7 Types of Underarm Hair Removal Methods to Help You Achieve Flawless Skin
It’s only normal for your hair to grow in the underarm area as it naturally keeps sweat and bacteria away from the skin.
However, having hair in your underarms could make you extremely self-conscious. This limits your movement and wardrobe choices, preventing you from feeling and looking your best.
Fortunately, there are several skin treatments that can remove unwanted underarm hair. Here's an article about the things you need to know regarding the 7 types of underarm hair removal treatments from longevity, cost, and pain.
7 Different Methods of Underarm Hair Removal
1. Shaving
Shaving allows you to remove hair from large areas in your body in the most convenient way possible as it can be easily done in the shower. Due to this, it’s commonly used for your underarms. It can also be used in the bikini area but it may cause ingrown hairs and post-shave irritation. And while it’s a relatively painless method, it’s a must to use proper shaving creams to minimize the risk of razor cuts and burns.
Shaving is also an inexpensive option to remove hair as razors are cheap and it can be re-used. However, it only removes unwanted hair at skin-level so expect it to grow back after a few days.
2. Plucking
Plucking, also known as tweezing, removes unwanted underarm hair from the roots. This means it will grow a lot more slowly but it can be very painful for most people. It’s recommended you pull out hair in the direction of its growth to prevent breakage and irritation of hair follicles.
However, before plucking, do make sure to thoroughly clean the tweezers you’ll be using to minimize contact with dirt and bacteria.
Tip: While plucking could also be a great choice to remove hair from your eyebrow and upper lip, avoid plucking large areas in your body as it often results in painful ingrown hairs.
3. Threading
Threading makes use of a special string to pull unwanted hair out of the skin. It’s often done by salon professionals because the process requires careful precision to avoid breaking your hair follicles.
While not often used in underarm hair removal, many people are now switching to threading as hair will grow back at around six weeks. It is also completely sanitary as the thread is immediately thrown away after use. Furthermore, it’s not as uncomfortable and painful as plucking.
4. Waxing
Waxing is one of the most common ways to remove hair as it can be done at the comfort of your own home, with a waxing kit, or at the salon with the assistance of an expert.
It involves the application of hot wax to the skin which sticks to the hair and pulls it from the root. But unlike plucking, it can be used to remove a lot of hair at once so it’s much suitable for large areas in the body such as your underarms.
Waxing can be extremely painful but the procedure is relatively quick and gives your hair enough time before growing back.
Tip: Since wax needs to stick to the hair to remove it, you should grow your underarm hair at least a quarter of an inch long for the treatment to work.
5. Depilatory Cream
Depilatory creams can dissolve your hair through the use of chemicals. It is usually applied in thick layers over the skin to cover your entire underarm area. Then let it stay for a few minutes before rinsing it off to give the chemicals enough time to remove unwanted hair.
However, these creams only remove hair near the skin level so expect hair to grow back a lot faster. It’s also not the most effective solution for people with thick underarm hair.
6. Laser Hair Removal
Laser hair removal uses a special laser to lighten the hair on the underarm, which makes it fine and less obvious. It’s well-suited for people with dark hair and light skin because the laser can easily detect the difference in the contrasting pigment.
It can effectively reduce the hair in your underarm with minimal pain. This sensation is similar to being snapped with a rubber band.
However, this particular method can be quite expensive as it requires about 6 to 12 sessions before optimal results can be achieved.
Tip: You need to undergo regular touch-ups every year to ensure that your underarm hair is not growing back faster.
7. Electrolysis
Approved by the FDA, electrolysis is a safe way to remove all your underarm hair permanently since it destroys the root of the hair through the use of electric current. This makes hair impossible to grow back and it’s the best choice for those with thick or coarse hair.
Unfortunately, the treatment is very time-consuming as it targets each strand one at a time. It also requires you to undergo several sessions to complete the process which makes it very expensive. Furthermore, it comes with a stinging sensation when each hair is targeted but the amount of pain experienced still depends on the person.
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With these types of hair removal treatments, you can eliminate any unwanted underarm hair. This gives you the right amount of confidence to wear and do whatever you want without having to worry about your appearance.
Want to remove any unwanted hair in your body? Skin MD, the board-certified dermatologists at Pasig, offer permanent hair reduction services. We will assist you during the procedure, ensuring that it’s safe and painless. Contact us now to book an appointment!
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