Shaving can be time consuming—especially during the summertime when the skin is bare more often. If you have coarse or dark hair, you could find yourself having to shave every day. Although science can put men in space, it hasn't yet found a sure-proof method of permanently removing hair, and neither has nature. One thing women have discovered over the years, though, is that shaving is not the best method of hair removal if you desire slower, sparser, lighter hair regrowth.
Waxing
While not the most pain-free method of hair removal, waxing is one of the most effective natural means for removing hair at the root, causing it to grow back slower, softer and less noticeable. During waxing, warm wax is applied to hairs in the direction of hair growth and then covered with a cloth strip. After a few moments, the cloth strip is pulled off in the opposite direction of hair growth, taking with it the hair and the hair root from deep beneath the skin's surface. After waxing, hair normally takes four to eight weeks to regrow, and when it does, it feels softer and is less noticeable. Depending on your hair type, you could see a reduction in hair regrowth over time.
Sugaring
Sugaring is an ancient form of hair removal that was invented in Egypt. The process is very similar to traditional waxing, although it uses a thick, caramel-like "wax" made from sugar, water and lemon, which is easy to make at home and cleans up more easily than wax. Just like waxing, the sugar wax is applied in the direction of hair growth and then removed with a cloth strip in the opposite direction of hair growth, extracting the hair from the root. The health website Ayushveda.com reports that hair removed by sugaring "grows back fine and lighter and in some cases even cease to grow back at all."
Threading
Threading is another ancient form of hair removal that originated in Turkey. Threading is done by catching the hairs in between two pieces of thread, which pluck tiny hairs out from the root. It's similar to tweezing, but many more hairs can be removed at one time. Most people use threading on smaller areas such as the upper lip and the eyebrows, but with enough patience, threading is a viable option for longer-lasting hair removal on the legs.
Interested in learning more? Contact Alliance Healing's in-house esthetician, Julie Bitondo: Julia@goodjujuskincare.com.