on and thereafter pulled off quickly,
removing both the wax and the hair attached to it - rather like
pulling off a band-aid. As the hair is pulled out at the root, this
process is fairly painful, but it does last for a number of weeks.
Remember that about a third of all your hair follicles lie dormant
at any given time, which is why hair starts growing in shortly after
the treatment. A similar treatment is called "sugaring"
which is basically the same excepting the substitution of a sticky
sugary substance in place of wax. For both of these techniques,
it is much easier (but more expensive) to have an esthetician to
do it for you, although it is still possible to do it yourself at
home. It is very common to experience a good deal of redness and
even a bumpy rash anywhere from a few hours to a few days using
either of these techniques. One suggestion we've come across for
curbing this rash is to take an anti-histamine such as Benadril
in advance of the procedure.
Dipilatory Cream:
This inexpensive, temporary method of hair removal is fairly effective
and easy to use. Most drug stores sell many different brands. It
is simply necessary to spread the cream on to the area of unwanted
hair, wait for the prescribed length of time, and then wash it off.
The cream is made up of an alkaline substance that dissolves the
hair (and the skin as well, as both are made from keratin) at skin
level. This method is rather harsh and can be quite painful for
people with sensitive skin. Because the hair is removed only at
skin level, it is necessary to repeat the process as frequently
as shaving. Another unpleasant attribute of this method is the terrible
smell! Be sure to do it when you are certain no one is coming over
to visit!
Laser treatments:
This is one of the newer methods that seems to be growing in popularity.
It is extremely expensive, and the FDA rules are such that the companies
may not claim that it is a permanent solution with the exception
of one diode laser called the LightSheer at the creation date of
this article. In fairness, it is such a new technique that there
is not much data out there to compare long term results. There are
a few different types of lasers, but the premise is basically that
the laser energy is transformed into heat which is absorbed by the
hair follicles and destroys them, but it does not harm the surrounding
tissue and is relatively painless.
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