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There are some methods for underarms hair removal,such as shaving, waxing, lasers, electrolysis.
Close shave:
Easy and cost-effective
How it works: "Start with a sharp blade, and do your best to shave
in the direction the hair is growing," says Danielle Malka, creator of
e-Shave, a line of shaving tools and products based in New York
(eshave.com). "It's a good idea to shave at the end of a shower. Heat
and water open pores and soften hair, so you'll get a closer shave."
Use oils, foams or creams that lather as buffers and softeners. Hair
conditioner is actually a great softener, Malka adds. Costs: $5-$50 for
shaver and supplies.
Waxing:
Quick and inexpensive
How it works: "No matter where you choose to wax, you'll get the
best results if you have at least a quarter inch of hair--a bit more if
your hair is coarse," says master waxer Cindy Barshop, owner of
Completely Bare Hair Removal Spas in New York (completelybare.com).
"People love waxing because it's fast, lasts longer than shaving, and
is relatively cheap compared with most other professional treatments."
Your skin can be more sensitive the week before your period, so skip
waxing during this time. Sensitive-skin types should avoid exfoliation
just before waxing; that bit of dead skin can actually be a buffer
against irritation. Costs: $5-$100.
TIPs:
If you suffer from ingrown hairs between waxing and shaving
sessions, try a daily exfoliator to lessen the chances of getting them.
We like: Bliss Ingrown Hair Eliminating Peeling Pads.
When you choose invasive professional treatments like electrolysis,
IPL or lasers, select practitioners who have had ample experience with
people of color.
Lasers:
A ray of light for us
Best for: Any part of the face or body. How it works; Laser hair
removal is not permanent, but the results can last for months. Which
lasers are right for us? "Lasers that use longer wavelengths to focus
on the hair follicle without damaging the skin," answers Jeanine
Downie, M.D., a dermatologist in Montclair, New Jersey. When hair
returns after laser removal, it is also more likely to be much thinner,
according to Robert Guida, M.D., a plastic surgeon at New York
Presbyterian Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, who has had tremendous
results treating severe razor bumps (pseudofolliculitis barbae) with
his Lyra laser: "You'll need a few sessions with lasers, but not as
many as with electrolysis." Costs: $250 and up.
Intense pulsed light (IPL):
The next wave
Best for: Any part of the face or body. How it works: "Intense
Pulsed Light treatment uses bursts of light, as opposed to a single
coherent beam, like lasers, to remove hair," says Downie. "It isn't
permanent, but many say hair growth is significantly reduced after
repeated treatments." Dana Elise of Laser Solutions Skincare Medical
Clinic in Beverly Hills, California (lasersolutions90210.com) adds,
"IPL is not safe for people of color unless it's used with what is
known as a 755 filter. This filter allows for a greater cooling time
between the light pulses. Without the cooling time, IPL could be
damaging to Black skin." Costs: $125 and up.
ELECTROLYSIS:
permanent hair removal
Best for: Areas of the face or body where you never want to see hair again.
How it works: A needle or probe is inserted into the hair follicle,
and an electric current converted into heat is passed through it,
preventing hair growth. Each hair must be treated individually, so the
process can entail numerous sessions. Because even the most minor
trauma can cause dark marks and scarring on Black skin, be sure to find
a skilled professional to do electrolysis. We've seen terrific results
from Lucy Peters International, Ltd. (lucypeters.com), which has
locations throughout the country. If one of Peters's spots isn't near
you, she suggests you use these tips to evaluate a facility: Look at
before and after pictures of African-American clients. Make sure the
facility uses insulated, flexible probes with bulbous tips; insulated
probes create minimal heat damage to skin and are more easily
maneuvered within curly-hair follicles. And be sure the establishment
uses a dry-heat sterilizer on the equipment. "If you don't find these
measures in place, move on," Peters says.
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