Depilation is the term used to describe processes that serve the partial or complete removal of body hair. Today’s generally prevailing beauty image is developing more and more towards a hairless body over as large an area as possible, which is why almost all men and women now resort to hair removal, at least on certain parts of the body, especially when they suffer from excessive hair growth. These topics may also be of interest to you:
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A typical example of depilation is shaving.
This has no influence on the hair root or the bellows, so that the hair grows back quickly, which can take different lengths of time depending on the area and person. This procedure is much faster and less complicated than the depilation procedures listed below. However, shaving can leave a mark in the form of severe redness and itching, which is called “razor burn”.
In addition to shaving, depilatory cream is another way to have a painless depilation. The cream is applied to the skin and has to work for a few minutes, depending on the manufacturer’s instructions. Then the cream can be removed together with the hair with the help of a rubber spatula, which is usually included.
Since the hair roots are not affected, it is not a permanent depilation and the hair grows back. Depilatory creams work through their alkaline pH value, which is about 12. The natural pH of the skin is with 5.5 in the slightly acidic range, so a neutralization after the treatment is useful and can protect the skin.
The active ingredient is usually a potassium or ammonium salt from thioglycolic acid or similar substances. Hair is held together by its sulfur bridges and protein bonds. These chemical compounds are dissolved by the active ingredient of the cream and the hair on the outside is detached from the skin.
After removal, a thorough rinsing with water and supporting with acidic after-treatment creams is necessary to protect the skin. Furthermore, the creams also contain self-protecting ingredients, such as apricot oil and vitamins. Although the dosage of the cream is subject to strict guidelines, even regular use can lead to skin damage.
The main active ingredient thioglycolic acid is toxic to humans and is also absorbed through the skin. Furthermore, allergic reactions can also occur, which is why a test in a small range is recommended. Depilatory creams should not be used on the face or in the genital area and especially contact with mucous membranes should be avoided.
The effect lasts a little longer than with shaved hair, because the hair is removed about one millimeter under the skin. Creams are a relatively cheap way to get rid of the hair. In the cosmetic trade different variants are already available for under three euros.
In addition to classic creams, depilatory lotions and depilatory foam or gels are also available. For the intimate area, depilatory creams with low dosages are available, however, these creams should also not reach the mucous membrane directly, as the active ingredient is the same. You can find more information on this topic here: All information about depilatory creams.
During depilation, hairs are removed together with their roots. This has the advantage that the hairless state lasts for a longer period of time and depilation has to be done less often. A distinction is made between permanent epilation, where the hair root is completely destroyed, and temporary epilation, where the hair root is torn out.
With this depilation technique, special epilation devices or wax preparations are used. Another possibility to remove hair for a longer period of time is the wax treatment. There are both finished wax strips and liquid wax.
In both cases, the slightly warmed wax is applied to the hairy skin and slightly pressed on finished strips. After cooling, the wax can be quickly removed and the hairs are pulled out. Unlike epilation, large areas can be depilated simultaneously.
Depilation with wax is a relatively painful method, because the hairs are torn out. This is similar to tearing off a plaster. Most waxes consist of a mixture of beeswax, spermaceti and resin components and are therefore relatively skin-friendly on a natural basis.
For waxing, the hair must have a certain minimum length, which is why the treatment is not applicable to hair stubble.All in all, it is a very effective but painful hair removal. You can find more information on this topic at: Hair outgrowth – How it is done. Depilation with a laser treatment is a permanent depilation.
There are two different possibilities with laser treatment. On the one hand, hair can be removed in dermatological practices and on the other hand, laser devices can be used at home. In both cases, repeated sessions are necessary because not all hairs are in the same growth phase.
The laser reacts to the dark dye melanin. Therefore a laser treatment is especially successful with dark hair and light skin. If possible, a tan should have subsided before the treatment begins.
Blonde hair and fluff are much more difficult to remove. During the sessions there may be slight pain, which usually subsides after a few hours. In rare cases, inflammatory reactions may occur.
People with many moles or other pigmentary changes are not advised to undergo treatment. Due to hormonal fluctuations, e.g. due to pregnancy, there may be occasional hair regrowth. The treatment in medical centers costs a little over 2000 Euros for a full body treatment.
Treatments for the legs or armpits are correspondingly cheaper. The laser for self-treatment is already available from about 150 euros. The light method for hair removal is very similar to laser treatment.
The hair roots are bombarded with small light impulses and fall out after about a week. The effect lasts for about three months and is not as permanent as the laser treatment, because the hair roots are also removed, but the hair follicles remain. The best effect can be achieved with dark hair and light skin.
Only after several applications can success be seen at all. Light hair cannot be removed at all. With dark skin or many moles, the device should not be used.
During use, eye protection should be observed and no deodorants with long-term effects should be used. Before treatment, the area should be shaved normally and only after that the light impulses should be shot. To protect the skin, care cream can be used afterwards.
Depending on the manufacturer a device costs about 300 Euro. The treatment is painless and in most cases well tolerated. Sugar paste is an inexpensive alternative to finished wax products, as it can be produced by the patient himself.
The sugar paste is a mixture of household sugar, lemon juice and water. First the skin must be prepared for hair removal by cleaning it with lotions containing alcohol. Then the sugar paste is kneaded with the hands and warmed.
In contrast to wax, the sugar mass can surround the hair more deeply and the hair can be torn out against the direction of growth. Although the method is supposed to be less painful than the wax treatment, the so-called sugaring is not painless either. However, since the ingredients are completely natural, there is almost never any redness or damage to the skin.
Some cosmetic studios also offer sugaring. For a Sugaring treatment, the hair must have a length of at least two to five millimeters. In contrast to waxing, only a small area can be treated at a time, which is why leg depilation takes up to an hour. The effect lasts about three weeks.
