I have never shaved my legs before, but the soft, curly red hair on my legs prompted my family to start calling me hobbit-legs (see picture #1). This made me want to shave. So I decided to learn about the different methods of hair removal. I planned to first compare the various methods based on pain, cost and effectiveness (how long the hair stayed gone). Then, I would research each independently, and finally, I would speak to the people who do the different procedures at salons and clinics. However, I was so surprised by the interest that my friends showed in the article that I decided to actually try each of the methods.

• Hair Removal Options
• The Treatment
• Monitoring Hair Regrowth

Hair Removal Options

I decided to try seven different methods:

• Cold wax at home
  
• Warm wax at home
  
• Hot wax at a salon
  
• Electrolysis
  
• Laser hair reduction
  
• Shaving
  
• Hair removal cream (such as Nair)

I divided each of my legs into three or four different sections using a permanent marker (see photo #2) and planned to apply each of the methods to one section of my legs. I figured this would give me a first-hand experience of the pain and cost, as well as allow me to compare how long it took for hair removed with each method to grow back.
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The Treatment

To start my process, I called a salon, a laser treatment facility and an electrologist. I chose the Berman Skin Institute on Welch Road (for hair reduction), Cindy Greene, an electrologist, and another waxing place. I bought cold wax strips, hot wax, Nair, shaving cream and a razor at Longs (my mom loves these experiments).


At the Berman Skin Institute, I got information about laser hair reduction from a nurse named Annabel. She said that it was called reduction because the laser targets the dark pigments found in hair follicles, but doesn't completely get rid of it. At least five treatments are necessary.

She didn't recommend laser hair reduction for anyone under 16; however, they had done the treatment on 14- and 15-year-olds teens before. They use two lasers: one for people with lighter skin and one for people with darker skin. She treated a small portion of my leg (near my ankle). It felt a little like a rubber band was snapping against my skin every once in a while, it was not that painful overall.

Hot Wax (salon)
My mom and I stopped by NTT Skin salon (on Cambridge Avenue), and Nellie, did a hot wax strip on my leg. It didn't really hurt much, but I was shocked when she pulled the wax off because I didn't expect it.

At-Home Processes
When I got home, my mom, little sister and I completed the different at-home processes to remove the hair on my legs. First we did the cold wax strips, which missed some hairs. We had to redo several spots.

The Nair is applied as foam from the can. I left the foam on my leg for about ten minutes and then wiped it off with a washcloth. The process is a little stinky, but effective. My leg was hairless.

Then I shaved a part of my leg. Because my leg hair was long, the process took a long time. But when I finished, my legs were smooth.

The at-home hot wax really hurt when I peeled it off, and a lot of the wax was left over. There was a lot of hair left behind and my legs were sticky. Afterwards, my leg was red and hurt a lot.

Electrolosis
Finally, I went to Cindy Greene, an electrologist, and had roughly a circular inch on my leg done with two different methods:

• Thermolysis (short wave), is used on fine or blonde hair.
  
• Blend, is good for dark, course body hair.

The number of treatments you have to get depends on how long your session is, how big the area being treated is, and many other variables.

Prices for sessions vary, but Cindy Greene's prices are:

• 15 minutes = $48
  
• 30 minutes = $60
  
• 45 minutes = $70
  
• 1 hour = $80

Your electrologist should be California licensed, have a framed certificate on the wall and use disposable probes.
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Monitoring Hair Regrowth

Day 1: Shaving and Nair have a small amount of stubble, although it is barely noticeable. The waxing sections are still red, but hair free. The laser reduction and electrolysis sections show no change.

Day 3: Nair and shaving have light-colored stubble. No new hair in waxing area, but bumps continue. No change in laser or electrolysis sections.

Day 5: There is now stubble where I did the at-home cold wax on my leg. The Nair and shaving sections have longer hair that is not clearly visible unless looked at very closely. Neither hot wax area has stubble or any hair growth yet.

Day 7: There is no hair or markings in my laser, electrolysis and hot wax sections. Nair, cold wax and shaving are all growing hair as usual.

Day 15: Hair is growing back in all of the sections except for the electrolysis area. There is also some new hair growth in the laser area but hair has been reduced overall.
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