From more niche methods like threading, to the classic old-school shave, there are endless options for removing unwanted hair from your body. (You might also decide to grow your hair out and dye it hot pink, which we fully support as well.) Some hair-removal methods are definitely easier to DIY than others, so we've identified the top ways to eradicate hair from home.
Shaving
Shaving is arguably the most popular form of at-home hair removal. It's quick, it's inexpensive, and it works. If this is your method of choice, it's a good idea to ensure you always use the proper products to prep the skin to avoid any pesky ingrown hairs. Exfoliating your whole body on a regular basis helps decrease your chances of ingrowns, as does applying lotion (or oil) to soften the skin.
While you can literally shave any area you'd like, we think legs and armpits are best suited for shaving. Effectively shaving the bikini line (and surrounding areas) gets a little trickier, so we recommend other forms of hair removal for those sensitive spots.
Products we recommend for shaving:
Shave It Grand Six Blade Razor
Gillette Daisy Women's Disposable Razors
Skintimate Skin Therapy Moisturizing Shave Gel
GiGi No Bump Body Scrub with Salicylic Acid
Waxing
Speaking of sensitive spots! Even if you're a loyal shaver, getting to those hard-to-reach areas (like your Brazilian!) is a little difficult with a razor. Waxing keeps hair growth at bay as it removes hair at the follicle level, keeping your legs (or arms or face) silky-smooth for longer than many other methods. Other benefits include the fact that it basically doubles as exfoliation, so waxing consistently can help keep your skin looking and feeling softer, since it removes dead skin cells in the process. Because it consistently removes hair from the follicle, waxing can actually cause hair to grow back finer. Are you sold on waxing yet?
Before you start, we have a word of caution if you're planning to wax your own eyebrows. For this area in particular, we recommend using a small, sculpted wax strip specifically designed for brows as opposed to spreadable wax. This will help to safeguard you from any eyebrow mishaps!
Products we recommend for waxing:
Waxkiss Wax Warmer for Hair Removal
Sally Hansen Lavender Spa Wax Hair Removal Kit
Parissa Brow Shaper Mini Wax Strips
Nad's Brazilan & Bikini Wax Kit
Sugaring
Sugaring mimics waxing in that it also removes the entire hair from the follicle. Probably the biggest difference is that sugaring typically features room-temperature paste and is applied (and removed) in the same direction as the hair growth, as opposed to waxing, which pulls against the hair's natural growth pattern. The sugar paste does not stick to the skin like hot wax, so this service may not hurt as badly if you are sensitive to waxing services.
Products we recommend for sugaring:
Veet Warm Sugar Wax Botanic Inspirations
Sugaring USA Sugar Hair Removal Paste
Waxaway Sugar Formula Wax Kit
Wax Necessities Sugar Paste Strong
Epilating
Similar to waxing and sugaring, epilating is another option that removes hair from the root. Unlike these methods that use a mixture to remove the hair, epilating utilizes mechanical action to pull the hair out. These electrical devices look like your typical electric shaver, but remove each hair at the follicle level, keeping your skin hairless for a longer time period.
Products we recommend for epilating:
Panasonic Wet/Dry Epilator and Shaver
Philips Satinelle Essential Compact Epilator
Braun Epilator for Women
Epilady Legend Rechargeable Epilator
Depilatory Cream
Depilatory creams (like Nair) utilize chemicals to remove hair rather than a mechanical action to pluck it out. It literally dissolves the hair at the skin's surface. When applied properly, these creams can give you the silkiest legs of your life! However, if you have sensitive skin, slathering on chemicals like this may not be your best bet. It's recommended to always try a patch test on a small area of your skin if you are new to the world of depilatory creams.
Products we recommend for depilating:
Veet Gel Hair Remover Cream
Nad's Sensitive Hair Removal Cream
Laser Hair Removal
Yes, it's actually possible to laser yourself at home! While there aren't as many options out there as the other hair-removal techniques, there are a few trusted brands that offer some highly effective at-home laser hair-removal devices. It's true that it does sting a little as the device zaps each hair across your body, but it's a small price to pay for this close-to-permanent hair-removal method. Truth be told, the only truly permanent method is electrolysis, as it kills the hair follicle. That you definitely should not try at home! As the next best thing, we love at-home laser hair removal.
Products we recommend for laser hair removal:
Tria Beauty Hair Removal Laser
Philips Lumea Prestige IPL Hair Removal Device
DEESS IPL Hair Removal Device
Braun Silk-Expert IPL Body Hair Removal System
Tweezing
Good old tweezing. While it does not remove a large area of hair in the quickest manner, the art of the tweeze allows for ultimate precision. Tweezers are also an essential part of your hair-removal arsenal, even if your method of choice is another one on our list. A good pair will come in super handy if you need to pluck a stay hair after a wax session, or dig out an ingrown hair after shaving. It's gross, but a necessary evil. Tweezing is also super helpful in between hair-removal sessions, especially in the eyebrow or lip region, where an errant hair might be more apparent.
Products we recommend for tweezing:
Read More:
An Expert Taught Us Everything We Need to Know About Ingrown Hairs
Are You Exfoliating Your Body With These Scrubs? You Should Be
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Katie McBroom is an award-winning content creator and freelance writer. Prior to contributing to Biography, she served as Content Editor for Google and Beauty Editor for Best Products. Her work has also appeared in publications including CNN, WWD, Business Insider, Forbes, and Men's Health, among others.
