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All depilatories work the same way. They break apart the keratin fibers and dissolve the hair above the surface of the skin. Depilatories contain ingredients called thioglycolates. These chemicals are responsible for the breakdown of the proteins of the keratin. They have a high pH in the alkali range and can be damaging to the skin. Fortunately, the damage to the skin is only temporary, lasting just a couple of days.
Other temporary hair removers, termed retardants, usually claim that daily use will eventually stop hair from growing permanently. These products are frequently a very dilute depilatory type product. They usually contain "plant extracts" such as papaya which has papain, a chemical that dissolves dead protein. You can find this ingredient in meat tenderizer products along with bromain, another plant extract that does the same thing — dissolves dead protein such as hair. By using these products on a daily basis, the hair that emerges from the hair follicle into the pore in the skin is dissolved immediately. When you stop using the product, the hair returns in most cases.
These products are relatively inexpensive, readily available and easy to use. Very few of the manufacturers promote them as a permanent solution to unwanted hair. Some exceptions are Liquid Electrolysis, Ultra Hair Away, and Epil-stop and even these manufacturers state they should be used in conjunction with other hair removal methods.
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