Hair removal – the myths and the lies
- Janki Nair
- Jul 6, 2020
- 4 min read
Let’s be honest here… every girl has body hair. In fact, everybody has body hair. Now, if you choose to get rid of it or not is up to you. Now-a-days, a lot of people are riding the bandwagon of women’s liberation and choosing not to get rid of their body hair. Which, if you do, is your choice and more power to you for it.
For me, personally, I choose to get rid of it, and here is why. When I hit puberty, I wasn’t told that my body hair will start to grow. So when my legs and armpits and... you know, began to become hairier, I was scared but not necessarily worried. A bit of research told me that it was perfectly normal. And, I didn’t pay much attention to it. That was until we were on holiday one day and I was wearing a sleeveless top. I raised my hand for… I don’t remember what, and my brother told me I should put my hand down because “There is hair in your underarms”
In that moment, I was simultaneously frustrated and confused. So, it was ok for him to have hairy underarms but not for me? But then, I made a decision. I was not going to let that happen ever again. And if hair removal was what it took for me to never be told to put my hand down again, hair removal it was. From that time on, I have tried many-a hair removal products and in this post, I would like to explain my experience with them.
The “soap”
Honestly, I don’t know what this is called. When I first told my mother I wanted to get rid of body hair, this is what she bought for me. In my household, it’s just called ‘soap’ and let me tell you one thing, it is gross.
It has a pungent odor, almost like hydrogen sulphide and I don’t know what it contains. It is applied directly to wet skin and left on for a few minutes and then washed away. While it stays on your skin, there is an intense burning sensation that does not calm down easily. It’s messy, time-consuming, and uncomfortable. Which is why after one use, I stopped. I decided to move on to more modern and sophisticated methods.
Hair removal creams
This is something that is relatively less uncomfortable. It is easy to apply and brands like Veet have a good range with products specially designed for sensitive skin types. The process of use is the same as that with the ‘soap’ except it does not burn or feel itchy. But my qualms with this method of hair removal is the price tag, the time consumed, and the inability to use it on more sensitive areas. For I spent almost an hour sitting in the bathroom trying to get rid of my body hair which was unproductive and not feasible for me.
Waxing
I remember the first time I waxed my legs. I remember my mother telling me how it would “hurt a bit” but that “beauty is pain”. Waxing is probably the most common method of hair removal used by women. In India, we all have our “parlour waali didis” with whom we have our monthly conversations while they hack away at our skin. For me, I don’t really like waxing, and it’s not because of the pain. Again, this is a very time-consuming method. Going to the salon, sitting there to get a wax, and the frequency with which, at least I have to remove my hair, it’s just not practical.
And yes, I have tried the Cold Wax strips. I found them to be very difficult to use and uncomfortable. They don’t warm up as well, get stuck to your skin, and are difficult to clean up.
Shaving
Finally, we come to my preferred method of hair removal. I know the myths that perpetuate regarding shaving.
“It darkens your skin”, no it doesn’t. As someone who has shaved all parts of my body for at least two years now, I can confidently say that it does not darken your skin.
“It causes hair to grow back thicker”. Again, no. it may seem like that because of the blunt edges of your individual hairs but, there is not practical or scientific proof for that statement.
“Hair grows faster while shaving”. Hair grows at different paces for different people. If your hair grows fast, shaving is not going to change that. And the convenience of having a tool which you can take anywhere, use anytime and can reuse just negates the argument because even if your hair grows fast, you can shave it off.
In my personal opinion, shaving is what works best for me. Of course, each person has their own preferences, so I am writing this blog so that you can get an idea of what you want to do, especially if you’re hitting puberty and need help.
Thank you so much! I hope you check out my other blogs while you’re here and come back for more content. Bye!
Hair removal products:
Veet hair removal - https://amzn.clnk.in/zCP
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