Unwanted Hair

The world´s relationship with hair is not always a love affair. Sometimes hair is completely unwanted. Our self-esteem and well-being can be threatened by the presence of embarrassing body hair. Depending on how we are put together and our heritage, many of us are bothered by an over abundance of hair in areas where fashion dictates there should be none. Often more of these pesky hairs appear as we age. Whatever the time or the reason for the appearance of unwanted hair, over the years numerous methods have been devised to get rid of it.

Shaving
The fastest method has always been shaving. A sharp blade scraped across the skin slices off unwanted hair. This method only lasts for up to three days and can be irritating to the skin. It is not recommended for a woman´s face.
Tweezing
Tweezing is always popular because of its convenience. However, the action of pulling out one hair at a time can be painful as well as time consuming. The affects of tweezing will last from three to six weeks.
Threading
Threading is an ancient method of hair removal. It is still used in many countries in the Middle East as well as India and Pakistan and in parts of the United States where residents of this culture are found. It is used to shape eyebrows and remove hair from the upper lip and other facial areas.
Cotton thread is twisted and rolled along the surface of the skin. This action entwines the hair in the thread, which is then lifted out from the follicle. This method lasts between three to eight weeks and is less invasive than other hair removal methods such as tweezing, waxing or sugaring. Only a slight pinch is felt when a relatively large area is covered each time. There are still cosmeticians skilled in the art of threading in certain areas and can often be found your local Yellow Pages.
Waxing
Waxing or Honeying is a technique in which a sticky preparation is heated in a pot or microwave and spread over the area in which the hair is to be removed. A strip of cloth is pressed onto the wax and lifted off, removing the hair along with the wax. This can be irritating to the skin because of the heat and sometimes even removes the top layer of skin.
Sugaring
A similar method, that has been used for centuries, is sugaring. This process of hair removal uses a natural non-toxic formulation made of sugar, lemon and water. This method exfoliates the skin, leaving it soft and smooth while removing the hair. Regular use slows down hair growth and is virtually painless. Sugaring can be used on any part of the body with the exception of the eyelids.