If left untouched, armpit hair growth leaves the armpit dark and bacteria tends to settle in the armpits due to excessive sweating. This causes bad body odor and also drives people away from us. Let us look at some common methods and consider the pros and cons of each method:

Waxing

Waxing is a great method of armpit hair removal. This method is more long lasting than other methods and also takes away some darkening from your armpits. However it is slightly painful till you get used to waxing your armpits. As a rule, always go to a salon the first time you wax your armpits to see how you should do it. You may end up with a bad burn otherwise. Your armpits should be cleaned well with soap before you attempt armpit hair removal. The best time to wax your armpits is when your hair is less than 0.5cm long. The wax should always be applied in the same direction as the hair growth and the cloth should be pulled in the opposite direction to avoid irritation to the skin. Lastly, you should apply a moisturizing lotion to your skin after waxing since the skin on your armpits is very sensitive.

Shaving

Shaving is the most common method of armpit hair removal. It is fast, non-expensive, painless and can be done anytime, a perfect solution for your last minute armpit hair removal needs. The only disadvantage of shaving is that the results do not last long and hair re-growth is fast, growing back anytime between a few hours to a day. Some tips for a smooth shave are:

Shaving is best done after a warm bath as warm water softens the hair and makes it easier to shave.
Use a shaving cream or gel so that there is o friction and the skin remains moist and moisturized.
Skin should be stretched tight and if you are using a razor, shave in several directions for maximum results. Use a electric shaver that can be used with lotions or is provided with moisturizer itself.
DO not use perfumes and deodorants immediately after shaving to avoid irritation to the skin. Use powder or lotions for sensitive skin instead.

Other methods of armpit hair removal are the use of hair removal creams or depilatory creams and permanent hair removal methods such as electrolysis. Depilatory creams keep hair re-growth away for a few weeks and they are extremely simple to use. Always use a moisturizer after hair removal and chose the method that suits you best.

A hair removal cream that is very easy on the skin is Revitol. Read our Revitol review here.

What does threading involve?

Threading involves quickly rolling a twisted piece of thread back and forth across clean skin. Hairs become trapped in the string and are ripped out or break off. This process generally needs to be done by a professional, since speed and technique are important – although there are Khite kits out there if you want to learn how to do it yourself. Someone who has done the process many times can manipulate the string expertly, causing most hairs to be ripped out (rather than broken off) and causing hairs to be removed only from those areas they are not wanted. This process is most often used for eyebrows and facial hair.

How effective is threading as a hair removal method?

If nothing else, threading is a very interesting and effective way to get rid of facial and brow hair. Watching a professional at work is really fascinating, since the hands basically race across the face, threading and twisting the thread. In many cases, the aesthetician will have the string looped intricately around their hands, to better be able to control the string. Some salons now use machines that hold threads during Khite. This method is environmentally friendly and far quicker than tweezing alone. It is less expensive than waxing. Since many hairs are pulled so quickly, some women find that there is less pain that tweezing, partly because the whole thing is over so fast. Results last up to three weeks or as little as two weeks. If someone who is not very proficient attempts threading, there may be more broken than pulled hairs. The results in this case will last only days.

Will threading cause any pink and puffiness?

As with tweezing, skin may be pink and puffy after threading. A simple ice cube can help reduce the temporary problem. More seriously, infection and irritation can follow if area is not clean and hygiene is not properly attended to. Those who live far from metropolitan centers may have a difficult time finding a reputable practitioner.

Shall I choose threading or tweezing?

Hairchick highly recommends threading or khite to anyone who plucks their brows and can find a reputable practitioner of this technique. It is a truly unique experience and makes a twenty-minute tweezing chore a fun five minutes!

When your hairs are at least 1/4 inch long, you’re ready to use the Epilator. As with waxing, you may need to go over areas more than once to get perfect smoothness. If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid using epilators on under-arms and face areas. On the plus side, this is far less messy than waxing and it’s pretty fast. If you travel a lot, taking along these little machines is easy (many now come with travel pouches). Your hair will grow back thinner and sparser. Most ads for epilators claim that the pain gets less intense with use, but I think it still hurts. Everyone I know who uses these things still says it hurts, even after years of use.

Ouch! That hurts!

Unfortunately even the most effective and longer-lasting methods of hair removal do entail at least some degree of pain. You will need to find a reliable line of attack to deal with pain, since you will experience more or very much more of it, depending on how securely your hair is attached to your skin. A good way to deal with pain is to go over an area with ice. It is important to use epilators on dry skin (since they are an electrical device), so here is what I recommend:

• Take an eyebrow pencil and divide the area to be shaved into four-inch sections.
• Take some ice cubes in a baggie and run them over one section until the area is slightly numb, then very thoroughly dry the skin and your hands until no water moisture remains.
• Immediately run the epilator over the dry and numb area of your skin. Repeat for the other areas.
• This is the most effective way of getting rid of pain, but it is time consuming and messy, so when in a rush, you could just pop a pain pill (Tylenol, Aspirin, or Advil will do the trick) a few minutes before epilating.
• Once you are done, soothe irritated and puffy skin with cool water. As with all hair removal methods that involve ripping hairs out, avoid sunscreens and moisturizers right afterwards, as these will clog pores and make irritated skin even redder.

Is Epilation for me?

If you like the effects of waxing but don’t like the messiness or the salon visits, then YES, it sounds like epilators are for you!

So what’s the big idea?

The concept here is very simple: You apply bleach (often a chemical combination of hydrogen peroxide and sulfates) to the hair you want lightened. You wait for a specific amount of time (as indicated on the directions) and then carefully scrape off the goo and rinse your skin. The hairs turn pale enough to be virtually invisible. Better yet, the chemicals make your hairs even finer by essentially damaging them – so the hairs may get thinner and eventually even less noticeable.

Is a ‘patch test’ really necessary?

Yes. You need to do a patch test because you are using them on your skin, and likely on your precious face! If your skin becomes irritated then you may have an allergic reaction and should not bleach. I’ve never had any problems with irritated skin after bleaching, although there is a funny burning sensation with some brands.

What else can I expect from bleaching?

Once you actually get going, you may find the process time-consuming and messy. I have noticed that most beaching creams sort of harden and fall off in bits as they are working, so you should definitely wear old clothes and avoid walking around too much. Using small batches of stuff at a time helps keep it from getting too messy. Of course, there are salons that bleach, but this is more expensive.

How should I care for my face following treatment?

After you first rinse your skin, you will be a bit pink. I find that scraping the goo off gently and then rinsing very gently with cool water works best. I pat dry and avoid applying any other chemicals (moisturizers and make-up included) for a few hours, until my skin calms down. After a few hours, a soothing moisturizer keeps skin from drying out.

Should I bleach this summer?

If you are bleaching during the summer season, you need to keep in mind that if your skin tans, the hairs that you have bleached will be even more noticeable. So for summer, either wear a hat or try an alternative way of getting rid of hair.

I’m hot and rearing to go!

The gal who gets best results through bleaching is willing to follow directions scrupulously, passes the ‘patch test’ and has probably has pale skin. A big plus is that you don’t have to worry about hair growing back, and you only have to bleach once every two weeks or so, as hair grows back. A Lifesaver alright!