by Elizabeth Campbell

Created on: September 02, 2008

Everything you NEVER ... I mean EVER ... wanted to know about body hair removal products!

With science's great inventions ... we can launch a spaceship to land on moon but we cannot control the growth of hair!

There are three primary types of products that are used to remove hair. The first is a depilatory, the second is wax, and the third is a tweezers. Arguably the tweezers could be called a tool and not a product, but considering how limited our options are, I will call it a product for the sake of argument.

A depilatory is generally a topical cream, ointment, or lotion that is applied to the area with hair for a prescribed period of time (normally between three and ten minutes). After the application time, a warm moist washcloth is used to wipe in the direction of hair growth where the depilatory has been applied, and the hair is then removed. Depilatories generally remove the hair at the surface (not at the bulb) and therefore noticeable hair growth occurs in a relatively short period of time after using the depilatory. Depilatories contain various chemicals and can cause an allergic reaction, even if previously used with success. Therefore, it is recommended that they are tested on a small area each time before fulling lathering them on the area in which hair is to be removed, so that any potential allergic reactions are minimized. Depilatories can be purchased at most department stores and drug stores for a reasonable price.

The second product commonly used to remove hair is wax. What does wax do? It allows you to pull, by the roots, large number of hairs at once ... that a tweezer alone cannot yank out in one chunk! It is the most painful way to remove hair, but the pain is also very short-lived as a temporary stinging sensation. Wax is generally heated, then carefully applied to the area to which the hair should be removed, and then with the use of a special "strip" the wax is pulled off after briefly cooling, which removes the hair underneath it. In order for the wax to work properly, the hair must be grown out long enough for the wax to adhere to it, and short enough that it isn't "bunched up" within the wax. Generally 1/4" hair is desirable for a good wax. Compounds are made to both remove residual wax and also to provide a cooling sensation to the area that was just waxed, thus taking away the sting. If you have very thin or sensitive skin you may have a raised red area ... similar to a welt, though not as severe, after having an area waxed. Wax generally

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