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The Doctors Book of Home Remedies for Women: Unwanted Hair

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Unwanted Hair

Unwanted Hair

At-Home Removal Options

A full head of hair is to be envied. But luxuriant growth of hair on your upper lip has considerably less appeal. And many women consider even normal amounts of underarm or leg hair fashionably unacceptable.

"Hair always seems to grow where it's not supposed to and disappears from where you want it to grow," says Allison Vidimos, M.D., a staff dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

SHAVE OR WAX?

If a little extra hair doesn't bother you, fine. Otherwise, here's what experts consider the most effective ways to get rid of unwanted hair.

Ready, set, shave. "Shaving is the easiest way to remove hair," says Dr. Vidimos. Using an electric shaver is a cinch. But a double-edged razor will give you a closer shave. To use a razor, wash the area to be shaved, then apply a shaving foam or gel to lubricate your skin and ready your unwanted hair for removal. When you're finished, rinse well, pat dry and apply a soothing moisturizer. (For special directions on shaving your bikini line, see page 51.)

When To See A Doctor

"If you never had unwanted hair in unusual places and new, coarse hair pops up on your upper lip, chin, cheeks, center of your chest or above your normal pubic line, it's time to check with a doctor," says Allison Vidimos, M.D., a staff dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation.

Abnormal hair growth, accompanied by irregular menstrual periods, thinning scalp hair, acne, deepening of the voice, increased muscle strength, increased sex drive or an enlarged clitoris can suggest a number of conditions, including a temporary hormone imbalance or an inherited adrenal gland condition, says Dr. Vidimos. Frequently, all that's necessary is to rebalance your hormones.

Repeat as needed. Shaved hair will start to grow back within a day or two, so if you opt for shaving, you'll have to shave a couple of times a week or more, says Dr. Vidimos. To avoid shaving-related rashes, bumps or irritation, be sure to use a fresh blade after three or four shaves.

Pick up a waxing kit. Waxing takes more time and preparation, and it isn't quite as painless as shaving, but your hair won't grow in as quickly, because the entire hair is removed from the follicle. But don't try hot waxing, says Dr. Vidimos. Hot waxing is tricky and, applied inexpertly, can harm your skin. For home use, she recommends the precut wax strips sold in over-the-counter hair-removal kits at your local drugstore.

Take a soapless shower. When you're ready to wax, take a warm shower, says Sam McKee (a woman), vice-president of product development in the Sally Hansen division of Del Laboratories in Farmington, New York. Use no soap and apply no moisturizers afterward--they interfere with applying the wax. Dry yourself thoroughly with a towel.

Powder up. If you plan to wax your legs or underarms, sprinkle talcum powder on the area to be waxed, says Natasha Salman, a face treatment and waxing specialist at Elizabeth Arden's Red Door Salon in New York City. It will help the wax grab hold of your hair and remove it more efficiently.

Study the box. For best results and to prevent potential problems with waxing, read and follow the directions, says McKee.

Work with your hair, not against it. Press the wax strips on your skin in the direction in which your hair grows, says McKee. If you're waxing your lower leg, for example, start at your knee, then continue down your leg to your ankle.

Rub, rub, rub. To warm the wax and make it stick better, rub the wax strip with your hands for several minutes after it's applied, suggests McKee.

Strip against the grain. Once the wax has hardened--it takes about ten minutes--pull the strips off against the direction in which your hair grows, says McKee. Otherwise, not all the hair will come off.

Apply a soothing lotion (or ice). Most over-the-counter hair-removal kits contain a lotion with a topical anesthetic such as benzocaine, plus skin soothers such as vitamin E and collagen, to ease postwaxing pain, says Dr. Vidimos. You can also reduce pain by appling cold compresses for 10 to 15 minutes, she says.

If the area remains irritated, says Salman, smooth on a combination of calamine lotion and zinc oxide, such as Elizabeth Arden's Soothing Lotion, available at most major department stores.

"An over-the-counter hydrocortisone cream may also help relieve red, irritated skin," says Dr. Vidimos.

Wait to rewax. Wait until your hair is around a quarter-inch long before you wax it once again, says Salman--about four weeks. If you rewax too soon, there won't be enough hair for the wax to grab onto.

THE CHEMICAL ROUTE

Depilatories are hair-removal creams and lotions that use strong chemicals to dissolve hair. As with waxing, hair takes a few weeks to grow back after you use a depilatory, so you don't need to use it as often.

For pleasing results, experts offer these tips.

Select the right product for the job. Be sure to select a product formulated for the area that needs hair removal, says McKee. Use a facial depilatory if you're removing hair from your face, for example, or an underarm depilatory if that's where you're working. Manufacturers are careful to vary the strength of depilatories to various parts of the body on which they're used and various types of hair (fine, normal or coarse). So using the right product will reduce your chances of irritation.

Test a small area. Depilatories may cause an irritant reaction, cautions Dr. Vidimos. So before you use a depilatory for the first time, smear a quarter-size amount of the preparation on your forearm, let it sit for the amount of time specified on the package (usually three minutes) and wipe it off. Wait 24 hours. If any itching, redness or irritation develops, don't use the product. If nothing happens, proceed.

Apply and wait. Apply the depilatory and let it set for about three minutes (or according to package directions). To remove the cream, scrub the area with a washcloth or body sponge for about three minutes, says McKee. Scrubbing removes hair along with the cream.

Rinse and moisturize. To remove every trace of a chemical hair remover, says McKee, rinse the area well, then moisturize your skin with your favorite skin lotion.

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