Guide

Pile-poil: 5 home hair removal methods in comparison

4.5.2018

Translation: machine translated

There are many ways to get rid of hair on your legs, bikini line or underarms. But which method is best? I compare 5 options that you can easily try out at home.

Smooth legs, neat armpits and a perfect bikini line - all these results can be achieved with various at-home depilatory methods. The only question is which one. I present you with different options and compare them on the basis of their costs, the length of their procedure, how often they are repeated, the pain involved as well as the duration of their result.

Rasoir

Costs: Low for wet skin razors, recurring. Medium for women's razors, one-off, but blades need changing from time to time.
Duration of procedure: 5-20 minutes, every 1-3 days
Pain: none, with the exception of the risk of small cuts
Result: 1-3 days of gentleness

It's all about going fast? Then we recommend shaving with a lady's or wet shaver. The hairs on the surface are cut with blades. However, the hairs continue to grow and the first ones reappear after 1 to 3 days. It is important to change your razor blade regularly. The purchase costs are low (wet shavers) and medium to high for the electric version. However, new blades also have to be bought, which adds up over time in terms of costs. Wet shaving is clearly the quickest and easiest method. You can do it in the shower and only need a few minutes.

Tip: exfoliate before shaving to open the skin pores and prevent ingrown hairs. Moisten the areas to be shaved with warm, but not scalding, water. Warm water also opens the pores and makes shaving more pleasant and effective - scalding water closes the pores.

Razors

Gillette Venus Swirl

Shavers

CHF46.90

Braun Silk·épil

Ls5560

See all wet shavers //
women's razors

Epilator

Costs: medium to high, one-off
Procedure time: medium to long (15-45 minutes)
Pain: moderate to severe
Result: short term,1-4 weeks mild

For anyone who wants to invest a little more time in getting rid of hair and isn't too cosy, epilation is a good solution. The epilator pulls out the hair, in the best case with the root. Admittedly, this process is a little painful, but it gets rid of the hair for 1 to 4 weeks. Regular application is even supposed to reduce hair regrowth. In the meantime, there are devices that promise gentler hair removal, for example with built-in massage rollers that soothe the skin. Costs range - depending on the model and accessories supplied - from 30 to 200 Swiss francs.

Tip: make absolutely sure you clean your epilator thoroughly. The hairs left inside are nutrients for bacteria.

Epilator

Braun Silk-épil 9 SensoSmart with free Gillette Venus razor

View all epilators

Hot wax

Costs: low, recurring
Procedure duration: medium, every 2 to 4 weeks
Pain: high
Result: 2-4 weeks of softness

For waxing, the hair is pulled out with the root. Hot wax, which is particularly suitable for larger areas, is heated in a water bath or microwave and applied to the area to be waxed. A strip of cloth is then applied to the wax and pressed in the direction of hair growth, before being removed with a sharp movement in the opposite direction, taking the hair and wax with it. Waxing at home takes time and courage - being afraid of the pain doesn't really help. But as the hair is ideally removed at the root, you have several weeks of hair-free time ahead of you. The costs involved aren't very high, even if they are recurring.

Advice: to soothe irritated skin after treatment, it is advisable to moisturise it with an unscented lotion or cream or an oil to nourish it.

Hair removal wax + Cremes

CHF35.80 CHF9.51/1l

Veet Spawax

3763.76 ml, 1 x, 625 g

See all depilatory waxes

IPL

Costs: high, one-off
Procedure duration: medium to long (15 - 60 minutes), first five sessions every fortnight, then every 6 weeks
Pain: mild (warmth or slight pulling sensation)
Result: up to 6 weeks of softness

For softer skin for longer, IPL technology is recommended. During IPL hair removal, pulses of light are absorbed by a pigment present in the hair called melanin and transformed into light energy. This heat is then transmitted to the hair root, activating the resting phase of the hair follicle. Hair falls out naturally and regrowth is slowed down. So your skin stays soft and clear for longer.

Because white and blond hair have no melanin, IPL technology only works on dark hair or hair that has dark roots. IPL hair removal is not suitable for dark skin (this Silk'n signature model is the only exception, as it can be used for blonde or grey hair as well as on dark skin).

Depending on the device, the method can be applied to the body, bikini line, underarms as well as the face. Although the cost of purchasing the device is high (between 150 and 500 Swiss francs depending on the model and brand), it does not involve any other costs. The procedure does take a little longer than most other methods (apart from laser), but should be carried out every fortnight for the first five treatments and every six weeks thereafter. After the first five treatments, hair growth should have been, according to the manufacturers, reduced by around 50%.

Tip: make sure the area to be treated is freshly shaved, clean and dry before using the flashes.

IPL devices

Philips Lumea Prestige

See all IPL devices

Laser

Costs: high, one-off
Procedure duration: high (30-90 minutes), every two weeks
Pain: low (warmth or slight pulling sensation)
Result: long-lasting to permanent hair removal

Lasers for home use also work with light technology, such as IPL devices. While the latter use several light spectrums, diode lasers use just one wavelength. As a result, the light hits the melanin in the hair root in a more targeted and powerful way. This method makes hair removal even more long-lasting than with IPL technology.

The procedure must be repeated every fortnight. Manufacturers even promise hair reduction of up to 61% after the first use or 70% after the second. As the treatment window is much smaller than that of an IPL device, the procedure also lasts longer. The purchase costs are of the same order. Again, no pain should be felt during the treatment, except perhaps a sensation of heat or at most a slight pulling of the skin. However, as the laser light arrives more concentrated on the skin, the heat may be perceived more intensely than with an IPL device.

Tip:if you intend to treat your hair with a laser, it is advisable to start early, i.e. in autumn or winter. As you hardly get any sun during these months and don't tan, the contrast between your skin and your hair is greatest, which should ensure you get the best results.

IPL devices

Beurer Las 100

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Cinzia Memper

Category Marketing Manager

cinzia.memper@digitecgalaxus.ch

Discovering foreign countries and cultures and tasting coffee or other delicacies is what I enjoy most when I travel. My home is decorated with little gems I find in thrift shops and at flea markets. When I’m having one of my big DIY moments, my creativity is unleashed. Both the mountains and the seaside restore my inner balance. With a snowboard or surfboard under my feet, I’m happy.

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Pile-poil: 5 home hair removal methods in comparison

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