Hair Removal - What are Your Options

Many men are interested in back hair removal as unwanted body hair on the back can result in lack of confidence and embarrassment.

Back hair removal can be difficult to perform by oneself unless one uses special razor tools which have recently come on the market.

There are three main options. Two require the help of a partner or a professional and one can be done alone with a little practice.

Let's first look at a method a person can do by themselves.

Shaving

Shaving using an ordinary razor can result in painful ingrown hairs on the back. Hair is normally tapered at the end. Shaving removes this tapered end from the hair shaft creating a sharper bristly feel to the hair that re-grows.

Sometimes the hair grows into the side of the surrounding tissue rather than straight out through the follicle when back hair removal is attempted with a razor. For this reason may some body care advisors do not recommend shaving the back areas at all but rather use a different method.

However, there are now special razors on the market with extendable handles that can be angled in the right position for self back hair removal which give a close smooth shave and greatly minimize the risk of ingrown hair.

These new style back hair removal razors are good for getting to the middle and lower back areas, previously difficult to reach. See the Resource box at the end of this article for details.

Waxing Or Sugaring

Waxing or sugaring can be done with the help of a partner at home, or by going to a salon and getting a professional to do it.

These methods take out the hair out by the root so you don't need to worry again for another 3 to 8 weeks, depending on rate of hair growth and texture of hair which of course varies from person to person.

Again caution has to be exercised to avoid ingrown hairs. If waxing or sugaring is not done properly the hair can break instead of being pulled out by the root. The broken hair can then grow into surrounding tissue causing painful ingrown hairs.

It is therefore important that waxing or sugaring the back areas be done by someone with experience, who can pull the waxing or sugaring strip off sharply in one movement taking the hair out cleanly by the roots.

As a side note, pressing the area firmly with the hand for a few seconds right after the strip is pulled can greatly reduce the discomfort from protesting nerve endings! Additionally, rubbing the skin with an ice cube can reduce inflammation or irritation.

While waxing is a popular method of back hair removal, sugaring has certain advantages. For one thing, the sugaring paste adheres only to the hair, not the skin as with waxing, thus reducing the discomfort. Also sugar pastes are water based making them easier to clean off than waxing solutions which are petroleum based.

Laser Or Electrolysis

Many regard laser and electrolysis as the only really permanent solutions. Even then there may be some stray hair growth and results vary according to the individual.

As the costs are much higher than other back hair removal methods, it is important to have a thorough consultation first with a licensed practitioner and even have a test area treated.

At one time laser was only effective with persons who had darker hair on lighter skin. Nowadays though, certain laser devices are available that can treat all skin and hair types. A consultation is important to establish how effective the treatment is likely to be in any particular case.

Electrolysis involves using an electric current to destroy the hair root. Electrolysis can take much longer than laser as each follicle has to be treated individually. Laser back hair removal can take between 2 to 3 hours whereas electrolysis may take between 5 to 10 hours, depending on the size of the area to be treated.

Prices for electrolysis can range widely from $25 to $100 an hour. Be aware though that cheaper prices do not necessarily mean a cheaper overall treatment program. If the practitioner is not highly qualified, the treatment may take longer than it should!

Laser can cost around $500 per session with a number of sessions required for an area as large as the back. Individual consultations are very important to establish the pricing level.

What Is Your Choice?

Finding a back hair removal method that suits you may be challenging requiring some experimentation. Many men choose the more economical options of shaving or waxing.

Whichever method is chosen, many men will more than likely feel it is worth it. For one thing, they are not the target for tasteless jokes as soon as they take off their shirt. Men who perform back hair removal can also look in better shape with good muscle definition not obscured by hair. Some also feel more comfortable as back hair removal helps minimize perspiration and the risk of body odor.

If you are among the group of men who feel back hair is unsightly, why not review the three back hair removal solutions explained above and decide which is most acceptable to you.