# Can you recommend a hair removal product?
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion
**Created:** [April 1, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241 "2005-04-01T15:22:23Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/1 "2005-04-01T15:22:23Z")
I don’t like hot wax or cold wax.
I’ve been using Nair for the longest time, but last week I used it on my arms, and for the first time ever, it burned my skin. Not horribly, just broke a bunch of capillaries and hurt like the devil.
I don’t want to shave in the region (it’s arms). I don’t do it terribly often, probably once a month, but I guess I’ve developed an allergy to the Nair.
Any recommendations?
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 5:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/2 "2005-04-01T17:30:19Z")
There are 14 views! None of you knows of one?
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### Author:  [@CandidGamera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CandidGamera)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/3 "2005-04-01T17:37:12Z")
Shhh. Calm down. Sometimes threads just die on the vine. 😉
Over in the pubic grooming thread, someone mentioned a magic powder/paste sort of stuff, though…
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### Author:  [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/4 "2005-04-01T17:44:15Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#):
>
> Shhh. Calm down. Sometimes threads just die on the vine. 😉
>
> Over in the pubic grooming thread, someone mentioned a magic powder/paste sort of stuff, though…
That’s the same stuff that’s in Nair, only stronger, so I wouldn’t try that.
You’ve pretty much hit all the options: shaving, waxing, or depilatries. I’m guessing you don’t like the hair on your arms because it’s dark, right? If you really feel like you have to do something about it (personally, I never really notice arm hair so I wouldn’t bother), why don’t you just try bleaching it?
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### Author:  [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/5 "2005-04-01T17:47:14Z")
Also, the best site around about hair removal is [Kitty’s Consumer Beware](http://www.consumerbeware.com/consumer_beware.htm). Good advice and they have a message board too.
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### Author:  [@FaerieBeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FaerieBeth)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/6 "2005-04-01T17:48:04Z")
> [@Anaamika](#):
>
> I don’t like hot wax or cold wax.
> Any recommendations?
Any specific reason (that you’re willing to share) why you’re anti-waxing?
When it comes to hair removal I’ve tried all the Nair and Neet products, sugaring, epilstop stuff, you name it. I have sensitive skin, too, so most of the time I ended up with a chemical burn and little deformed hairs still rooted in my skin. Nothing worked as well as the waxing did when I finally broke down and just did it. Plus, it lasted a lot longer and grew back less stubbly. After a few waxings, the hair comes out much easier, and it’s not all that painful. In fact, I find manicures, with all that cuticle pushing and clipping, to be more painful than a wax nowadays.
I’ve never had my arms waxed, though, just my legs, bikini area, and eyebrows.
Sorry, I couldn’t be more helpful.
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### Author:  [@Cherry2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cherry2000)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/7 "2005-04-01T18:22:26Z")
I used to wax until I bought myself one of [these](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006592X/qid=1112379546/sr=8-5/ref=pd_csp_5/002-1162343-0528820?v=glance&s=hpc&n=507846) , and I really like it.
I use it on my bikini area, arms, legs…just about anywhere. I even caught my boyfriend using it to take care of his “unibrow”.
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### Author:  [@Martha\_Medea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Martha_Medea)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 6:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/8 "2005-04-01T18:29:29Z")
Sugaring works best for me - never tried it on the arms though.
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### Author:  [@Anastasaeon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anastasaeon)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 6:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/9 "2005-04-01T18:33:57Z")
> [@Cherry2000](#):
>
> I used to wax until I bought myself one of [these](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/B00006592X/qid=1112379546/sr=8-5/ref=pd_csp_5/002-1162343-0528820?v=glance&s=hpc&n=507846) , and I really like it.
>
> I use it on my bikini area, arms, legs…just about anywhere. I even caught my boyfriend using it to take care of his “unibrow”.
Ack! An electric debilitator! Everytime I try using one of those I tense up so badly I end up breathless, hot, and sweaty, and not in the good way!
Does that one hurt? More specifically, does it hurt when you use it on the bikini area? I’ve been looking for a good method/shaver forever, short of laser treatments. _sigh_ Sometimes I wish the hair would just fall out and never grow back. Why can’t I experience balding of the body hair? So many people make products to grow hair back, why can’t we find a way to just _kill_ it?
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### Author:  [@Cowgirl\_Jules](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cowgirl_Jules)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/10 "2005-04-01T18:42:16Z")
I have one of those too, **Anastaseon**. It doesn’t hurt at all on the legs, but you have to be careful where you go with it on the bikini line. Skin that’s already somewhat toughened up by shaving seems to do OK. I use it on my arms once in a while too just to thin things out. I’m pretty happy with it.
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### Author:  [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/11 "2005-04-01T18:57:39Z")
I dunno, I had one and didn’t like it. I pretty much agree with the two-star review on the Amazon page. It was Ok for lower legs (painful but withstandable) but too much for the bikini line and it made my underarms bleed. But, on me, it seemed to break off a lot of hair so my legs never felt smooth and the broken hair would grow back quickly and stubbly. So I’d wind up using the thing every other day and it took _forever_ (like half an hour). I finally realized I wasn’t saving anytime, it was painful, and not that effective so I went back to shaving. Now I just spend two minutes in the shower everyday and I’m good…
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### Author:  [@Queen\_Tonya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Queen_Tonya)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/12 "2005-04-01T19:07:59Z")
No hair removal product thread would be complete without [this link.](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=226957)😃
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### Author:  [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/13 "2005-04-01T19:34:30Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#):
>
> Shhh. Calm down. Sometimes threads just die on the vine. 😉
😛 I wouldn’t care if it just died, to be honest, except people viewed it! So other people are curious, too.
> [@FaerieBeth](#):
>
> Any specific reason (that you’re willing to share) why you’re anti-waxing?
Yes. It hurts and makes poor little me cry. I’ve only ever had it done once, and dear Og! The pain!
And **tremorviolet** , I think what I’ll do is bleach for a few times, and then try Nair again, in six months or so. If my skin is still ultra-sensitive (remember, it’s never happened before!) I’ll stop using it completely.
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### Author:  [@Stillwell\_Angel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stillwell_Angel)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/14 "2005-04-01T21:39:07Z")
> [@CandidGamera](#):
>
> Over in the pubic grooming thread, someone mentioned a magic powder/paste sort of stuff, though…
That would be me.
But, as she already replied, if Nair burns her, Magic would put her in intensive care :eek: It’s powerful stuff. Again I _strongly_ suggest new users test it in a safe area first.
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### Author:  [@JThunder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JThunder)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/15 "2005-04-01T22:43:19Z")
Tweezers.
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### Author:  [@Cyros](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cyros)
#### Post date: [April 1, 2005, 10:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/16 "2005-04-01T22:53:37Z")
Wait a bit and try a different brand of depilatory and be very careful not to leave it on longer than recommended. Each manufacturer adds fragrance to try to cover up that lovely chemical smell and a lot of people become sensitive to that.
I have had good results with Sally Hansen cream and lotion hair removers.
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### Author:  [@Ferret\_Herder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ferret_Herder)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/17 "2005-04-02T00:39:27Z")
Nair makes a roll-on sugaring kit that worked great for me. I also use a Braun Epilstop epilator now, which isn’t for everyone. The first time, it took me about a week to finish under the arms and in the bikini area, but these days it isn’t bad at all. I have to be sure to exfoliate well, though, or else I get ingrowns in the “bikini region.”
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### Author:  [@alice\_in\_wonderland](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/alice_in_wonderland)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/18 "2005-04-02T07:31:35Z")
Laser hair removal will pretty much nip the problem in the bud. However, it’s pretty expensive (but I think you only have to do it once or twice for the rest of your life.)
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### Author:  [@Cherry2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cherry2000)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/19 "2005-04-02T17:24:39Z")
**Anastasaeon** , that model of eppilator has an little “pain reducer” on the attachment. It’s kind of an extra roller that helps numb the skin, or at least confuses your pain receptors into not noticing the sensation so much.
But I would agree with those who said it’s not for everyone. It _does_ still sting a little (about like being snapped with a rubber band, IMHO). But to me at least, it’s less painful than waxing.
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### Author:  [@lexi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lexi)
#### Post date: [April 2, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-you-recommend-a-hair-removal-product/297241/20 "2005-04-02T19:04:41Z")
I just want to mention for bleaching, some skin colors and bleaching look really bad. I knew a girl who after bleaching the hair on her lip had more noticable hair than before bleaching.
Light blond hair on brown skin is far more noticable than brown hair on brown skin.
Instead of Nair, how about switching to Veet/Neet and use the formula for either sensitive or facial hair on your arms?
I can not use Nair but Veet (European Formula of Neet) Facial forumla works fine for my arms.
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