SKIN CARE: HAIR-REMOVING COSMETICS
May 29th, 2011 adminHairy faces and bodies are considered unattractive in western society, yet are considered quite normal in Mediterranean countries. Facial hair growth in women can be ‘hormonal’, in which case coarse ‘male-type’ hair is seen, or ‘racial’, in which case a generalized hairiness is evident. ‘Hormonal’ facial hair can be treated with specific hormone tablets, yet both types of hair growth can be treated with various hair removers.
Bleaching creamsBleaching creams are safe to use on the face and are simple to apply. It is best to choose one that is specifically designed for the face as it will be less irritating.
Depilatory creamsDepilatory creams remove hair by a chemical process, similar to perming hair. The chemical, thioglycollate, breaks the hair bond, so the hair can be wiped off. It is important to choose a cream which is specifically for the face, as these are weaker than depilatory creams designed for the body. Depilatory creams are generally safe and do not promote thicker hair re-growth. Occasionally, allergic reactions to thioglycollate occur.
Epilating devicesEpilating devices are excellent for use on the body, but are ineffective for facial hair.
Waxing Waxing is probably the best method of removing both facial and body hair. Both a hot or cold wax can be used and the process can be performed at home. Waxing over a number of years makes the hair weaker and it grows less coarsely.
Plucking Plucking hair is a very effective method of removing a small number of hairs, although re-growth does occur. Like waxing, repeated plucking will eventually weaken and destroy the hair root. It is safe to pluck hairs which grow out of moles.
Electrolysis Although electrolysis is supposedly a permanent method of hair removal, in most cases only a small number of hairs are actually destroyed, while the majority re-grow. The reason for this is that electrolysis is a ‘blind’ technique, and often the hair root is missed. The success of electrolysis is very operator dependent, yet even in the best hands many hairs reappear. The main disadvantages of electrolysis are that it is slow, expensive and can cause scarring.
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