How to Remove Hair Without Shaving
Use depilatory cream., Try hair removal pads., Try threading., Try tweezing., Try waxing., Try sugaring., Try an epilator.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Use depilatory cream.
Depilatory creams are products that remove hair by dissolving it at the skin's surface.Usually, these products come in a lotion or shampoo-like bottle and are sold at pharmacies like Walgreens, etc. for fairly cheap.
If you use this method, check the ingredients when shopping to make sure that you aren't sensitive and make sure to always follow the directions on the label.
Pros:
Doesn't hurt.
Easy to use.
Cons:
Requires frequent use (hair grows back at normal speed).
Can smell bad.
Notes:
For best results, apply after bathing when hair is softest.
Don't use products labeled for body use on the face — these can be made from harsher chemicals.See our depilatory article for more information. -
Step 2: Try hair removal pads.
Another product that's useful for getting rid of unwanted hair is the aptly-named hair removal pad.
This product basically works like a small handheld buffer: you rub the rough surface against the skin with short, quick movements and moderate pressure and hair is gently rubbed out.
The area that the pad can "buffer" at one time is small, making this method best for small patches of hair.Pros:
Doesn't hurt when used correctly.
No soreness afterward from lotion, aftershave, etc.
Cons:
Time-consuming.
Notes:
This product will also abrade the skin, leaving it looking ashen or "ashy." You may want to apply lotion afterwards to re-moisturize.
Wash and dry pads after use. , This method of hair removal, which originated centuries ago in Turkey, is gaining popularity worldwide.
When someone has unwanted hair "threaded," a "threader" gathers the hair in a loop of cotton thread, twists the thread, and plucks it out.
With this technique, a good threader can clear a decent amount of hair fairly quickly — 15 minutes for a set of eyebrows is considered good.Pros:
Healthier for skin than waxing.
Good choice for sensitive skin.
Lasts for several weeks.
Cons:
Can hurt.
Most useful only on flat surfaces (not joints).
Can't be done at home.
Notes:
Take the time to find a threader with good reviews.
An expert threader can make the process much less painful. , An old, reliable tool for hair removal, a pair of tweezers lets you grab and pluck unwanted hairs individually.
This somewhat painful method is usually reserved for removing just a few hairs at a time — much more can be hard to bear.
Pros:
Precise — allows you to remove exactly which hairs you want, one at a time.
Cons:
Painful.
Time-consuming except when plucking just a few hairs.
Can cause mild irritation in some individuals.
Notes:
Wash tweezers before and after use.
See How to Avoid Bumps When Plucking Hair for a guide to minimizing skin irritation during a tweezing session. , This widely-known hair removal method has a fearsome reputation, but it's often not as bad as it's cracked up to be.
Waxing is great for removing stubborn hair from the legs, underarms, bikini area and face (when applied cautiously and gently.)It's also especially good for people with coarse, dark hair that contrasts with their light skin.
Waxing can be done by buying kits bought from cosmetics stores or via a professional.
Pros:
Removes lots of hair relatively quickly.
Lasts for several weeks.
Cons:
Painful, though this reduces after the first waxing.
Difficult to do at home; professionals can be somewhat expensive.
Notes:
If waxing yourself, always apply wax in the direction of hair growth and pull in the direction opposite the hair growth.
Follow all directions on the wax packaging, especially when it comes to heating the wax. , "Sugaring" is a method of hair removal that works almost exactly like waxing — a thick liquid mixture is applied to the skin, allowed to set, and pulled off with cloth.
The difference is in the ingredients of the mixture: unlike waxing, sugaring uses natural ingredients (often, a honey-like mixture of sugar, lemon juice, and water).
This makes it gentler on the skin for some (especially those with allergies).
Pros:
Removes lots of hair relatively quickly.
Lasts for several weeks.
Smaller risk of allergies/irritation.
Can be made at home (cautiously).
Cons:
Similar pain level to waxing, though this reduces after the first sugaring.
Difficult to do at home; professionals can be somewhat expensive.
Notes:
See our sugaring article for an at-home recipe and directions for use. , An epilator is a device that more or less works like an automatic set of tweezers, pulling hairs out with a set of mechanical grabbers.
However, unlike tweezers, epilators pull on only the hair — not the skin around it — which makes them less painful to some.
Epilators are a good all-around tool, as they work relatively quickly, can be used on many parts of the body, and keep pain to a reasonable level.Pros:
Removes lots of hair relatively quickly.
Lasts for several weeks.
Quicker than tweezing manually.
Gentler on the skin for some.
Cons:
Some pain, though this reduces after the first use.
Requires minor cleaning/maintenance.
Notes:
If you can, get a waterproof epilator and remove hairs in the shower when they're softest and easiest to pull out. -
Step 3: Try threading.
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Step 4: Try tweezing.
-
Step 5: Try waxing.
-
Step 6: Try sugaring.
-
Step 7: Try an epilator.
Detailed Guide
Depilatory creams are products that remove hair by dissolving it at the skin's surface.Usually, these products come in a lotion or shampoo-like bottle and are sold at pharmacies like Walgreens, etc. for fairly cheap.
If you use this method, check the ingredients when shopping to make sure that you aren't sensitive and make sure to always follow the directions on the label.
Pros:
Doesn't hurt.
Easy to use.
Cons:
Requires frequent use (hair grows back at normal speed).
Can smell bad.
Notes:
For best results, apply after bathing when hair is softest.
Don't use products labeled for body use on the face — these can be made from harsher chemicals.See our depilatory article for more information.
Another product that's useful for getting rid of unwanted hair is the aptly-named hair removal pad.
This product basically works like a small handheld buffer: you rub the rough surface against the skin with short, quick movements and moderate pressure and hair is gently rubbed out.
The area that the pad can "buffer" at one time is small, making this method best for small patches of hair.Pros:
Doesn't hurt when used correctly.
No soreness afterward from lotion, aftershave, etc.
Cons:
Time-consuming.
Notes:
This product will also abrade the skin, leaving it looking ashen or "ashy." You may want to apply lotion afterwards to re-moisturize.
Wash and dry pads after use. , This method of hair removal, which originated centuries ago in Turkey, is gaining popularity worldwide.
When someone has unwanted hair "threaded," a "threader" gathers the hair in a loop of cotton thread, twists the thread, and plucks it out.
With this technique, a good threader can clear a decent amount of hair fairly quickly — 15 minutes for a set of eyebrows is considered good.Pros:
Healthier for skin than waxing.
Good choice for sensitive skin.
Lasts for several weeks.
Cons:
Can hurt.
Most useful only on flat surfaces (not joints).
Can't be done at home.
Notes:
Take the time to find a threader with good reviews.
An expert threader can make the process much less painful. , An old, reliable tool for hair removal, a pair of tweezers lets you grab and pluck unwanted hairs individually.
This somewhat painful method is usually reserved for removing just a few hairs at a time — much more can be hard to bear.
Pros:
Precise — allows you to remove exactly which hairs you want, one at a time.
Cons:
Painful.
Time-consuming except when plucking just a few hairs.
Can cause mild irritation in some individuals.
Notes:
Wash tweezers before and after use.
See How to Avoid Bumps When Plucking Hair for a guide to minimizing skin irritation during a tweezing session. , This widely-known hair removal method has a fearsome reputation, but it's often not as bad as it's cracked up to be.
Waxing is great for removing stubborn hair from the legs, underarms, bikini area and face (when applied cautiously and gently.)It's also especially good for people with coarse, dark hair that contrasts with their light skin.
Waxing can be done by buying kits bought from cosmetics stores or via a professional.
Pros:
Removes lots of hair relatively quickly.
Lasts for several weeks.
Cons:
Painful, though this reduces after the first waxing.
Difficult to do at home; professionals can be somewhat expensive.
Notes:
If waxing yourself, always apply wax in the direction of hair growth and pull in the direction opposite the hair growth.
Follow all directions on the wax packaging, especially when it comes to heating the wax. , "Sugaring" is a method of hair removal that works almost exactly like waxing — a thick liquid mixture is applied to the skin, allowed to set, and pulled off with cloth.
The difference is in the ingredients of the mixture: unlike waxing, sugaring uses natural ingredients (often, a honey-like mixture of sugar, lemon juice, and water).
This makes it gentler on the skin for some (especially those with allergies).
Pros:
Removes lots of hair relatively quickly.
Lasts for several weeks.
Smaller risk of allergies/irritation.
Can be made at home (cautiously).
Cons:
Similar pain level to waxing, though this reduces after the first sugaring.
Difficult to do at home; professionals can be somewhat expensive.
Notes:
See our sugaring article for an at-home recipe and directions for use. , An epilator is a device that more or less works like an automatic set of tweezers, pulling hairs out with a set of mechanical grabbers.
However, unlike tweezers, epilators pull on only the hair — not the skin around it — which makes them less painful to some.
Epilators are a good all-around tool, as they work relatively quickly, can be used on many parts of the body, and keep pain to a reasonable level.Pros:
Removes lots of hair relatively quickly.
Lasts for several weeks.
Quicker than tweezing manually.
Gentler on the skin for some.
Cons:
Some pain, though this reduces after the first use.
Requires minor cleaning/maintenance.
Notes:
If you can, get a waterproof epilator and remove hairs in the shower when they're softest and easiest to pull out.
About the Author
Nathan Martin
Writer and educator with a focus on practical pet care knowledge.
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