From brows to bikini line, hair removal has been part of our beauty routines for centuries. Looking at the changes in beauty trends and huge advancements in technology, it’s amazing to see how many methods we’ve developed. There is so much to choose from, whether home remedies or full salon treatments. Here’s a look at some of the world’s most popular hair removal methods, and how they’ve developed over time. You might even find some top tips that you can use in your own life.

 

Shaving

Shaving was popular in the days of yore as it is today. The Ancient Egyptians used an early form of razor made of bronze or flint to keep their bodies smooth and hair-free^[1]. It’s said to have been a very important mark of wealth and status. However, as hemlines rose in the 20th century, shaving hit the mainstream, becoming widely available as part of many women’s beauty routines. Since it is quick and easy, shaving is still hugely popular today; but it does have competition. Even modern razors can often cause irritation, and the process runs the risk of causing nicks and cuts. Although it can be a convenient and quick process, it causes quick hair regrowth. This means that you may have to repeat the process more often than you’d like.

 

Sugaring

Waxing is an age-old method of hair removal - with sugaring being its earliest form. The Ancient Egyptians, renowned for their unique beautifying techniques, used a mixture of lemon, sugar, and water, heated to form a syrup. They would then smooth a layer of the gum onto the skin, let it cool for a moment and pull it away quickly.The paste would congeal momentarily on the skin and pull hair directly from the root. Thus, the hair grew back quite slowly. These days, there’s a much more convenient way to perform sugaring. Veet Spawax is inspired from ancient wax recipes and gives you salon-style results in the comfort of your own home. No need to concoct your own sugaring blend: simply apply the product on the skin as directed. If only the Ancient Egyptians had Veet on hand!

 

Depilatory Creams

We often associate hair removal with pain, but this need not be the case. Getting rid of body hair can actually be a pleasant experience; with depilatory creams being the most pain-free method of all. The cream dissolves unwanted hair from the skin’s surface, leaving nothing behind but satiny smooth skin. Depilatory creams may appear to be a modern hair removal solution, but they have actually been around for thousands of years. Early formulae even contained hair-raising ingredients such as arsenic and quicklime.^[2] Not the most skin-friendly ingredients, but they seemed to do the trick at the time! Luckily, depilatory creams have evolved to become safer to use.

As you can tell, hair removal has always been fashionable with beauty-conscious people throughout the ages. It’s also progressed to suit the changing times. Razors, sugaring and depilatory creams have become much more convenient to use. Whichever method you opt for, getting rid of unappealing hair has never been easier.