When it comes to keeping certain areas of our body hairless, what type of hair removal process works best? We dissected the ways:
Shaving
The process: A razor cuts the hair at skin level.
Best for: Legs and arms
Cost: P35–P75 per disposable razor, and P350–P500 per set of reusable razors
Pros: Quick, easy, and painless (as long as you do it right)
Cons: When overdone or used the wrong way, it can cause scarring, ingrowns, and shaving burns. The hair grows back in just one to three days.
Tips: Use shaving cream for a smoother shave.
Plucking
The process: You pluck each hair strand from the base, one by one.
Best for: Small areas like eyebrows, or for removing a few strays on other areas
Cost: Generic tweezers are around P50, while branded tweezers go up to P700+ each
Pros: Quick and easy on small areas
Cons: Painful, and can cause ingrowns and scarring
Tips: Make sure your tweezer is clean, and don’t apply anything on the area for four to six hours after plucking.
Threading
The process: A traditional Indian method of hair removal where threads are twisted and used to quickly pull out unwanted hair
Best for: Small areas where precision is important, like eyebrows and facial hair
Cost: Starts at around P150 for small surface areas like eyebrows
Pros: It’s a better version of plucking, because it yanks out hair faster and more precisely.
Cons: It can be very painful, especially for beginners.
Tips: Go to a reputable salon that offers professional threading. Some offer post-threading creams to help ease the pain and redness. Don’t touch or apply anything on the area for four to six hours after threading.
Depilatories
The process: The chemicals in depilatories dissolve the hair on the skin’s surface in just a few minutes, and you simply wipe it off.
Best for: Underarms, legs, and arms
Cost: P180–P500
Pros: Painless compared to waxing and plucking, as long as you do it properly and aren’t allergic to the product.
Cons: When used the wrong way, it can cause burning and irritation.
Tips: Do a patch test first to see if your skin is allergic to the product.
Waxing
The process: It’s a form of semi-permanent hair removal. Hair grows back after two or more weeks. A thin layer of hot or cold wax is applied on the hairy area, and then a paper or cloth strip is pressed on the waxed layer. Using a swift movement, the strip is ripped off in the opposite direction of the hair growth, quickly removing the hair from the roots.
Best for: Underarms, upper lip, fingers, toes, and bikini area
Cost: P200–P500 for DIY waxing kits; Professional waxing starts at around P250 for small areas like underarms.
Pros: Hair regrowth is within three to six weeks, much longer than shaving.
Cons: Painful and can cause burns if used the wrong way
Tips: Choose a reputable waxing salon.
IPL Hair Removal
The process: Short for intense pulsed light, IPL hair removal treatment is a cosmetic procedure. It will take around five sessions before you see significant results, and it’s normal to see some regrowth after a few months. Expect to do touch-ups every six to 12 months or so. Take note that there is no such thing as permanent hair removal, just semi-permanent and significant reduction in hair regrowth.
Best for: Most hairy parts as long as they’re not too close to risky areas like the eyes and inner bikini area
Cost: Starts at around P2,500 per session for small surface areas like underarms
Pros: Semi-permanent and significant reduction in hair regrowth
Cons: Most costly among all the hair removal methods
Tips: Go for bundle deals, discounts, and promos offered by many reputable cosmetics clinics.
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