Hair Removal: A History by Rebecca Beckett

Hair Removal: A History
by Rebecca Beckett

In the past people thought nothing of their body hair - it was just a normal way of life. Now, with laser schools and laser certifications the ways of hair removal are becoming more and more sophisticated. People don't like body hair - they associate it with cavemen, like the ones in the Geico commercial. In the 20th century the first time women ever saw a model baring shoulders and underarms was on the cover of Harper's Bazaar in 1915. Even before World War 1 underarm hair removal had gained popularity. As fashion choices changed and became shorter and more revealing, the need for less hair became essential as well.

Over the years there have been many options for hair removal. Here are a few of the most popular methods.

Shaving With a blade or with a razor it is a fast and cheap way to remove hair. Numerous choices and a wide array of soaps, creams and aftershave products stock many a retail shelf.

Tweezing This is most commonly done for the eyebrows to get rid of unwanted or stray hairs. It is cheap and precise but can often cause short bursts of pain. Usually this is a method that can be done quickly and easily at home.

Rotary Epilators Rows of tweezers on a rotary head, which pull hairs out by the roots. This can be quite painful.

Friction A rough, sandpaper-like mitt or pad is used to buff away hair at the skin's surface. The effects are very short term.

Waxing There are many types of wax and they can be either hot or cold. After an area has been waxed several times the hair starts to grow back finer and in smaller quantities. It is an easy way to go and can range in price depending on the location. Many women may go quite often to get this procedure done.

Electrolysis This type of method involves the destruction of the hair root with the use of an electrical current. It originated when doctors were attempting to remove ingrown eyelashes that could lead to blindness. It is often considered very painful but can be used on all body hair.

Laser This is becoming a very popular method of hair removal in the 21st century. It is often quite a painful method as the laser destroys a large number of follicles at the same time. Repeated treatments are necessary.

Depilatories This is a chemical usually in liquid or cream form that dissolves the hair. The chemicals are often very smelly and can be very harsh on the skin.

As you can see the methods for hair removal are numerous, can range in price significantly and can range in the amount of pain caused. As the world continues to become more and more obsessed with fashion and looking good it is no surprise we are coming up with new and interesting ways to remove our hair. What will the future hold or will we find a way to rid ourselves of body hair completely? Only time will tell.

About the Author

About the author: Rebecca Beckett is a freelance writer for Innuity. For more information about hair removal or laser schools go to Canyon State Laser