A trusted expert and people with personal experience answer questions like: "What methods are available?" "How does everyone remove their hair?" Please feel free to join us and learn about which methods are perfect for you.
Expert advise on how to remove unwanted hair at home.
The basics of hair removal you absolutely must know.
Dr. Kaya Hara
She is a board-certified plastic surgeon by the Japanese Society of Plastic Surgery and a board-certified laser specialist and instructor by the Japanese Society of Laser Medicine.
After graduating from Tokyo Women's Medical University, she joined the Department of Plastic Surgery there. After working as an assistant professor in the Department of Plastic Surgery at the same university, she opened YAESU Plastic surgery aesthetic dermatology in 2015.
She provides detailed patient-centred advice in plastic surgery treatment as well as in cosmetic medicine.
Her knowledge of laser technology and plastic surgery makes her the perfect "reassuring family doctor" when it comes to anything beauty related.
Hair Removal Q&A
Q1. What kinds of hair removal are there?
There are three main ways to eliminate hair: shaving, hair removal, and epilation. Shaving can be done with razors or electric shavers, hair removal can be done with hair pluckers, hair removal creams, waxes, and epilation can be done at hair removal salons or medical hair removal facilities using: Intense Pulsed Light (IPL)*, laser hair removal, or needle hair removal.
*Treatment with IPL equipment requires prior removal of unwanted hair with an electric shaver or similar tool.
Q2. Which area do you recommend starting with?
You can start with any part of the body, but it is better to try it in a less obvious place just in case you run into any problems. If you use a razor or shaver, why not start with an area that is easy to do by yourself, such as the arm or leg opposite to your dominant hand? For hair removal using a machine, you can try it on the underarm. The skin of the underarm is not exposed to the sun, so there is less risk of sunburn, and the hair is thicker and more responsive, so it's ideal for experimenting.
Q3. Are there any affordable methods?
The hair removal method to choose will depend on lifestyle, whether you want an efficient treatment method or to keep initial and running costs low, and other personal goals. While cost performance is important, it is also worth considering factors other than cost performance, such as choosing a shaver instead of a razor if daily treatment causes damage to the skin, or choosing a hair removal method that uses equipment that does not require daily treatment.
Q4. What precautions should I take when removing hair at home?
Skin irritation is the most common problem with home hair removal methods. Inflammation and ingrown hairs due to repeated irritation are common problems. All types of hair treatment should be conducted with care to minimise damage to the skin as much as possible. The key points are to use items that make the skin smooth when shaving, to use a shaver instead of a razor, and to moisturise the skin after shaving. Reducing skin irritation and keeping the skin well moisturised are the basics.
If self-care continues to cause problems, you may want to consider consulting a specialist.
Q5. What is a painless hair removal method?
Razors are the most commonly used method, but daily use can easily affect the skin barrier, so shavers should be used if possible.
Hair removal creams use chemicals are not recommended for those who have sensitive skin to begin with. Even if you do not have any particular problems, it is better to avoid them if they do not suit your skin or if they cause irritation.
As for home-use epilators, the types that remove hair via a hair puller can be painful, but an IPL with a system similar to that of a hair removal salon will cause relatively little pain, although it depends on the individual.
Q6. Why does hair removal cause dark spots?
When oriental skin is inflamed in any way, hyperpigmentation often occurs afterwards. When razors and other tools are used to remove unwanted hair, damage is done to the skin surface and pigmentation occurs from friction. Melanin pigmentation appears as dark spots. The sensitive areas such as underarm and bikini area are particularly prone to dark spots because of the high melanin pigmentation. To prevent dark spots from occurring, it is important to minimise friction and irritation on the skin.
Q7. Why does hair removal at a cosmetic dermatologist also provide skin care?
It takes advantage of the fact that different tissues absorb different degrees of light. The absorbed light is converted into heat, which damages the target, resulting in hair removal. Since heat is not transmitted to the entirety of the skin, but selectively damages only a pinpoint target, it is less likely to cause skin irritation. At the same time, it stimulates the skin and promotes collagen production, which has been proven to have a skin beautifying effect. It promotes skin turnover and leads to clear skin.
Expert advise on how to remove unwanted hair at home.
The basics of hair removal you absolutely must know.
TOPIC 1. How do you think people generally get rid of unwanted hair?
While there are a variety of hair removal products available, such as waxes and hair removal creams, the most common method is shaving with a razor or shaver. Razors are used by many people of all ages because they are easily available everywhere, but they are very damaging to the skin and should be avoided if possible. Of course, if someone has a specific reason for wanting to use a razor, such as for a clean shave, they may be more limited. However, we hope that people will be aware of the significant skin damage, limit their use to the minimum necessary, and choose items that have less impact on the skin for everyday use, with the goal of maintaining healthy skin in the long term.
TOPIC 2. Is it ok to use a razor to remove unwanted hair?
Using a razor shaves off the stratum corneum on the skin's surface. The stratum corneum is located on the surface of the skin and acts as a barrier for the skin. By shaving off this barrier, the skin becomes sensitive to external stimuli, which can cause problems. In addition, since the skin is often uneven, scraping off the uneven surface can cause scars. Repeated use of a razor on a scarred area will make it difficult for the scar to heal. Once a "bump" is formed, repeated irritation of the skin with a razor will not heal and will prolong the symptoms, so it is important to use items that are less likely to cause problems in the first place.
TOPIC 3. Can hair removal cause skin irritation or problems?
Even if you get rid of unwanted hair, it's like putting the cart before the horse if you damage your skin.
When removing hair or treating unwanted hair, we would like you to consider not only the removal of unwanted hair, but also the burden on the skin.
When choosing an item for unwanted hair removal, we recommend that you also consider "gentle on skin" as a keyword. When removing unwanted hair, it is important to shave with the grain and moisturise after shaving to protect the skin.
TOPIC 4. What kinds of problems arise with hair removal?
Pigmentation due to repeated irritation is the most common one. Many patients visit a clinic because they are concerned about dark spots, especially on the underarms. Other problems include dermatitis, raised pores, and ingrown hairs due to repeated improper self-treatment. It is important to note that the desire to be beautiful may be so great that frequent repetition of harsh hair removal and depilatory procedures may induce the opposite effect.
TOPIC 5. How do I find the right hair removal method?
It is important to choose a hair removal method that suits your skin type in order to achieve both the removal of unwanted hair and the maintaining of beautiful and smooth skin. In addition to treatment effects and beautiful skin, cost performance, the time, effort required for treatment, and the frequency of treatment are also important points to consider. One of the home hair removal methods that offers a good balance of these factors is an IPL, so please check them out. Many of you may have already experienced various hair removal methods, so please refer to user comments and choose what you think is the best hair removal method for you.