1) Shaving
Shaving is the method used most frequently to temporarily remove unwanted hair. Shaving is fast, easy, painless, effective, and inexpensive. The results are temporary, lasting 1-3 days, and shaving requires a constant commitment to maintaining a hair-free appearance.
2) Epilation
Epilation involves the removal of the entire hair shaft and is the most effective method for temporarily removing hair. Epilation includes waxing, plucking, threading, sugaring, and using abrasives or mechanical devices.
3) PluckingPlucking is best performed using tweezers and is a beneficial and economic method for removing the occasional coarse hair or a small group of hairs, such as those found on the eyebrows, chin, or nipples. The results of plucking last longer than shaving because hair is pulled from the hair shaft, as in waxing.
4) WaxingWaxing is similar to plucking and involves applying warm or cold wax onto hair-bearing skin and quickly stripping off the hardened wax and embedded hairs against the direction of hair growth. Waxing is the most expensive yet most effective method of epilation because hair is removed completely from the hair shaft in large quantities. Often, hair can take 2-3 weeks to regrow.
5) Threading
Threading is an ancient manual technique, popular in many Arabic and Asian countries, that involves the use of a long twisted loop of thread rotated rapidly across the skin. By maneuvering the twisted string, hairs are trapped within the tight entwined coils and are pulled or broken off. Adverse effects from threading include pain, hyperpigmentation, scarring, folliculitis, and ingrown hair pseudofolliculitis.
6) Abrasives
Abrasives such as pumice stones and devices or gloves made of fine sandpaper work by physically rubbing the hair away from the skin surface. This method can be irritating to the skin and is not commonly used today for hair removal.
7) Sugaring
Sugaring is similar to waxing. The sugar mixture is prepared by heating sugar, lemon juice, and water to form a syrup.
8) Depilation
Chemical depilatories remove part of the hair shaft and are easy and painless to use. Adverse effects include skin irritation, burns, folliculitis, ingrown hairs, and allergic contact dermatitis to either thioglycolate or fragrances.
9) Bleaching
Bleaching is not a method of hair removal, but many women use bleaching as an inexpensive method of disguising the presence of unwanted hair by removing the hair's natural pigment.
Temporary Hair Reduction
Eflornithine
Eflornithine, a novel method for temporary hair reduction in women, is a topical cream available by prescription
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