In this editorial, I am going to briefly touch base on the different and more popular hair removal options that are available and which occasions where they are the most effective. To be honest, there isn't a large selection of different choices to choose from that I can endorse. I feel that it is best to discuss and explore the more important ones, and give examples and applications where they are the most useful in order to help you have a reasonable overview of what works best. Keep in mind that everybody is different, and what works for me or you may not work for everybody. Part of the importance in men's grooming is to be able to find and build a regimen that is most effective for you, while somewhat subconsciously instilling a routine that will be the groundwork for good grooming habits. I feel if you use the tools and information on this webpage, that you will have no problems under or over grooming and will hopefully agree.
I want to start with grooming scissors, the pencil of grooming. Grooming scissors are best utilized for touchups, detail work, and general hair removal, mainly for the face. They can also be beneficial in spots where you want to take some hair down a short bit and in a larger frequency, for example the armpit. Some quality brands include Tweezerman, Sally Hansen, Clubman, or Wahl. It is generally best to comb the hair you plan to trim to make sure hair is not tangled or matted, as well as to give a better idea of the length you will be working with. Take small even cuts, and have confidence. A useful tip for beginners is to cut a very small amount of your hair to begin with, to avoid making any errors while you're still getting the knack. Grooming scissors are best used for the face and beard areas, upper body such as armpits, chest, and legs.
Electric razors are in my opinion the saving grace of men's grooming. I honestly do not know where I would be if I did not have access to an electric razor. Probably far too hairy, because using scissors, while effective, is very time consuming. Electric razors typically have two cutting implements: a blade (either 2 to 3 circular blades that rotate, or a single blade that moves back and forth), and a beard attachment. For general grooming, I have always found that in the hands of someone who is comfortable and grooms normally that the beard attachment is the more powerful and essential part of the razor, simply because of the ability you have to not overdo and/or cut too close.
The main drawback to an electric razor is that with the blade, you have more of a potential to inherently just cut off as much hair as you can, and to shave very close, like you would do your face. This is generally not the way to go, because doing so (especially in intimate areas), you run more of a risk of ingrown hairs and often in areas where sweat or bacteria are more likely to show up, you can wind up with a pretty nasty zit or ruptured skin. It is as bad as it sounds, promise. Go for 'less is more' and practice with the beard attachment, cutting away from the skin in the opposite way you would with normal beard shaving. Be careful because the beard attachment is very sharp, and can cut you multiple times and very quickly. My favorite brands to use are Norelco, because they are easily replaceable. Often times you can find an entire new razor for less than the price of the replacement blades if you look in the right places. I also have had success with some ladies razors as well because of the smaller surface area and the placement of the blades. Your mileage may vary. The electric razor is best suited for all areas of men's grooming, just remember to clean your razor often. You can use computer duster to clean those difficult to reach parts, but do not use it immediately afterward and give it some time to dissipate.
Tweezing, or plucking hair is a difficult choice for men's grooming which I can't fully endorse due to the time involved, as well as the necessity to be thorough and cover a large area. Tweezing is extremely useful in areas such as the outer ear, upper lip, fingers, and toes. You will notice that all of these areas are small areas, and this is because tweezing larger areas is simply a bad idea because of the frequency of hair that men's hair grows in other spots. For every 15 to 20 minutes spent tweezing on average, you would most likely easily be able to take care of an entire other section of hair removal and just as effectively. It's simply too time consuming and I cannot in good faith endorse it.
Depilatories are another option that I feel is barely worth touching base on, and because of the chemical potential health risks. A depilatory is a cosmetic preparation used to remove the hair from the skin on the human body, usually in the form of a cream or gel. They work by breaking the chemical bond of calcium in the root of the hair that gives hair its strength, and the hair disintegrates. This is obviously a bad choice in my eyes because of the possibility of allergic reactions. These chemical concoctions typically burn sensitive skin, and are ineffective and should be avoided at all costs. I cannot even begin to say where something like this could be effective.
Electrolysis, or laser hair removal are options for hair removal which can be effective, but are often times both very costly, painful, and definitely permanent. In my opinion, these options should only be considered in excessively hirsute males where the hair causes other skin problems, such as excessive acne, or in similar cases such as excessive body odor or difficult to treat reoccurring micro organisms such as body lice. While I do feel there is an importance for some people to have access to these options, I feel that they should be considered as last-ditch efforts, and not just for vanity. There are far more effective hair removal options at the disposal of the common man then permanent hair removal.
Whatever you choose as your go-to choice for hair removal, remember that diligence, patience, and a steady hand is far more important than any tool or gadget you might be able to implement. Its best to practice, spend a bit of time getting familiar with the above options, and build a normal regimen or process you go about in removing hair, and stick to it. This will ensure healthy hair removal habits and make your grooming an affair you look forward to, rather than to dread. Happy trimming!