Hi there,
Thanks for your question! There are a number of non-permanent arm hair
removal options available to men. Not all are created equal, however,
and my searches helped me narrow the field down to your two best bets.
What are they, you ask? Drum roll please...
And the winner is:
1. Depilatory creams. Long appropriated by females, depilatory creams
are now available in extra-strength formulas for men (Nair for Men is
a popular brand). They dissolve the hair in 10-20 minutes, leaving the
skin surface smooth and, unless you're allergic to the product,
unirritated. Which brings me to my next point: be sure to do a patch
test on a small area of skin prior to going all out, to ensure you
don't have a negative reaction to the product (patch test instructions
should be included with the depilatory). Depilating is your best bet
for minimizing the thickness of new hair growth -- since the hair is
actually dissolved, not cut, the new hair comes in the same thickness
as the old. You'll also avoid ingrown hairs with this method.
In brief:
With your criteria in mind, depilating is your overall best bet:
Painless, easy and fairly long-lasting. It's also among the cheapest
hair-removal methods.
Ease of application: A bit messy and smelly, but idiot-proof: just
dampen skin and apply, rinsing off after allotted time.
Pain factor: None
Accessibility: Can be purchased in any drugstore for under $10.
Lasts: About three weeks
Runner-up:
2. Waxing: As far as results go, aside from permanent hair removal
methods like laser treatment and electrolysis, waxing will give you
the best bang for your buck, leaving you hair-free for about 4-6
weeks. The downside is that it's somewhat painful. A layer of warm or
cold wax is applied to the skin and pulled off with a long cloth
strip. The hair comes off with the wax, pulled out at the roots.
In brief:
A good method if you're willing to put up with some pain to attain
longer-lasting results.
Ease of application: Messy if performed at home; if you're queasy
about self-inflicted pain, you might need a friend to remove the
strips
Pain factor: Moderate; varies from person to person
Accessibility: Kits can be purchased in drugstores for under $12. If
you'd rather have a professional wax treatment and are willing to pay
a bit more, most hair salons offer waxing services in the $30-$50
range.
Lasts: 4-6 weeks
A few other options are available:
Bleaching: Should you be open to an alternative to actually removing
the hair, cream bleaches are easy to use and make the hair much less
noticeable. Kits are inexpensive and the results last several weeks.
Shaving: Though by far the cheapest option, shaving arm hair isn't
recommended for several reasons: new hair growth will be thicker and
coarser, results don't last very long and there's a lot of potential
for irritation and ingrown hair.
Once you've decided on your method of choice, you can use a product
like Jergens Naturally Smooth Shave Minimizing Moisturizer after
treatments to slow new hair growth.
Should you at some point desire more permanent results, you can pursue
one of the following options:
Laser hair removal: Effective in permanently removing 85-90% of hair.
Takes about a year of consistent treatments to achieve permanent
results, and costs several thousand dollars. Mild to moderate
discomfort.
Electrolysis: The only way to permanently remove 100% of hair. The
hair shaft is destroyed with small needles. Electrolysis is
time-consuming but somewhat less expensive (generally a couple
thousand dollars for total treatment) than laser hair removal. Process
is somewhat uncomfortable and takes about a year to achieve permanent
results.
Sources:
AskMen.com: Hair Removal
<http://www.askmen.com/fashion/fashiontip_100/108c_fashion_advice.html>
Hairfacts: Choosing a Method
<http://www.hairfacts.com/methods/choosing.html>
Hair Removal Methods and Products Recommended for Each Area of Use
<http://www.depilatory.com/recommended.html#arms>
You might also want to check out the following link:
Shop In Private: Hair Removal Products for Men: Arms and Legs
<http://shop.store.yahoo.com/buyinprivate/hairremprodf2.html>
Keywords used:
arm hair removal methods
arm hair removal methods men
arm hair removal
Best of luck!
Emjay-ga |
