By Katie Martlew
So you’ve been a little lax of late and let yourself go in the hair removal department? Well there is no denying the weather is getting warmer, and pretty soon we won’t be able to hide away our misgivings underneath a pair of tights.
But fear not- we’ve got you covered! From waxing, shaving, laser, IPL, electrolysis, depilatory creams, threading and the no!no! we take the guesswork out of hair removal to have you fuzz-free and ready to bare in a flash…
1. SHAVING
With so many new whiz-bang razors on the market these days, shaving has never been simpler. Gone are the days of nicks, cuts and razor burn (see expert tips!) and thus shaving still reigns supreme as the quickest and easiest method of hair removal.
Pros: As above- it’s a cheap, quick and fuss-free method to de-fuzz.
Cons: It’s short-lived. And while shaving does not actually make the hair grow back denser, it does grow back with a blunt squared off edge.
Best used for: Legs, armpits, bikini line.
Expert tip: Soak the hair in warm water first for a few minutes prior to shaving as warm water softens the hair, relaxes the skin and opens up the hair follicles. Wet hair also reduces wear on the blade. To further reduce the chance of getting razor burn, slather the hair in hair conditioner to soften the hair before shaving.
Rescu. Recommends:
Gillette Venus Embrace. Thanks to the five spring-mounted curve-hugging blades, and Protective Ribbon of Moisture encasing the blades, this slick little razor provides a no-fuss, seriously smooth and super close shave.
RRP $14.95 (includes two refill cartridges and shower compact) Available at leading supermarkets and pharmacies nationally.
2. DEPILATORY CREAMS
Depilatory creams work by dissolving the hair follicle just underneath the skin’s surface. While shaving cuts the hair off at the surface, hairs are rounded off with depilatory creams rather than sliced, hence no prickly stubble.
Pros: It’s quick, easy and relatively cheap, and regrowth is slightly less prickly.
Cons: The odour can often be a little on the nose, and some creams do contain strong chemicals, which means they may not be suitable for some skins.
Best used for: You can purchase specific facial depilatory creams, which are gentler, as well as body depilatories, that cannot be used on the face.
Expert tips from Nad’s Training Manager Therese Montoya: “Completely cover the area in a thick layer of cream- do not rub it! Wait no more than 10 minutes to remove the cream- it’s a chemical based substance, so leaving it on the skin too long may cause irritation.”
Rescu. Recommends:
Nair Shower Power MAX. Ideal for body, underarms and legs this super convenient water resistant cream removes even the thickest, coarsest hair, all while you shower.
RRP $10.99 Ph) 1800 222 099
Nad’s Sensitive Hair Removal Crème. Perfect for sensitive skins, simply apply five minutes before jumping into the shower then wash away the crème along with your hair. Too easy! RRP $10.25 Ph) 1800 352 626
3. WAXING
While the thought of waxing may bring back some painful memories for some, for many waxing is the number one hair removal method of choice due to the fact the resin-based wax removes the entire hair follicle from the root.
Pros: results are long lasting (up to six weeks), you can easily DIY or leave it in the capable hands of a professional, and over time frequent waxing can damage the hair follicle, reducing hair growth.
Cons: You need to wait approx 3-4 weeks before hair is long enough for the wax to grab the hair. If you are new to the DIY method- it can be a long, messy and painful process as inexperienced waxers often break the hair above the surface and do not grab the entire follicle.
Best used for: well, pretty much everywhere! I.e. legs, arms, upper lip, chin, eyebrows, bikini area, back.
Expert tips from Nad’s Training Manager Therese Montoya: “Try to avoid waxing just before or during your period as your skin is really sensitive during this time. For optimal results, exfoliate your skin no sooner than eight hours before hair removal and 48 hours after as exfoliating helps remove dead skin cells.”
Rescu. RECOMMENDS:
DIY Body wax: Nad’s Brazilian & Bikini Wax Kit. Remove hair down there with this specifically designed Brazilian and Bikini Kit for hair removal of areas with thicker, coarser hair like the bikini/ brazilian area or underarms. RRP $16.95.
Brows: Benefit Brow Bar. For a quick and relatively cheap expert brow wax, visit the brow gurus at the Benefit Brow Bar, located in Sydney (Myer Chatswood, Myer Sydney City and Oxford Street, Paddington) or in Melbourne (Myer Chadstone and Myer City) Brow wax from $25.00
4. THREADING
“Originating in ancient India, threading is a safe and quick hair removal technique. Using a double strand of twisted thread, hair is picked up in a line and removed to create a precise and very clean hair line by rolling the thread, wrapping around the hairs in its path and pulling them out by the root.” Says Brow Guru and threading expert Steve Supple of Brows by Steve.
Pros: “Unlike plucking or waxing, Threading removes one clean line of hair all at once, is fast, does not use any chemicals and is considered by some to be even more thorough at catching those smaller, finer hairs making the time span in between treatments last even longer. Skin irritation with threading is minimal and is effective for sensitive skins.” Says Steve.
Cons: Threading is limited to the face only, and it can be very difficult finding a suitably experience technician.
Best used for: “Threading can be used for all of the facial hair areas that may be a concern for some clients, whether it is the ‘Lip’, chin, jaw-line/cheeks or forehead areas. Says Steve.
Expert tip: Do your research! Check your would-be-threader’s experience and credentials before trusting them with that thread!
Rescu. RECOMMENDS
Brows by Steve- located in the Joh Bailey Salon in Myer. Steve Supple is your expert go-to-guy for all things threading, and seriously wow brows! Prices range from $55 for brows, $30 for lip/chin and $150 for full face threading. www.johbailey.com.au
5. LASER
“Laser hair removal is based upon the laser’s attraction to the melanin (colour) in the hair follicle. The pin point accurate laser kills the hair follicles at the root.” Says Nadine Ismiel, Nad’s Product Development Manager and Laser Expert.
Pros: it’s less evasive than electrolysis as larger areas can be treated at the same time, and after around 6-10 sessions, you could potentially be hair free forever!
Cons: “Unfortunately laser hair removal isn’t suitable for everyone. Says Nadine. “As the laser is attracted to the hair melanin only people with dark hairs are eligible for laser – blonde, red and grey hairs are not picked up by the laser. In the past only pale skin/dark hair were appropriate for laser. However now with the introduction of the Yag Laser, dark skin/dark hair can also be treated.”
Best used for: Pretty much anywhere hair grows!
Expert tip from Nadine Islmiel, Product Development Manager and Laser Expert: “Laser removal is safe if performed correctly and by trained staff who have extensive experience working with lasers and a variety of skin types.”
Rescu. RECOMMENDS:
Nad’s Laser Clinics. Located in Sydney, Parramatta, Burwood, Castle Hill and Warringah Mall. Visit www.nadsclinic.com.au for more info.
National
AVANA Laser Clinics. Located across Australia and New Zealand. Ph) 1300 665 266 for more info.
6. IPL
IPL, or ‘intense pulsed light’ is a light therapy that uses a spectrum of multiple wavelengths of light energy, which dries up moisture in the hair, destroying the hair follicle, and stunning the root of the hair, causing blood flow to the hair to stop.
Pros: IPL is thought to be the most advanced and permanent reduction of hair growth of all treatments currently on the market. Most people will get effective hair reduction after each treatment with very little to no re-growth after the treatment is done, and any re-growth of hair will be weak, fine and light due to the damaged hair follicles.
Cons: Darker skin colour and lighter colour hair will require more treatments as there is less melanin in the hair roots, and the IPL machine cannot be used at full capacity.
Can be used: All areas of the face and body can be treated with IPL.
Expert tip: Tanning, waxing, bleaching and tweezing should all be avoided up to three weeks before treatment.
7. ELECTROLYSIS
A thin needle is inserted into the hair follicle, which sends a low level electrical current through the hair root, killing the follicle.
Pros: after diligently attending all sessions, you could be hair free forever!
Cons: Electrolysis can be a painful and tedious process as focuses on just one follicle at a time. You also typically need more visits than you do with Laser and IPL (around 10-12 visits). Also, there is a risk that IPL can cause scabs, inflammation and in rare cases scaring.
Best used for: The bikini area, underarms, tummy, chin, and upper lip.
Expert tip: Always ensure that your practitioner is board certified. Also prior to treatment, keep skin hydrated by drinking lots of water, skip the tanning sessions, and if you can, take a couple of Nurofen (ibuprofen) an hour before treatment to dull the pain.
Rescu. RECOMMENDS:
City Electrolysis Centre. Call 02 9221 8594
8. NO!NO! HAIR REMOVAL DEVICE
Are you more of an at-home DIY kinda girl? Well, the no!no! is for you. This compact little hair removal device uses heat-based technology Thermicon, which removes hair and prevents it from growing back. By gliding no!no across the skin, the heated blades painlessly dissolve hair, while the thermodynamic hot blade wire transmits a heated pulse down the hair shaft to the root, destroying the hair.
Pros: It’s completely painless, and unlike Laser can be used on ALL skin types. Plus it’s also much cheaper at a once off payment of $289- it’s yours to keep!
Cons: Some people may experience a mild tingling sensation when first starting to no!no!, especially around sensitive areas, and those with sensitive skin may experience a burning sensation or find their skin becomes uncomfortably hot during treatment (to avoid this, take short breaks after repeated gliding on any one area).
Best used for: no!no! is limited to use on the legs, arms, underarms, bikini line and back, and cannot be used on the face.
Expert tip: Do not use no!no! on sunburned skin, open cuts, bruises, blisters, moles or raised areas, such as scars, and If you are pregnant consult your physician before using no!no!
For stockist info, go to www.no-no.com.au
