Your Guide To Body Hair Removal - Epilator For Men

Epilator For Men

Whether you like it or not, nowadays an increasing amount of men remove their body hair in part or in its entirety. Some guys do it for aesthetic reasons, while others do it for their participation in particular sports like bodybuilding or cycling. Come on, admit it; many men also do it to please their women.

With all the hair removal methods available on the market, it's important to understand that there is no one "best" method for everyone. So whatever your motivation for getting rid of that hair, you'll now get a better idea of the methods that exist and can finally determine which one will work best for you.

Understand that there is no proven method for permanent hair removal. Instead, some techniques will help you reduce hair growth permanently. Now on to the different techniques.

mechanical epilators

Hold your horses boys; these machines are indeed called mechanical epilators, but they don't come equipped with 2.0-liter V6 engines. A mechanical epilator is simply a small electric machine with a rubber roller or coiled spring, which catches hair and pulls it out.

Pros

Mechanical epilators are relatively cheap; they'll cost you between $50 and $100.

They're easy to use, non-messy and time efficient.

Cons

Using a mechanical epilator can be quite painful.

Hair will normally grow back after only a week of being yanked out.

Your hair needs to be at least inch long for you to use a mechanical epilator.

Finally, mechanical epilators aren't very efficient; they'll often miss a hair or two.

Verdict: Use it only if you're stuck on a deserted island.

depilatories

Also referred to as "chemical shaving," depilatory creams are lotions that dissolve the protein structure of your hair and cause it to separate from the skin. Not very appealing, is it? Well, don't worry, it sounds much worse than it really is.

Pros

Depilatories only cost between $5 and $10 per bottle, which will last you months.

They're quick and relatively easy to use.

If you follow instructions, it won't hurt a bit.

A high quality product can also act as an exfoliant by removing all dead skin cells, making your skin smooth as a result.

Cons

Depilatories can increase the occurrence of acne, and cause skin irritations and chemical burns.

They should not be used on sensitive body parts (read above).

They can be quite messy and your hair will grow back after only a week or so.

Verdict: Depilatory creams are great for guys with little or thin body hair. Use them on easy-to-reach places such as your chest and stomach area.

 

tweezing

Is there anything more embarrassing than having to use a pair of tweezers (or worse, sharing one with your girlfriend)? All joking aside, tweezing entails pulling out strands of hair from their root, one by one.

Pros

A pair of tweezers are cheap; you can find one for as low as $3.

Tweezing is very precise.

Results should last between 2 and 8 weeks.

Cons

When used in vast areas like your chest, tweezing becomes an extremely lengthy process, which can also be pretty painful.

Verdict: Although tweezing is great for sparse body and facial hair, it's probably not the best body hair removal technique. It's a great way to get rid of excess strands here and there, such as your eyebrows, between your eyebrows, around the nipples, and in other small areas that require maintenance.

waxing & sugaring

Waxing involves pulling sections of hair out from the roots. There are many techniques and products offered on the market. Choose between a do-it-yourself product or have it done professionally.

Pros

The result of a good wax job will last between 3 and 8 weeks, depending on your hair type.

If done professionally, it's a pretty clean and effective hair removal method, especially for vast areas like your chest and back.

It's relatively cheap compared to electrolysis and laser hair removal.

Cons

Waxing can be quite painful and may irritate your skin. It can even cause an inflammation of the hair follicle and/or ingrown hair.

Verdict: It's a great alternative for guys who can't afford the time or money to get their hair removed by laser or electrolysis. Waxing is ideal for your chest, stomach, back, and legs.

 

electrolysis

Electrolysis involves inserting a needle under your skin in order to zap an electric current through your hair follicle and damage it. By "damaging" it, your hair will eventually grow weaker and slower each time.

Pros

Electrolysis provides long-lasting results.

Your hair will grow back slower and thinner with each visit.

Cons

Electrolysis is expensive and time-consuming, as it requires numerous visits for effective results.

It will cost you anywhere between $1000 and $3000 for an area like your chest or back.

It can be painful, and there's also a risk of scarring and infection.

Verdict: Electrolysis is a good hair removal technique if you have money and time on your hands, and if you're looking for a near-permanent hair removal method. Use it on your chest, stomach, back, and underarms.

laser

Laser hair removal is now FDA approved. Beaming the laser on small areas of your skin basically destroys the hair follicle and impairs its growth. It is said to work best for people with light skin and dark hair.

Pros

It's less painful than many of the techniques mentioned above.

It's less time-consuming than electrolysis, and yields long-lasting results.

Cons

Laser hair removal is extremely costly, as multiple treatments are needed. Figure between $2000 and $4000 for an area like your back or chest.

It can cause redness or even a pigmentation change to your skin.

Verdict: Laser is definitely the way to go if you have the time and money. Keep in mind that laser treatment won't work on deeply embedded hair such as that found under your arms and pubic area. Use it for your chest, back, arms, or legs.

photo-epilation or pulsed laser

Also FDA approved, photo-epilation is a treatment that uses an intense pulsed light to destroy hair follicles. Like with laser or electrolysis, the idea is to impair and minimize hair growth.

Pros

Unlike standard laser, pulsed laser can be used around the genital area and on underarms.

Photo-epilation can be adjusted to skin type, location and depth, adapting to each person's body hair type.

The laser beam is broader than the traditional laser, so larger areas can be groomed in less time.

Results are long-lasting.

Cons

Cha-ching ; pulsed laser treatment will cost you about as much as laser treatment.

You might find weird things growing from your hair follicles. I'm just kidding of course, but do make sure to consult a licensed professional -- that's no joke.

Verdict: It'll cost you an arm and a leg, but you'll notice great results. You can use photo-epilation on most body parts.

Last but not least, you can always trim your body hair with a clipper, shaver, or even with scissors. These methods work best to trim your underarms and the vicinity of your genital area.

Remember guys; removing body hair is no longer taboo. Heck, even French women do it. So keep on stylin'.