Mens FAQ On Hair Removal

Mens hair removal has become popular over the last few years, and with more and more men wanting to find out more about getting rid of their unwanted hair growth, we thought we’d put together a handy guide, providing you with the lowdown on all you need to know.

Hair Removal Methods

Waxing

Waxing is when a wax is applied to an area, a cloth is put over the wax and rubbed down, so all the hairs in that area can be stuck to the wax and cloth, and then the cloth is pulled off in one quick action.

Pain Level: High

Many hairs are being pulled out at one time from their root, so it’s going to be painful, but don’t let it put you off, the pain will only last for a couple of seconds at a time.

Overtime the more sessions you have the more accustomed to waxing you’ll become and less it will hurt.

Don’t try doing it yourself, see a professional beautician a) because when you apply that wax strip you’ll no doubt build up anxiety over pulling it off. And b) the beautician will be able to get all the areas waxed, even the hard to reach places. Have you ever thought about trying to wax your own back? Impossible!

When going for your first wax session, if you’re hair is longer than half an inch then we’d strongly recommend you trim it before you’re waxed.

The longer the hair the more difficult it is for the wax to pull out the whole hair from its follicle, increasing the chance of ingrown hairs, or hair being left behind.

Pros

• You’ll be hair free for up to three weeks
• Over time your hair will grow back slower, thinner, and sparser
• More hair can be removed at one time

Cons

• Painful
• Chance of ingrown hairs
• Redness and irritation up to 24 hours after being waxed

Waxing Process

When you go for a wax, you want to be clean so there are no natural body oils that can inhibit the attachment of the wax.

There are two types of wax that can be used and that is sugar wax and hot wax. Don’t worry the hot wax isn’t burning hot, more warm. The wax will then be applied to the area you want, with the beautician laying cloth over the top and gently pushing down on the cloth and rubbing so all the wax attaches to the hair. And then before you know it, the cloth will have been ripped off in one quick pull and you’ll be hairless.

This process is then repeated across the area until you are completely hairless.

Afterwards the therapist will wipe away any wax residue left behind and you’ll need to moisturise the area to help calm and soothe it.

What should I do before being waxed?

Before being waxed you’ll need to exfoliate the area you’re going to get waxed a couple of days before you have the treatment. This is so any dead skin cells can be removed and the area is prepped perfectly, so the hairs can be standing up more for the wax to adhere to.

As we’ve said previously, trimming the hair if it is long will also needed to be done if it is over half an inch long.

Booking An Appointment

Once you’ve chosen who is going to do the waxing for you, you’ll need to book an appointment, and (this is the important part) tell them exactly what it is you want removed. This not only helps them book the right amount of time, but also helps you both understand what is to be expected.

Medical

Do let the therapist know if you are on any type of medication. You should also let them know if you have sun or wind burn, a recent scar or new tattoo, a rash/graze, eczema/psoriasis, varicose vein, contagious skin condition, or even a hairy mole. All these things need to be taken into account before going ahead with a wax, as some may hinder the waxing process and others may result in postponing the appointment.

Aftercare

Don’t be alarmed if your skin appears red with little bumps and even small spots such as whiteheads after your waxing session. This is completely normal and is the skin’s reaction to having its hair pulled out at the root.

Shaving

Shaving is the “normal” hair removal choice and most popular as it provides a quick and easy way of getting rid of hair and looking neat and tidy, especially where facial hair resides.

Shaving involves using a razor (manual or electric) to cut the hair at skin level, resulting in the hair to start piercing the skin within the next day.

Shaving can enable stylish patterns and designs as you have the control over where exactly the hair gets shaved.

There are many different ways to shave, including; dry, wet, or electric etc, and doing each one is genuinely quite easy. If doing a wet shave this will take more time to do than shaving with an electric razor, as you have to dampen the skin, apply shaving foam and then shave, whereas an electric shaver you turn on an away you go.

Obviously some shaving techniques work better than others for some people and what you choose to do is your preference.

Pain Level: Low

It is relatively pain free unless you nick yourself which can be slightly painful and leave you with a little wound, that will quickly heal.

Pros

• Easy to do
• Quick to do

Cons

• Only lasts a couple of days
• Nicks and cuts
• Razor burn - red bumps/rash

When it comes to shaving your body hair this can not only be time consuming but is something you’ll have to do regularly as the hair grows back quicker than it would if you waxed it.

Shaving Process

This can vary slightly depending on which shaving method you choose, so we’ll talk about a general “how to” for you.

The best time to shave is after showering, when the area you want to shave is wet and the pores more open, helping to make the hair softer which helps the razor to glide easily.

But before you start shaving make sure you give the area a good exfoliation with a scrub so all oil, dead skin cells and dirt can be removed so your shave can work harder for you as well as reducing the chance of spots to form.

Next you’ll need to apply shaving foam. This will help the razor to glide nicely over the area and protect against irritation.

When shaving you’ll want to use gentle strokes without too much pressure being placed on the razor, and shave both with and against the grain to get the best results.

Don’t forget to rinse your blades often while you are shaving, to get rid of foam residue and remove the hair you have already cut off.

Once you’re done apply either a soothing moisturiser or after shave to close the pores and hydrate the skin.

 

Laser Hair Removal

Laser hair removal has grown popular over the recent years as a form of hair removal on a semi-permanent basis.

The laser literally zaps the hair and hair follicle to prevent it from growing hair.

Although there are now devices you can use at home to remove unwanted hair growth by laser, it is always a better idea to go to a professional as they are experienced in performing this procedure and will be able to reach all the hard to reach places.

Pain Level: High

Laser hair removal pain level has been acquainted with that of an elastic band pinging against your skin, but at multiple times as the laser works over the skin zapping the hair.

Laser hair removal is perceived as a permanent solution, but that isn’t necessarily the case. You’ll have to have several sessions to achieve this, and after six months to a year you will have to have a top up session as hair will have started to grow back.

However, laser hair removal doesn’t work on everybody. For it to work, your hair has to be darker than your skin, because the laser picks up the colour pigment in the hair to detect it and then zaps the hair and follicle.

Those who have lighter coloured pigmented hair may find that this method doesn’t work as effectively at removing hair.

Pros

• Hairless for longer
• Faster hair removal

Cons

• Expensive
• Doesn’t work on everybody
• Painful

What should I do before I laser hair treatment?

Before you have your laser hair treatment, the area should be clean so no dirt and dead skin cells can get in the way.

Make sure you are free of any sort of tan (whether real or fake) as this distorts the laser process, resulting in less hair being able to be zapped.

If hair is long, trim down to half an inch so the laser gets a better shot at the hair and its follicle.

Laser Hair Removal Process

Your technician will ask you to put on specialist goggles so the laser doesn’t affect your eyes, before they get to work.

When they start lasering, they will also blow cool air onto your skin to help reduce the pain sessions and keep your skin cool once it has been zapped.

The technician will do this for the entire area, while usually working in a linear fashion.

After Effects

You may find that your skin becomes red and even slightly tender to touch in a 24 hour period after having the session.

The technician will normally advise you on what to do and what not to do, i.e. not go out in the Sun, and what to apply onto the area to keep it moisturised.

Depilatory Creams

Depilatory creams are creams that are used for hair removal. They are easy to use, pain free and provide you with short term hair free results.

Pain Level - Low to None

You don’t tend to experience any pain from this method. You may experience a slight tenderness when you are scraping over the same area but it shouldn’t be painful.

We’d always advised for you to do a patch test 24 hours before you want to use the cream to ensure you won’t have a reaction to it.

Pros

• Easy to do
• You can do it at home

Cons

• The smell of the product isn’t pleasant
• Hair free for up to only 4 days

How do depilatory creams work?

You apply the cream to the area you want to become hair free, don’t rub it in, let it sit on the skin. It will then work at dissolving the hair to just below the skin’s surface. These are usually left to work their magic for ten to fifteen minutes. Once time is up you use the device that comes with it (can either be a rough sponge or spatula) and gently scrape the cream and hair away.

Clean any residue off and moisturise afterwards for a silky smooth hair free area.

Depilatory creams will leave you hair free for up to four days.

General Hair Removal Questions

Will hair removal permanently stop hair growth?

In essence no! No matter what hair removal method you choose your hair will eventually grow back. Unless you have used a permanent hair removal cream such as our Frenesies Men Cream which will have permanently stopped hair growth.

What should I do to prevent ingrown hairs?

To prevent ingrown hairs, regular exfoliation and moisturising is key.

Exfoliate the day before you have your hair removed and then continue once it has been removed. Generally, one to two times a week will be fine.

Plan For Your Hair Removal

Always plan when you are going to get your hair removed especially if you have a big day ahead of you.

You won’t want your skin looking sore or red (if being exposed). Obviously when you remove your hair depends on what hair removal method you choose.

If waxing or lasering, choose 2-3 days before, if using a depilatory cream the day before the event should be fine, and if shaving on the day will be perfect.

When To Postpone Hair Removal

There are times when you should avoid having hair removal and these include:

• If you have broken skin
• Are sunburnt / windburnt
• Have an allergic reaction / rash to something
• Have used fake tan
• A new tattoo recently scarred
• Varicose vein
• Contagious skin condition

If permanent hair removal is something you are considering, then there is a way of doing so through removing hair with waxing and using Frenesies Men Cream.

Frenesies men has been specifically designed for men to rid your unwanted hair, through scientific methods and natural extracts.

Not only will it work to stop your hair growing back thanks to the selenium ingredient which blocks the hair growth deep within the root, but it will also calm the area also while moisturising it too, thanks to the menthol, chamomile and rosemary found within it.

After one cycle of use you’ll notice a reduction of 60-80% of hair regrowth, with any hair growing back being weaker, thinner and paler.

It can take between two to four cycles of frenesies cream to completely get rid of your unwanted hair, but in extreme cases it may take six.