With a few weeks left of the summer holidays, we all want to get one last wear out of our summer apparel. The shorts and skirts hang in our wardrobe, tempting us to wear them just once more before it’s time to put on those thick tights and trousers to brave the Forum hill again.
And for most of us this means one thing – the battle for having smooth legs.
Here at HCX we have tried and tested several different methods over the years. So here’s a list of pros and cons for each hair removal treatment, to make your decision easier this summer.
Waxing
Waxing opens your pores with its warmth and thus takes the hairs out by their roots which means your legs are then smooth for longer, and this is its biggest benefit.
The disadvantage is that it is painful, and everyone who tells you otherwise is lying. It is also expensive with the price of around £32 for full legs in Exeter, which is not ideal for a student budget. Of course, you could buy 20 ready-to-use waxing strips from Boots for about £6-7 and try to do it yourself. You have to be careful, however, to pull in the right direction as you risk bruising yourself. The biggest disadvantage during the summer is that in order for the waxing to remove your hair effectively, your hair must have some length. This means that you have to let you hair grow and not be able to wear a skirt/shorts for a week or so beforehand, but the long lasting effect makes it all worth it!
Epilating
This is my personal favourite. It still takes the hair out by its root, which leaves your legs smoother for longer, but you can do it yourself whenever you want no matter how short your hairs are. The price of an epilator varies massively – you could get one with many features for as much as £200, but the one I have had for two years now is a simple Braun silk epil which costed £30 and is definitely one of the best investments I have made! The only con of epilating is that if you have been shaving for a long time, having your hair taken out is likely to be more painful in the beginning because your hair is stronger.
Shaving
As I am sure most of you know, shaving is probably the most convenient way to remove the leg hair – it is cheap, it is quick, and you can do it whenever you decide. However, in this case the saying ‘The easiest option is not always the best’ is unfortunately true. Shaving makes your hair stronger and harder, and you end up having to do it almost every day in order to actually have smooth legs during the summer. Once you get into shaving it also makes all other hair-removal methods more painful.
Depilatory Cream
FYI: A pack of 150gr costs about £7.
When you apply the depilatory cream on your skin, it dissolves the proteins which make up the hair. The advantages of using depilatory cream are that it does not hurt at all, and it removes the hair without cutting it. But even though the hair grows back softer than when it is shaved, it still grows back relatively quickly compared to when it has been taken out. Another thing to be wary of is that the chemicals which are used in depilatory creams are not recommended for sensitive skin.
We hope this list of techniques helps you gain your smooth legs and make the most of that summer wardrobe!