Let’s face it, we are all looking for painless hair removal alternatives. Hair grows across every inch of the largest organ of our body, the skin, and can never be permanently removed without electrolysis. In this section, I will share with you the best painless hair removal options in terms of most to least effective. Remember to use caution with any of these hair removal procedures, as everyone’s skin may react differently. As with anything, time, patience, and experience will show you what will work best for you. Note that electrolysis is not included because it is a very painful and irreversible procedure. For more information about electrolysis and the types of procedures, please see our section on permanent hair removal here.
Depilatory creams are a relatively painless hair removal alternative to consider if you have less sensitive skin than most. These over-the-counter creams are best suited for people with a darker skin tone and coarser hair because of the chemical breakdown of hair at the root, which may cause irritation. When depilatory creams first appeared on the market, many people complained that the chemical makeup was too harsh and led to more skin irritation at the follicle than hair removal. Thankfully, with advances in modern medicine, depilatory creams have become much safer, even having moisturizing and soothing properties to the skin that are beneficial. A few brands for these creams that I will endorse are Nair and Nads. Both of these brands offer favorable depilatory creams for men that are available at drugstores everywhere, and at very affordable prices. In fact, Nair manufactures a depilatory line for men with three products, Speed Cream, Body Cream, and a Spray. All three work just as they sound in name, with the Speed Cream working in up to 3 minutes. Expect to be hair free for 2 to 3 weeks with this method, as the hair is removed at the follicle in chemical way similar to waxing and the root of the hair takes significantly longer to grow back. As with any chemical treatment, make sure to follow the directions and test on a small area of your body first.
Exfoliating pads are also a very useful and new method for hair removal that should certainly be considered. They are coarse pads with crystals that help to remove dead skin cells and body hair at the root with friction. These pads have a sandpaper-like consistency, and usually have a firm plastic backing that you can put your fingers through. In my opinion, this is the most effective as well as painless way to remove hair, but your duration of being hairless may be half as long as with a depilatory. This is because this method is the easiest way to remove hair without the aid of chemicals or extensive procedures that doesn’t remove the root of the hair. Methods that remove the entire hair are most effective, but unfortunately also more painful, especially if you have more hair to remove. Exfoliating pads can be found mainly on ‘as seen on TV’ ads or websites on the internet, but my advice would be to look in ‘Dollar Store’ type businesses for these for the best deals. Exfoliating pads can cost up to $20 at most regular or specialty shops, but if you look in your local bargain businesses, you will be able to pick these up for just a few dollars and they are typically of the same quality. Your mileage may vary, and for most people exfoliating pads will give you one to two weeks of hairlessness.
Numbing waxing creams can be an effective method for painless hair removal if depilatories prove to be too harsh for your skin. If you are prone to ingrown hairs, razor burn, or razor bumps, I encourage you to try this method before depilatories. These very effective creams contain lidocaine and are applied prior to using your standard wax or sugar. They are used to desensitize the areas you will be waxing. Their use is simple, apply for about ten minutes prior to waxing, remove, and then apply your wax or sugar of choice for minimum discomfort in removing hair. This method is particularly useful for your more private and tender areas, but as with any chemical preparation you may use, always remember to test the product on a small portion of your body before application to be sure you will not have any negative reactions.
These are what I consider the ‘Big 3’ in painless hair removal options. And certainly there are others that may or may not be effective for you. Remember, hair removal is dependent on many factors that all begin with your skin. Your heredity, skin type, hair type, even the oilyness of your skin will be a part of this. In terms of painless hair removal success, I feel that most of, if not all of your options will be based upon working in the same way as these three. With a little bit of consumer research on your own part and the information here, I have no doubt you will be able to find an effective and economical solution for painless hair removal.