Hair Removal: The Ouch Factor

Have you gotten the cultural memo? One stray hair on your brows or even the slightest trace of stubble on your legs officially deems you an unkempt gorilla lady. Okay, so that might be a bit dramatic, but the hair removal craze is not to be taken lightly. Women talk about waxing like men talk about their fantasy football draft—when you get a good one, you can’t help but gloat about it to your friends.

Females require a grooming regime that is inherently more costly and time-consuming than our male counterparts. Unwanted hair has the power to make us feel self-conscious, unsexy and kind of grungy – but it doesn’t have to. This is why hair removal isn’t a burden of beauty as we often deem it to be; it’s a gift to your womanhood. Find me someone who says that they don’t feel instantly more confident with a flawless bikini line and I’ll find you a big, fat liar. So give yourself one more reason to flaunt your femininity and show some skin.

Here’s the deal. Waxing and shaving are the most popular methods, but there are several other methods out there. Which option you choose may be based on a variety of factors such as skin type, hair thickness, treatment area, price and convenience.

SugaringI have fallen in love with this all-natural, low pain technique. This is an ancient technique that is just starting to make a buzz. It resembles waxing, but is much gentler and less painful. It can get shorter hairs so you don’t need to wait as long in between visits. Sugaring is not hot, so you’ll never get burnt. It’s made from organic sugar, lemon and water… you can even eat it! They use one ball of sugar for each client so it is super sanitary. Try it and you’ll be hooked! Visit sugaringLA.com for more info.

Average cost for eyebrows: $25

Waxing An oldie but goodie, and definitely cost effective. You can get your eyebrow or lip waxed at most nail salons for $5-$12 which is great on-the-go. These days there is no body part that is un-waxable and you’ll stay smooth for a good 2 weeks. Waxing regularly will make your hair grow in thinner and the process will be less painful each time. Always make sure your salon does NOT double dip the wax applicator, that’s just gross.

Average cost for eyebrows $10

Threading Although threading is the most gentle option for the skin, it’s a weird feeling that some people find extremely painful. I don’t mind it. Threading specialists use a piece of sewing thread, wrap it around their fingers and remove the hair. It’s quick, sanitary, VERY natural looking and precise, so it’s great for people with “problem brows”. This is a great option for your face, but threading larger areas is tough. There are threading salons all over NYC and they are popping up all over LA, as well.

Average cost for eyebrows: $8

Laser Hair Removal The Kardashians would be the first to tell you that they’d be some hairy chicks if it weren’t for laser. This costly option is a long-term solution to hair removal. It uses a concentrated beam to penetrate the hair follicles and the light destroys the hair follicles either permanently or for long periods of time. The area you choose and the thickness of your hair are just some factors that determine how many treatments you will need. They say it’s best for people with light skin and dark hair. The treatment itself is surprisingly quick and the pain is similar to snapping a rubber band on your skin. Laser hair removal definitely slows hair growth but it does not guarantee permanent hair removal. People usually get touched up every several years. Keep your eyes peeled for online deals, they’re everywhere!

Average cost for eyebrows: $50 per treatment

What is your favorite hair removal method? As always, I’d love to hear from you! Remember: No problem is too small and no heel is too tall!

(Image via ShutterStock.)