Most of us have body hair. Some of us have a little and some a lot, some have fair and light hair, others have it thick and dark. Whatever your body hair looks like and where you have it, you've probably spent some time thinking about what to do with it. You might prefer to go au natural most of the time, or even all of the time. You can shave, wax, epilate, and more. In fact, there's so much choice that it's not always easy to know which method is right for you. You might find some options too inconvenient, or they might not agree with your skin. There's a lot to think about when deciding what's right for you.
Image from Pexels - CC0 License
Do What's Comfortable for You
First of all, you need to consider how you actually feel about your body hair and what you want to do with it. You might prefer to remove hair in key areas, perhaps all the time or maybe just when certain parts of your body are visible to others. But you could equally not mind having body hair at all. Maybe you don't want to bother with having to remove it. If you do want to remove it, it's worth thinking about how much effort you're willing to put in. If you're more on the low-maintenance side, you might not remove hair too often. You could consider some longer-lasting options if you still prefer to be silky smooth.
Ultimately, it's up to you what you choose to do. Everyone has body hair, and there's no rule that says anyone has to remove it. Unless you're a professional swimmer who needs to reduce drag in the water, it's usually a pretty personal choice.
Consider Different Methods for Different Hair
Just because you want to remove body hair in different places, it doesn't mean you have to use the same method all the time. You might shave your legs but have no desire to put a razor anywhere near your groin. Different methods can work for different parts of your body and even for different types of hair. So don't feel like you have to stick to one option. It makes sense to be more careful with sensitive skin, so you might need to change up which method you use if you want to remove hair in more sensitive places.
Make Sure You're Shaving Properly
Shaving is a very common way to remove body hair in various different places. It can be fairly quick, easy and convenient because you can do it at home. Whether you shave every time you shower or just on occasion, it doesn't hurt and you don't have to make an appointment in advance. The hair can grow back quicker compared to other methods though. If you choose to shave, one thing you need to do is learn to do it right. Learning to shave properly is essential if you want to know how to stop itchy legs, rashes, and other common problems. So what should you be doing if you want to shave any part of your body in a healthy way?
Image from Pexels - CC0 License
Start by softening the hair by wetting your skin. You can use a shaving gel or foam to provide lubrication. Some are designed for sensitive skin, which can help to protect you from dryness or rashes. One issue you might be unsure about is what direction to shave in. Men are taught to shave in the direction the hair grows, but adverts for women's shaving products usually have a model shaving the other way—often with already hairless legs! So which is it? Well, you should still shave in the direction the hair grows first (for example, down your leg from knee to ankle). You can then go back in the other direction, once the hairs are shorter and have softened. This helps to prevent bumps and protect your skin.
Get Waxed
A lot of women prefer waxing to shaving, mainly for one reason. Shaving cuts the hair off, while waxing pulls it out, which means that the hair takes longer to grow back. Of course, there can be downsides to waxing too. Namely, the pain. Waxing can hurt, although the discomfort can fade quickly too. But the good news is, you can have someone else do your waxing for you, which means you don't have to inflict that pain on yourself. Depending on how fast your hair grows back, you might only need to wax every two to four weeks. You can also get products for waxing at home if you want the convenience of shaving but the results of waxing.
Use Hair Removal Cream or Try an Epilator
Shaving and waxing might be two popular options for removing body hair, but there are other ways to do it too. Hair removal cream can be pretty convenient and pain-free. However, some people might find it doesn't work for their sensitive skin or that they don't like the chemicals. An epilator is another option. Epilators remove hair by pulling it out from the roots using multiple tweezer-like prongs that rotate. Using an epilator can offer the longer hair removal of waxing but can give better results than at-home waxing might deliver. Plus, it's a reusable device instead of something disposable.
Image from Pexels - CC0 License
Look at More Permanent Hair Removal Methods
If you want to remove body hair but you really don't want to have a regular routine to do it, you could look at more permanent methods of hair removal. This includes things like laser hair removal or electrolysis, which can produce more long-term results. These methods won't necessarily get rid of hair forever, but they can give you results that last months or years. Of course, you can expect to pay more for these treatments, but they could save you money long-term if you no longer have to keep buying razors or paying for waxing sessions.
You can address your body hair any way you want to. Whether you keep it or get rid of it, it's your choice.
CONVERSATION