Hair removal plays such an important part in society.
Hair removal is, in general terms, the process of getting rid of unwanted body hair for the purpose of enhancing your physical appeal. Humans have hair growing all over their body, except on their palms. However, most people feel uncomfortable or embarrassed about hair on certain parts of their bodies. And this is where hair removal comes in - to remove the hair from these spots.
The top ten areas where people use hair removal are: face, head, legs, underarms, eyebrows, chest, eyelashes, back, pubic area, and abdomen.
Different Types of Hair Removal
There are basically two types of hair removal - temporary and permanent. Which type you are using depends on whether you remove hair above or below the skin's surface as hair growth starts from beneath the skin's surface.
If you want to remove hair above the skin's surface then that is most likely a temporary method, also called depilation. Shaving, trimming, using creams or powders that dissolve hair or using rough surfaces to rub off hair are all temporary methods.
Permanent hair removal, also called epilation, involves removing hair not just from the surface but removing it entirely along with the root. Methods like tweezing, waxing, sugaring, threading, etc. are epilation methods. Then there are the more sophisticated epilation methods such as electrolysis and laser hair removal.
Why is Hair Removal Required?
Apart from cosmetic reasons, there can be other compelling reasons why people want to remove hair; for example medical reasons. This is required when due to some hormonal imbalance women start sprouting hair at places where they are not supposed to, e.g., facial hair. Also, before surgery a patient's hair requires removal in order to reduce chances of infection. This is done by a simple temporary method like shaving.
The most important reasons for hair removal are social and cultural pressures. Men should shave before going to work to get rid of stubble and women should shave their legs before going on a date. These are all social and cultural reasons - things that society dictates is proper behavior. Many religions across the world also involve some kind of hair removal ritual.
Then there are also specific organizations which require you to remove or trim hair in certain places. Think about the military or police forces for example.
So it is clear that specific hair removal plays an important part in modern society. More expensive and permanent hair removal techniques like laser hair removal is also becoming more popular and with it, hair removal service providers.