The best ways to get hair-free

Whether you’re a shaving addict or a laser lover, getting hair-free has never been simpler. We take a look at the pros and cons of the top hair removal methods.

A closer shave

It may be oldest method of hair removal, but gel bars, multiple blades and other hi-tech features have revolutionised shaving.

“It’s the simplest method of hair removal,” says Holly Gunn, beauty and grooming spa services director at Aldo Coppola hair and beauty salon. “The disadvantages are that hair continues to grow in its original form. As the hairs are cut, you create blunt ends that pierce the skin, and this can lead to irritation.”

For this reason, hydration is essential. “Shower or bathe beforehand,” advises Venus beauty therapist, Nichola Joss. “Hydrating hair with warm water makes it easier to cut. Apply ample amounts of shave gel to help keep water in the hair and ensure razor glide. Always use a light touch, and always use a fresh blade - fresh blades provide a closer, smoother, more comfortable shave and prevent irritation.” 

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If you’ve got sensitive skin, there’s now more products to choose from than ever before. However, many manufacturers claim their razors are designed for sensitive skin when in fact, there’s little evidence to say so.

Wilkinson Sword’s Intuition (£5.85, Boots), however, is definitely fit for purpose, with a pivoting head and gel bars that don’t melt away after a couple of uses. 

The Venus Spa Breeze (£4.99, Boots) is a much more slim line affair, and ideal for those who like their razors heavily scented – in this case it’s a (surprisingly pleasant) hit of white tea.

Bikini basics

Let’s face it, anything that makes shaving the sensitive bikini area easier can only be a good thing, so consider a battery powered razor. The Wilkinson Sword Quattro For Women Bikini Travel Razor (£9.69, Boots) combines the practicality of a hand held razor with the efficiency of a battery powered shaver – with the (perhaps unnecessary) addition of acai berry and jojoba-enriched moisture strips.

For technique? Hydration, hydration, hydration! “Since this skin is particularly sensitive, soften hair in warm water first, and use a razor with a moisture ribbon along with a moisture-rich shave gel,” suggests Nichola at Venus. “Legs are easier to shave because the skin is level and taut, so when shaving the bikini area, pull the skin back to create the same effect.  After shaving, rinse with cool water to close pores and pat dry.”

Wax on, wax off

If you’re the kind of person who regularly emerges from the bathroom looking as if they’ve just had a near miss with Freddie Krueger, perhaps it’s time to try waxing.

“Waxing is a much longer lasting technique in the removal of unwanted hairs,” says Holly Gunn. “When wax is warm it enters the follicle, allowing the hair to be pulled out of the root. Hair becomes softer, finer and sparser when waxed frequently, and the ends won’t be blunt because hairs re-grow from the follicle.”

The disadvantages? “Waxing can be painful and occasionally, hairs can break off at or below the surface of the skin.”

If you’re prone to clumsiness, opt for Veet’s new EasyGrip Wax Strips (from £6.63, Boots), which come with “grip tabs” for easier removal. They’re also designed for use on hair that’s as short as 2mm.

Let there be light

In this day and age, long term hair removal doesn’t have to mean costly sessions at your local beauty salon – the latest gadgets to use laser and light pulse technology are designed to be used at home.

“Laser and light pulse hair removal treatment can be carried out on larger areas in one session, and if there’s regrowth, this will be much lighter and finer in texture,” says Holly at Aldo Coppola. “It can also be virtually painless.”

One example of a product that offers permanent hair removal in the comfort of your own home is Boots’ Smooth Skin Plus (£349.99, Boots, which uses pulsed light technology to cauterize the hair follicle. This causes the hair to fall out. The best bit? Eventually the hair will simply stop growing back.

The gadget looks a lot more streamlined than similar products, and although £349 might sound like quite a hefty initial outlay, for permanent hair removal, it’s a relatively small price to pay.

The No!No! 800 Professional Hair Removal system (£192, Trynono) works in a similar way, but only offers semi-permanent hair removal. On the plus side, this thing is tiny – about the size of an iPod Nano – and costs significantly less than similar gadgets.

So, what are you waiting for? Choose your weapon of choice and look forward to the smooth-skinned, hair-free summer you’ve always dreamed of!

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