Hair removal is already a multi-million-dollar industry, with many methods springing up almost every other year. Currently, about eleven methods exist for eliminating unwanted body hair, but most of them are not painless. Therefore, if you’re a team no-pain, you will spend more time reviewing the options available before going for any of them.
But thanks to this article, you won’t have to get buried in volumes of online content to find the information you need. I will review the painless hair removal methods and what you need to know about them. Let’s start.
1. Shaving
Many historians believe that shaving is the oldest means of hair removal known to humans. From prehistoric times to the Egyptian civilization era and years after, people have always fabricated blade-like tools to cut off their objectionable hairs.
If done correctly and with the right tool, shaving is painless. The process involves using a razor and a blade to cut hairs close to the skin neatly. Of course, shaving is not something you do absentmindedly; if you do so, you might end up with a cut or other side effects.
Based on the type of tool used, we can categorize shaving into two: electric and razor shaving. Some electric shavers also operate with rechargeable batteries and are majorly used for the head and face. While both shavers will do the job well, the non-electrically operated razors often deliver a closer shave than the electric ones.
Similarly, shaving can also be categorized based on the medium in which it takes place. In this sense, we can have wet and dry shaving. When you cut your objectionable hair under the shower or after you’ve thoroughly applied shaving cream and water, that is wet shaving. If it’s dry shaving, there is no element of moisture or cream in the process.
Advantages of Shaving
- Shaving does not cause pain unless you accidentally cut yourself or use a blunt tool.
- This method is the cheapest for eliminating objectionable body hair.
- You don’t require a professional to carry it out. That is, you can shave your face, armpit, legs, and other body parts by yourself.
- The result of shaving is immediate; you don’t have to wait for weeks or months to become hair-free.
- You can use the method on almost any part of your body.
Demerits of Shaving
- Shaving is not a permanent hair removal method. Most people find out they will need to repeat the process every three days.
- It comes with the risks of cuts, stubbles, nicks, and ingrown hair, especially for people with sensitive skin.
- The cost of replacing razors and blades can add up with time, constituting a significant financial setback.
How to Get the Best out of Shaving
Since the primary focus of this article is painless hair removal, you can achieve this with shaving by including certain things in your shaving routines. First, shave in the morning and when you are not in a hurry. Second, use a compatible shaving cream with your body type to get a close shave and avoid irritations. With the correct shaving cream, you can get silky-smooth skin and ditch the stubbles.
Finally, making the best out of shaving requires that your razors – electric or not – are sharpened and neat every time you want to use them. Dull or infected tools can quickly make the experience a nasty one for you.
2. Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)
With a better understanding of hair growth mechanisms, experts have also been able to devise means to halt the process where necessary. IPL is a light-based approach that removes hair by targeting the melanin in the hair follicles. The contact of the light with the melanin results in heat generation that disrupts the hair growth cycle.
Usage involves you flashing high-energy lights from a handset into your skin. Typically, these handsets come in light-intensity graduations, allowing you to choose the one you can bear. Beyond flashing the lights on your skin, you don’t need to do something else. However, if your body is significantly hairy, you may want to shave before using the handset.
Advantages of IPL
- You can carry out an IPL treatment at home without the inspective eyes of a third party.
- Many IPL devices are FDA-approved for safety. As such, you have nothing to worry about when using them.
- Premium IPL devices are nearly painless and do not cause ingrown hairs or cuts like razors.
- You can readily carry most IPL devices around, especially when traveling abroad.
- Hair removal with these devices is almost permanent if you follow their manufacturer’s instructions.
- Most IPLs can last for a lifetime and do not need any significant maintenance.
Demerits of IPLs
- Results are not immediate, and the minimum waiting time, even for the best IPL device, is three weeks.
- IPL devices are not cheap to purchase upfront. Premium ones cost above $300, and some sell for $500+.
- IPLs are not for everyone. Unless you’re fair-skinned and dark-haired, you may not benefit much from this removal option.
Best IPL Device for Nearly Painless Hair Removal
Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Handset is arguably the best IPL device you can purchase for hair removal. It leaves no stone unturned in giving users all that is required for a speedy, effortless, and nearly painless hair removal experience. To be specific now, the following reasons are why this IPL comes highly recommended for anyone considering this hair removal option.
- Dermatologists and the FDA approved it for safe and effective hair removal. Besides these two bodies, several other global evaluation bodies, numbering up to twelve, have given it the green light for what it advertises to do.
- It contains everything you need to perform an at-home IPL treatment. These include a premium razor, a beautiful pouch, and protective eye goggles.
- Ulike’s IPL handset is built with a patented Sapphire Ice-Cooling Technology that lowers the body temperature to 10°C during treatment. With this, the burning or heating sensation that some complain about vanishes, resulting in a nearly painless treatment.
- The 21J energy intensity of this device allows it to produce visible results in approximately three weeks, unlike others that take six to eight weeks.
Of course, all these benefits do not come at a cheap price. The handset goes for $329 if purchased directly from Ulike. However, it has a two-year warranty and a 90-day Money-Back Guarantee.
3. Depilatory Creams
Depilatory creams are chemicals you rub or spread on your skin to remove unwanted hair. The substances are not like hydrochloric or sulphuric acid, which is corrosive and dangerous to the skin; they are essentially thioglycolic acid derivatives that are largely harmless to the dermis and epidermis of the skin.
Using these creams to get rid of objectionable body hair is straightforward. Most of them only require moderate to liberal application and an approximate time frame after which you wash off. The chemicals work by altering the 3D conformation of the hair’s keratin, causing it to either dissolve or fall off.
Advantages of Depilatory Creams
- Like shavers, depilatory creams are affordable, with many selling for less than $10.
- Application is effortless, and you don’t necessarily need consultations to apply the cream.
- The results of depilatory creams are almost instant once you wash them off.
Demerits of Depilatory Creams
- While they don’t cause pain, many depilatory creams produce a stinging effect that does not go well with sensitive skin.
- Depilatory creams also produce an offensive odor close to a rotten egg.
- You can’t apply the cream on all body parts, for instance, the head or armpit.
- There is the risk of burning your skin should you accidentally apply too much of the cream or leave it longer than required.
How to Get the Best Out of Depilatory Creams
There are depilatory creams for different body parts; you need to purchase a suitable cream to steer clear of the possible side effects. For instance, some depilatory creams are specially formulated for pubic areas, while others are multipurpose. If you want to minimize or eliminate complications, it’s better to be specific in your purchase. Also, try not to stay a minute or two later than the recommended time for applying the cream, or you might get your skin scarred.
4. Laser Hair Removal
Just like IPL, lasers rely on light to eliminate hairs from their roots. The only difference between the two light-based approaches is the type of light used. For lasers, single-focussed, monochromatic lights are used, while IPL uses polychromatic lights of broad wavelengths.
Consequently, lasers are more effective than IPLs, but you may need a professional to perform it, which is quite expensive.
Conclusion
Nobody likes experiencing pain because they want to look prim and clean. But one has to consider many factors before deciding which hair removal method is worth one’s money and skin. Sometimes, undergoing a momentary discomfort can be the most reasonable pathway to becoming hair-free.
Nevertheless, these four methods shared are confirmed to have no element of pain attached to them. You should, however, study their merits and demerits carefully before selecting any of them for your hair removal. And if you want a recommendation that cuts across all skin types, it would be Ulike Sapphire Air3 IPL Handset. It’s indisputably a beast at getting the job done.
