Hair Removal Methods
By Hairstyles-For-You.com at 22 July, 2009, 10:46 pm
Thread like outgrowth from the skin of mammals is called hair. In animals, it is also known as fur and wool. The root of the hair extends down into the hair follicle and widens into an indented bulb at its base. The hair shaft has two layers, the cuticle and the cortex. The cuticle consists of flat, colorless overlapping cells; below the cuticle is the cortex, containing pigment and a tough protein called keratin; it forms the bulk of the hair shaft.
Types of hair:
- Vellus
- Intermediate
- Terminal
Stages for hair growth cycle:
- Anagen
- Catagen
- Telogen
Methods of hair removal
1) Temporary methods:
Temporary methods of hair removing are acceptable by many consumers. There are following temporary methods for hair removing:
2) Shaving or trimming:
This method is cheap, minimum side effects and quick. In this method, a sharp metal blade cuts hair off at the surface of skin.
Advantages : Fast, very safe, inexpensive and painless
Disadvantages : It can cause cuts, ingrown hair and skin irritation. Blades require frequent replacement.
3) Depilatories:
In this method a chemical dissolves hair at the skin’s surface.
Advantages : Sometimes painless, inexpensive, fast and available anywhere.
Disadvantages : It effects from hours to several days only. It can cause cuts, eye and skin irritation.
4) Friction:
It is useful for removing hair from leg. A rough surface is used to buff away hair at the skin’s surface.
Advantages : Inexpensive, sometimes painless, fast and available almost anywhere.
Disadvantages : It effects for a short time. This method is not use on face, underarms, arms or bikini area. It can cause skin irritation and do not use on damaged skin.
5) Tweezing:
This method is also known as plucking. Metal forceps used manually to pull hairs out by the root.
Advantages : This is the best method for hair removing from eyebrows and stray hairs on face.
Disadvantages : This method is not good for nose hairs. Trimming is a good method for hair removal. Painful and difficult for large areas. It may cause scarring, pitting and ingrown hairs.
6) Sugaring:
This is an ancient method. A sticky paste is applied to the skin, and a strip of cloth or paper is pressed into the preparation. The strip is then quickly pulled away, taking hairs with it.
Advantages : Inexpensive, painless and can be done at home.
Disadvantages : Some hairs can break off at or below surface. It can be messy.
7) Threading:
In this method rows of stray hairs are out with twists of cotton thread. The practitioner holds one end of the cotton thread in his or her teeth and the other in the left hand. The middle is looped through the index and middle fingers of the right hand. The practitioner then uses the loop to trap a series of unwanted hairs and pull them from the skin.
Advantages : Neat, inexpensive, painless. It is a good method for eyebrows and forehead hair.
Disadvantages : It can cause itching afterwards. It is hard to find professional practitioner.
Permanent methods:
Electrolysis : This method requires considerable skill and training. In this method a hair-thin metal probe is slid into a hair follicle. Electricity is delivered to the follicle.
Advantages : This method is safety and effectiveness.
Disadvantages : Painful, expensive and tedious. If done improperly, it can spread infection and partial to full regrowth.
9) Laser:
It is best permanent method for hair removal. In this method, light at a specified wavelength is delivered from a handpiece into the skin.
Advantages : This method is useful for backs or legs. Regrowth can come back finer in texture.
Disadvantages : It can cause skin discoloration, burns and lesions. It requires eye protection. It can be expensive and sometimes painful
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