There are plenty of ways to get rid of unwanted hair. Shaving and waxing are two of the most common options. However, these methods can often have some negative side effects.
Itching
Shaving or waxing can often cause itchy skin. This itching tends to happen 1-5 days after a shave as it begins to grow back. Even worse, continuous itching could also lead to scarring if you succumb to scratching the itchy area.
Razor Burn
Razor burn occurs from direct damage of the shaving blade to the surface of the skin. It results in painful, inflamed, itchy skin. Razor burn often occurs because people believe that if they press harder with the blade, they will get a closer shave. Unfortunately, this traumatizes the skin and does more harm than good.
Ingrown Hairs and Bumps
Waxing can sometimes cause irritating red bumps on sensitive skin. However, these bumps are even more likely to develop after shaving, regardless of the skin type.
Once a hair has been shaved, it immediately begins to regrow. If the hair grows into the skin instead of growing out through the skin surface it becomes an ingrown hair and causes a painful, inflamed bump.
Cuts
Cuts take place when a blade is dull or when you are rushing to shave. Cuts are painful, take time to heal and, if severe, can result in scarring.
Folliculitis
Both waxing and shaving can cause folliculitis. This is an infection that takes place inside the hair follicles. Shaving or waxing causes tiny cuts in the skin that allow bacteria to enter the follicles. These then multiply, resulting in swollen, inflamed bumps in the affected area.
Short Term
One of the main issues with shaving is that it is a short-term solution. Only the hair at the surface is cut and it will regrow quickly. This means continual, regular maintenance.
Waxing lasts a little longer than shaving because it pulls hair out by the roots. However, it’s still not a long-term solution.
What other options are there?
Laser hair removal is one of the best ways to remove unwanted hair. It removes hair by targeting the brown pigment of the hair itself and prevents regrowth for a much longer period of time than any other method of removal. With several of these treatments you can have the smooth skin you desire without the hassle and irritation of other methods.
