How To Remove Hair From Arms

A glamorous subject field information technology is not, but for some, arm hair can get in the way of having silky smoothen skin. Body hair—no matter where it's located—is completely natural, only for me, it used to exist the source of self-consciousness. Nosotros all have our "things" that we wouldn't mind changing, and this is probably my most longstanding one. "Why don't y'all but wax your arm pilus?" people ask. Oh, I accept—though, for the record, I don't like having completely hairless arms; information technology feels unnatural. I've too used Nair, bleach, and a skilful old-fashioned razor.

That said, I've had the nigh success in experimenting with some more-newfangled approaches in recent years, and my determination is that it has never been and then easy to style and groom your trunk hair than it is today. With the help of board-certified dermatologist Joshua Zeichner and hair removal expert Kristina Kitsos, I'm breaking down four methods of arm hair removal.

Come across the Expert

Joshua Zeichner is a board-certified dermatologist and treats both medical and cosmetic skincare concerns.
Kristina Kitsos is an aesthetic nurse injector and registered corrective nurse.

Continue scrolling to read honest reviews of iv popular arm hair removal methods.

Method 1: Epilator

Remington Smooth & Silky Essential Epilator $40.00

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Epilation has grown in popularity equally an culling to shaving—though for me, while an epilator looks a bit similar a razor, it feels more like a wax. "Epilation is a hair removal procedure involving a device that grabs on to the hairs and physically pulls them from the skin," says Zeichner. "While epilation tin be used for all pilus types, information technology is best in removing coarse, straight hair." If you're not a candidate for laser hair removal, epilation may be your next all-time bet. Kitsos notes that the benefits of epilation are that it tin can exist done in the convenience of your ain dwelling and is less costly than laser, but the drawbacks are that information technology'south painful and results are just temporary. "Some people experience blood-red, itchy bumps after using this type of pilus removal procedure, which can be irritating," she warns.

I was hesitant to try an epilator since a device made of tiny, automatic rotating tweezers sounds like my idea of torture. I did a picayune research beforehand (i.eastward., Googled "how to make epilating hurt less") and learned that it's best to do it in the shower because the steam helps open the pilus follicles (in the same way that tweezing your eyebrows is less painful when they're wet). This may have helped some, but to exist honest, it was still non a peculiarly fun feel. It's effective at pulling the hair out from the root, and information technology is thorough if yous're looking to remove all of your hair without the messiness of waxing. However, my verdict is that it's much better-suited for smaller surface areas.

For epilation to be effective, your hair should be at least two millimeters in length, according to most product instructions.

Method 2: Brazilian Lightener

Sol de Janeiro Brazilian Gilded Body Veil $32.00

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Beauty rule of thumb: If the Brazilians do it, it's probably really good. And that is certainly the example with Sol de Janeiro's enticingly-named kit, which is basically a cantankerous between a bleach and a depilatory. This is your go-to if you're not a fan of shaving but big on the look of shimmering blonde peach fuzz. "Brazilian lightener is a good option for those people with thick, dark arm hair who do not want to go through the pain of epilation and those whose peel is non conducive to light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation," explains Kitsos."It's a great way to brand dark hair less noticeable without shaving, waxing, epilation, or lasering." While the hair is nevertheless at that place, it'll help lighten them to make them announced less dense, and ultimately, less noticeable.

They're onto something. I've been obsessed with this stuff since I was cajoled into trying it for the first fourth dimension back in 2022, and it's definitely my hair removal method of choice. You have to mix the formulas, and it reeks like bleach, but it magically melts my night, thick hair, leaving fine, glistening fuzz in its place. It'south a fashion to make the pilus wait subtler without removing it entirely, which is all I've ever really wanted.

This product has since sold out, simply endeavor Gigi's Gentle Hair Bleaching Cream ($nine) as an alternative.

Co-ordinate to Zeichner, if you have sensitive or dark peel yous should starting time with a examination area to make sure the pilus lightener does not cause skin irritation. Irritation can ultimately lead to long-lasting dark or light spots on the skin.

Method 3: Sugaring

Parissa Cane Sugar Organic Wax $16.00

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Call up of sugaring as waxing's cousin. Like waxing, it removes hair from the root, only unlike waxing, sugaring uses a honey-like paste fabricated of sugar, lemon, and water to get the job done. "The paste is put on the peel and hardens like a toffee-type of candy—this hardened 'saccharide' is then quickly pulled off the skin and the hair that was on the torso comes off with it," explains Kitsos, noting that sugaring doesn't require strips. Dice-hard sugarers tout this method of pilus removal every bit it's natural, gentle on sensitive skin types, and it may be less likely to harm the outer peel layer.

I first encountered sugaring at Shobha, a hair removal salon in NYC, but sugaring tin be done at dwelling with pre-made kits (simply be sure to monitor the temperature of the sugar earlier applying it so as not to burn your skin). When I used this kit from Parissa, I found that I occasionally needed a second strip to pull out every final hair in 1 section. That said, it was definitely very gentle on my skin, and I think it'southward a bang-up selection for anyone looking for an alternative to waxing. In terms of results, Kitsos says that they last four to vi weeks, with the added benefit of creating finer pilus with decreased total density over fourth dimension.

Method 4: At-Dwelling house Laser

Tria Pilus Removal Laser 4X $459.00

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While the permanence of the results is certainly tempting, the investment of light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation hair removal alone has always scared me away. "Laser pilus removal is a process where a device emits a beam of light that is selectively absorbed by the root of the hair to destroy it," says Zeichner. "The best candidates are people with light skin and dark hair. It tin exist used across all pilus consistencies, though information technology is all-time for coarse pilus considering at that place is a larger target for the laser." Both experts notation that for condom reasons, at-home laser hair removal devices aren't every bit powerful every bit professional person ones and may accept multiple treatments to come across results.

"With laser hair removal, less is more, as you can burn the peel if you do too many pulses in the same area," advises Kitsos. "If possible, look for a device that protects darker skin tones. IPL devices oestrus up melanin regardless of where the melanin is, and it cannot differentiate between melanin in the skin and melanin in the hair, which can lead to darker peel tones called-for and scarring."

I was pretty pumped to learn about Tria, the first at-home laser device available in the US, which has been FDA cleared for permanent hair reduction. And I was officially impressed when I saw my hair begin to thin out after near a calendar month of utilize. That isn't to say it's a consummate cakewalk. While the device is fantastic for small areas similar your underarms and upper lip, zapping each of my arms definitely takes time. It hurts, as well, though less than a doctor-administered treatment (and yous can as well adjust the energy of the laser to a lower frequency if it'southward too much).

Again, complete hairlessness is not my goal, so I stopped using my Tria on my artillery after a few treatments had thinned the hair out significantly. I accept, however, soldiered on with my underarms to great results. My legs are adjacent (that is, if I tin muster upward the motivation).