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Plucking

Plucking is a simple, and cheap method of removing hair. It is commonly used to eliminate stray eyebrow hair, scattered abdominal or nipple hair, and the coarse chin hair of post-menopausal women. Typically, hair is pulled out with tweezers. Since the entire hair shaft is ordinarily removed, plucked hair takes longer to return than do those that are shaved.

However, plucking is tedious and somewhat uncomfortable. Consequently, it is useful for only small numbers of hair. Plucking generally does not cause significant skin damage, but it may injure hair follicles that are repeatedly plucked. This may result in the formation of ingrown hair, or the elimination of future hair growth. At any given time the majority of eyebrow hair is in the resting phase. Eyebrows, therefore, lack the regenerative capacity of hair on other body regions, and individuals should meticulously avoid over-plucking them.

Epilating

In epilating, a mechanical device that contains a rotating, tightly wound spring is used to pluck the hair. This can be painful, and can cause irritation, but like other plucking provides for a long re-growth period. Epilating is most successfully used in large, flat areas like the arms and legs, although it may produce ingrown or coiled hair below the skin surface. It does not work well in curved areas like the underarms, and may cause significant trauma to the face and other thin skinned areas. Infection can also be a problem with epilating, and the use of an anti-bacterial agent before and after hair removal is recommended.

Waxing

Waxing involves the application of a hot or cold wax to areas of unwanted hair. After the wax hardens, it is pulled off the skin along with embedded hair. Waxing is uncomfortable. Moreover, when it is used on thick hair, multiple treatments and tweezing may also be necessary. However, skin trauma usually does not occur, although burns can result from exposure to hot wax.

Threading

Threading is a popular method of hair removal in India. It utilizes a twisted loop of cotton thread that is pulled across the skin. The thread catches the hair, and either pulls it out, or breaks it off. Adverse effects are similar to those of other forms of plucking.

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