We can wax, zap and dermaplane until we resemble a sphynx cat these days - but which is best? In the lead up to Christmas, Rachel Spillane breaks down hair removal options in all their glory and debunks some common myths…

The first time I went for a leg wax, I was confident. I pictured my inner movie star with flawless, hairless skin and I couldn’t wait to show it off . Then the beautician ripped off that first strip. Was she overly aggressive or did I have that much hair? I left the salon with one hairless patch on my left leg and my dignity trailing behind me. But then I heard of another miracle hair-removal method and another and another. I am now a hair removal options specialist, separating fact from fiction and offering here the ultimate guide to hair removal methods.

Let’s start with some common hair removal myths.

SHAVING MAKES YOUR HAIR GROW BACK THICKER To most people’s surprise, this is false. It’s all to do with the angle at which you shave your hair. Untouched, ‘baby’ hairs lie soft and flat on your body and when they’re shaved, the tip of the hair follicle is cut at a blunt angle. This creates that stubbly feeling after a day or two. As the hair follicle grows it feels and looks more obvious, but it hasn’t grown back thicker.

SHAVING WILL MAKE YOUR TAN FADE QUICKLY Absolutely not. You can’t shave off your tan – thankfully. Shaving regularly can actually help preserve your natural glow by removing any dead, flaky skin that may have accumulated.

WAXING DOESN’T GIVE YOU INGROWN HAIRS, ONLY SHAVING DOES Both waxing and shaving can cause ingrown hairs, much to my annoyance, although the chances are less so with waxing. Ingrown hairs are caused by the hair curling into the skin and growing in the wrong direction. With shaving, it could be a knock-on effect from razor bumps.

With waxing, ingrown hairs may be caused by the root not fully being removed and the hair reverting under the skin. Make sure you exfoliate ladies.

LASER HAIR REMOVAL IS PERMANENT As much as I wish this were the case, it’s not. I always think of laser hair removal as a permanent hair reduction method rather than permanent removal. You’ll need a series of sessions with laser – six to 10 – for hair to be completely zapped away. Regrowth can still occur after a period of time, so it’s always good to book in for maintenance sessions.

IT’S OK TO LEAVE DEPILATORY CREAMS ON FOR LONGER BECAUSE YOU HAVE THICKER HAIR No, no and ouch. You should never leave depilatory creams on longer than the recommended time on the packaging. The ingredients in the cream are heavy-duty and can cause extreme inflammation, leading to rashes (I’ve woken up with two swollen eyes before) and skin sensitivity.

5 HAIR REMOVAL METHODS

SHAVING

Cost: €

Shaving is one of the easiest hair removal methods out there. It’s quick, inexpensive and painless, if you do it properly. Never shave on dry skin. Some people don’t feel the need to use shaving foams and use soaps instead. However, this can dry out your skin, especially if it’s perfumed. Shaving foam is designed to lock in moisture and avoid the skin becoming itchy, irritated or getting razor bumps. Exfoliating before shaving also helps a closer shave, it disturbs the hair which usually lies flat and allows you to get a smoother result.

TOP TIPS: Use a new razor or razor head each time you want to shave. A clean blade is the best way to go, especially if you nick yourself by accident.

WAXING

Cost: €€

You’ve all read about my waxing palavar but, jokes aside, the results you can get from waxing, even once, are great. Yes, it can sting (to put it mildly) but you’ll feel baby smooth afterwards and amazingly, for a couple of weeks to come. It’s more expensive than shaving or using depilatory creams but regular waxing, every four to five weeks, reduces hair growth. It’s so low maintenance and quick, you’ll brave through your session like a pro.

Top tip: Don’t DIY this. Trust me. Going to a professional waxing salon will make your life a lot easier. Salons use hot wax rather than wax-on strips like you can buy in pharmacies which gets the job done a lot more efficiently and safely.

LASER HAIR REMOVAL

Cost: €€€

Laser hair removal is a newer form of hair removal that became popular in the ’90s. A laser emits a light that targets the pigment in your hair. The light converts to heat, essentially zapping the hair follicle and delaying any regrowth. Although it sounds complicated, it isn’t. It’s quick and easy, as you’re only under the laser for a few minutes at a time. It’s a lot less painful than waxing. The only downsides are that you’ll need six to 10 sessions to see results, depending on how coarse your hair is. If you have tattoos, they’ll need to be covered up and avoided during the laser process. You can shave in between sessions too.

Top tip: Remove all fake-tan before your appointment. They won’t go ahead with your laser session if you have anything on your skin - except deodorant which can be wiped away.

THREADING

Cost: €€

Threading has been around for a long, long time. It first originated from India and Iran as a form of hair removal on the face and was used to shape women’s eyebrows. Threading lasts longer than shaving or tweezing and won’t cause any ingrown hairs however it’s typically only done on the face or small areas. It can be quite painful, the threads pull at the skin so it feels a bit pinchy.

Still, my eyebrow shape has never been better. A thin thread is doubled up and then rolled over the skin, plucking the hair at follicle level.

Unlike tweezing which removes one hair at a time, threading can remove short rows of hair so the process is over quickly. As no extra creams or products are applied to the face, this method of facial hair removal works well with acne-prone or sensitive skin. Of course, you’ll experience slight redness but nothing major or too obvious.

ELECTROLYSIS

Cost: €€€

Electrolysis differs from laser hair removal because it stops hair growth completely. It works on any hair or skin type. A wire is inserted into the hair follicle under the surface of the skin. Then an electric current travels down and destroys the hair root. The result isn’t instant. You will need eight to 12 sessions. It can cause some discomfort, more so than laser hair removal. However, the results are excellent, particularly in the medium to long term.

Top tip: The electrologist needs to see the hairs to zap them so avoid waxing for two or three weeks and shaving for three or five days before treatment.