Skip the Chewbacca impression with the latest fuzz-free treatments. Choose a short-term fix or banish the hair blues for good
Best for underarms
Temporary Trick – Razor
Gillette Venus Proskin MoistureRich 3 Blades & Shave Gel Bars Razor, £5.49
Cut yourself shaving on the hop? Not any more – reach for Gillette’s skin saviour, which has an inbuilt shaving cream that works into a lather with just a splash of water. Perfect if you’re running late!
Good: It’s quick and easy.
Bad: Leaves a shadow as it only removes top-level hair.
“First a gel was applied to cool the skin and then a heat-radiating rod was hovered across. The hair pulled out after four days, leaving me looking smooth and bump-free. It helps Team GB’s synchronised swimming team keep their legs silky smooth, and if it’s good enough for them…” Lucie Clifford, Junior Shopping EditorOuch factor4/10Lasting power Permanent after three to six sessions for underarms and bikini; eight to 10 for face and legs.
Best for facial hair
Temporary trick Threading
Shavata, from £17
Therapists use thin cotton thread to pluck hair out of the follicle. Unlike tweezing, threading pulls out more than one hair at a time making it incredibly efficient. It gives you beautifully defined brows – and a facelift effect!
Good Perfect for people with sensitive skin as only the thread touches you.
Bad You need regrowth to be around 5mm for the thread to wrap around
Ouch factor 8/10
Lasting power Two to three weeks.
Forever fix At-home laser
No!No! Hair Removal System, £134.99
“Cordless and compact, this hand-held device radiates a gentle pulse of heat over the skin. Hair must be stubble length and you can use it two to three times a week at first, then gradually reduce this. At first I held it in the same area for too long, which hurt. But having had it for a few weeks now, I think it’s genius. It’s like a salon treatment, but cheaper.” Aimee Adams, Make-up Artist
Ouch factor 5/10
Lasting power Semi-permanent.You may need to top up the treatment every three months or so.
Best for legs
Temporary trick Hair-removal pads
JML Satin Pure Exfoliating Hair Removal Pads, £4.99
A pain-free hair-removal superstar for smooth skin. Simply rub the removal pads in a clockwise, then anti-clockwise motion to lift the hairs out of the follicles. The pads will also exfoliate skin, reducing the risk of in-grown hairs.
Good Painless and easy to use.
Bad Not as effective on hard-to-reach areas such as your bikini or underarms.
Ouch factor 0/10
Lasting power One to two weeks.
Forever fix The IPL laser
MPX Cynosure Elite Laser, £100 per session (available nationwide). Treatment was at Dr Jules Nabet Medical Rooms, The Royal Garden Hotel, London.
“The Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) laser locates the hair root by detecting a colour contrast between the hair and skin. It feels similar to plucking your eyebrows, but take less than 10 minutes, and after just one session later myhair is growing back slower and lighter.” Mira Kozlowska, Fashion Assistant
Ouch factor 4/10
Lasting power Three to four sessions for permanent results.
Best for bikini
Temporary trick Salon wax
Lycon Hot Wax, from £20 for a bikini wax
The latest in waxing technology is Lycon low-temperature wax formula. Once applied to your skin, it shrink-wraps as it dries to remove hairs as short as 1mm.
Good Hair is removed at the root, so it takes longer to grow back and is finer when it does.
Bad Can be quite painful.
Ouch factor 7/10
Lasting power Two to three weeks.
Forever fix – Stubborn hair shifter
GentleLase, from £108 a session or £540 for six sessions.Treatment was at Strip Wax, Chelsea, London
“Prior to your treatment you must have a patch test. On the day of your salon appointment, shave the area. First, a cold, numbing liquid is sprayed on, then the therapist places a laser machine over the area. The treatment took around 20 minutes, with very little pain. After four weeks, and just one session, there was hardly any hair regrowth.” Lauren Ezekiel, Beauty Writer
Ouch factor 3/10
Lasting power Three to six sessions for permanent results.
Best for all areas
Temporary trick DIY wax
Veet Easy Wax Electrical Roll-On Kit, £14.99
Can’t face de-fuzzing in the salon? Try Veet’s roll-on kit at home. The docking station heats it to the ideal temperature and the roll-on applicator makes it easy to use.
Good Achieve salon results at home.
Bad Can be tricky at first. Make sure you’re waxing in the direction your hair grows.
Ouch factor 7/10
Lasting power Two to three weeks.
Forever fix – The does-it-all laser
Soprano Painless Laser, from £50 per session (available nationwide). Treatment was at Jill Zander Health & Beauty Clinic, Surrey
“Hair needs to be shaved prior to the treatment. A numbing cream was then applied to the skin, and as the laser works across the area the skin slowly heats up. Each section was zapped for three to five minutes. It wasn’t as bad as waxing, but I wouldn’t describe it as painless.” Jenny Hodges, Picture Editor
Ouch factor 5/10
Lasting power Six to eight sessions are required for permanent results.
Fail to prepare = total hair-mare
Shaving
*Never dry shave – it will leave you red and blotchy and encourage in-grown hairs.
*If you run out of shaving foam, conditioner will do the trick, resulting in super-smooth pins.
Waxing
*Always shower before not after a wax, as the warm water can irritate the skin afterwards.
*Feeling a bit sore? Apply a generous dollop of Sudocrem Antiseptic Healing Cream, £3.50, for some light relief after your wax.
Laser
*Self-tan and sun exposure can play havoc after laser treatment, so stay away from them for at least two weeks after a session.
*Shave for a few weeks prior to your treatment, as thicker, coarser hair will give the best result.
Fabulous reader offer
We have 20%* off for Fabulous readers on all treatments at Strip Wax Boutiques simply quote FABNOHAIR when you book an appointment. Visit www.stripwaxbar.com to find your closest location.
* Please note this offer is valid on one treatment per customer until the 15/08/2012. This offer may not be used towards the purchase of course treatments and may be used towards the highest price treatment if booking multiple treatments. It is also not valid in conjunction with any other offers.
