The best hair removal method for your skin type

It’s official – summer is almost here.

If the blooming flowers haven’t convinced you, then the rising humidity and cloud-free skies definitely will. So what does that mean? Oh, only that we have to start getting our rear into gear when it comes to body maintenance – hair removal, to be precise.

RELATED: Random hair growth, explained

Yes, it’s that time of year when we ditch the opaques, bare our legs, and – if you’ve got an inner lazy girl like I do – resign ourselves to staying fuzz-free for a whole season.

The question is, how are you going to stay on top of hair removal? There are plenty of options available, so check out which hair removal method is most suitable for you…

Waxing

Time between touch-ups: 2-6 weeks, depending on your hair type and how long you’ve been waxing for

Reasons to try it:

Long-lasting results (read: low maintenance!)
Actually reduces the amount of hair that grows back over time
Removes hair from the root
Can remove even very short hairs
Suitable for all areas of the face and body

Drawbacks:

Can be mildly painful
Can cause skin redness for some people

Products to try:

Waxaway Precision Wax Wand is perfect for removing hair on your face and tidying up brows at home. The precision tip applicator provides the right amount of comfort and control. Added mica adds shimmer and reduces skin redness after waxing.

Andrea Brazilian Hard Wax has a sensitive skin formula that’s designed to remove even the most stubborn hairs. Unlike some soft waxes, Andrea Brazilian Hard Wax is designed to adhere to hair – not the skin – making removal less painful.

Shaving

Time between touch-ups: 3 days-1.5 weeks depending on your hair type and how fast it grows

Reasons to try it:

Very quick
Can be done in the shower or the bath
Pain-free
Leaves skin feeling smooth
Can be used with shaving creams that nourish your skin
Inexpensive

Drawbacks:

Hair grows back more quickly than it does with other methods
If the right shaving accompaniments aren’t used, the razor can damage your skin

Products to try:

TriShave 3in1 Shave Crème For Women is a nourishing 3-in-1 shaving cream that helps to prevent shaving rash by softening the hair follicles, forming a protective layer to reduce cuts and redness, and soothing the skin.

The Schick Quattro for Women has a sleek metal handle and four ultra-thin blades to ensure a smooth shave. The razor features conditioning strips enriched with papaya and pearl extracts. These contain vitamin A and essential amino acids to exfoliate and heal your skin, leaving it smooth and healthy-looking.

Depilatory creams

Time between touch-ups: 4 days – 2 weeks depending on your hair type and how fast it grows

Reasons to try it:

Quick and easy
Can be done in the shower or the bath.
Pain-free
Leaves skin feeling smooth
As simple as applying moisturiser to your skin
Can be nourishing

Drawbacks:

Some waiting time.
Hair removal doesn’t last as long as other methods
Sometimes not suitable for use on sensitive areas.

Products to try:

Marzena Hair Remover Cream can be used on your legs, underarms and bikini line to remove hair and reduce the appearance of growth. The fast-acting formula is enriched with aloe vera and essential oils so it’s gentle on your skin, too.

Nair Sensitive Shower Power Hair Removal Cream allows you to remove hair in the shower. Packed with moisturising ingredients to restore your skin’s hydration levels as you remove hair, the result is smooth, nourished and fuzz-free skin.

Epilator

Time between touch-ups: 2-6 weeks

Reasons to try it:

Controlled, effective hair removal
Precisely removes even the shortest hairs
Can cause small, bearable pinches, as opposed to the sharp pain associated with waxing
Allows you to go back and remove any missed hairs with ease

Drawbacks:

Takes a little while to ensure each hair is removed
Can be painful for some

Products to try:

The Remington Smooth & Silky Effortless Glide Epilator – EP7011AU features two speed settings, grip tweezers that grasp fine and short hairs down to 0.5mm and massage nodules that help make the epilation experience more gentle.

The Philips Satinelle Advanced Wet & Dry epilator BRE630/00 (which you can find at philips.com.au) has ceramic discs that quickly grasp fine hairs, anti-slip grip technology, a comfortable S-shaped handle that allows for max control and the ability to be used when both wet and dry.

Laser hair removal/IPL

Time between touch-ups: 6-8 weeks initially, then a year between touch-ups

Reasons to try it:

Permanent hair removal
A relatively small investment for never having to deal with hair removal again
When hairs do grow back, they’re much finer and easier to remove
Suitable for all areas of the body

Drawbacks:

Only effective on hair with pigment – so it won’t work for blondes or light redheads
Can be painful for some. (But most clinics sell numbing cream you can apply beforehand, as well as soothing post-laser products.)
More expensive than traditional hair removal methods

Products to try:

In-salon

At-home

The Remington i-Light Pro + Face & Body IPL offers permanent results in just four weeks and has been shown to reduce hair growth by 94 per cent after three treatments.

The SmoothSkin Bare Intense Pulsed Light Hair Removal Device in White has a speed of 100 flashes per minute and takes less than 10 minutes for a complete body treatment. Safe, easy to use and all from the comfort of your own home!

Which hair removal method do you think is most suitable for you?

The product recommendations in this article have been updated to keep beautyheaven members informed of the most up-to-date related products.