Hair removal

For hair loss, see Alopecia.

Not to be confused with Unhairing.

Hair removal describes any method of removing hair, especially from the human body.

• Depilation affects the part of the hair above the surface of the skin. The most common form of depilation is shaving. Another popular option is the use of chemical depilatories, which work by breaking the disulfide bonds that link the protein chains that give hair its strength, making the hair disintegrate.

• Epilation is removal of the entire hair, including the part below the skin, and is therefore longer-lasting. Methods include waxing, sugaring, epilation devices, lasers, threading, intense pulsed light or electrology. Hair is also sometimes removed by plucking with tweezers.

Reasons for removing hair

Hair removal has been practised for centuries in almost all human cultures. The methods used vary among times and regions, but shaving is the most common method.

Medical reasons

In Ancient Egypt, many people depilated their entire bodies to prevent infestation by lice, fleas, and other parasites. Ancient Egyptian priests also shaved or depilated all over daily, so as to present a 'pure' body before the images of the gods.

Patients' body hair may be removed before surgery for reasons of hygiene. In the past this may have been achieved by shaving, but that is now considered counter-productive, so clippers or chemical depilatories may be used instead. The shaving of hair has sometimes been used in attempts to eradicate lice or to minimize body odor due to accumulation of odor-causing micro-organisms in hair. Some people with trichiasis find it medically necessary to remove ingrown eyelashes. Incorrect shaving (shaving against the grain) can often cause ingrown hairs.

Many forms of cancer require chemotherapy, which often causes severe and irregular hair loss. For this reason, it is common for cancer patients to shave their heads even before starting chemotherapy.

Social, cultural, or sexual reasons

Hair is normally removed for social and sexual reasons related to the social role of hair in human society. Many cultures have an aesthetic "ideal" amount of hair for males and females. People whose hair violates such standards may experience real or perceived problems with social acceptance.

Many men in Western cultures shave their facial hair, so only a minority of men have a beard, even though fast-growing facial hair must be shaved daily to achieve a clean-shaven or hairless look. Some men shave because they cannot grow a "full" beard (generally defined as an even density from cheeks to neck), because beard color is different from scalp hair color, or because it grows in many directions, making a groomed look difficult. Some men shave because their beards are very coarse, causing itchiness and irritation. Some men grow a beard from time to time to change their appearance.

In many cultures, particularly North American and Western European, it became increasingly common during the 20th century for women to remove some or all of their body hair, due to societal values that consider it unattractive and/or not feminine (see gender role), or as a matter of practising good hygiene. People may also remove some or all of their pubic hair for aesthetic or sexual reasons. Adult film stars are well known for this practice. Men may also practice this, but not as commonly. In a sexual context, pubic hair removal is done to increase visual exposure of the genitalia and/or facilitate access to the genital area by removing the barrier of hair.

Some women in Western cultures choose not to remove hair from their bodies as an act of defiance against what they believe to be an oppressive ritual. Others choose not to remove hair simply because they have no desire to.

Some men shave their heads, either as a fashion statement, because they find a shaved head preferable to the appearance of male pattern baldness, or in order to attain enhanced cooling of the skull (particularly for people suffering from hyperhidrosis). A much smaller number of women also shave their heads as fashion or political statements.

Some women also shave their heads for cultural or social reasons. In India, tradition required widows in some sections of the society to shave their heads as part of being ostracized (see widowhood in Hinduism). The outlawed custom is still infrequently encountered mostly in rural areas, the society at large and the government are working to end the practice of ostracizing widows.

In art paintings or carvings from ancient times, one can often see women portrayed with no pubic hair: pubic hair was linked to sexual acts and desires in the general mindset, and thus it was deemed improper and impure in a public painting. This may have influenced aesthetic views regarding the matter as well.

Some men in Western culture shave their heads to identify with racial and political groups and are commonly referred to as skinhead.

Male-to-female gender reassignment

Male-to-female transsexual women who are preparing for sex reassignment surgery usually remove their facial beard hair, typically either by electrolysis or laser, or a combination of the two procedures. While this is commonly done entirely before surgery, some patients will start the procedure before surgery, and finish a few months to several years afterwards, often due to cost.

In addition, it is recommended by some surgeons that part of the pubic hair be removed prior to surgery as well, usually by electrolysis. Since the neovagina is created using the skin of the penis and part of the scrotum, which usually has active follicles, the hair is removed from these areas prior to surgery, in order for the genitals to be fashioned without the concern of hair growth inside of the neovagina. In some cases, the surgeon scrapes the underside of the skin to remove the follicles at or near the beginning of the surgery, eliminating any need for pre-surgical hair removal.

For religious reasons

Head-shaving is a part of some Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Jain, Jewish and Hindu traditions. Buddhist and Christian monks generally undergo some form of head-shaving during their ordination; in Thailand monks shave their eyebrows as well. Brahmin children have their heads ritualistically shaved before beginning school.

In some parts of the Theravada Buddhist world, it is common practice to shave the heads of children. Weak or sickly children are often left with a small topknot of hair, to gauge their health and mark them for special treatment. When health improves, the lock is cut off.

In Judaism, men are prohibited to shave the beard and sideburns using a blade against the skin. However, electric razors may be used, since the cutting blade does not directly touch the skin. Women are allowed to shave their heads; in some Hasidic circles, married women traditionally shave their heads since they are prohibited to expose their hair to men other than their husbands and families.

The Bahá'í religion explicitly prohibits head-shaving. Sikhs take an even stronger stance, opposing all forms of hair removal. One of the Sikh "Five Ks" is Kesh, meaning "uncut hair". To Sikhs, the maintenance and management of long hair is a manifestation of one's piety.

Muslim law (Sharia) puts hair in three categories: that which it is recommended to remove (pubic and armpit hair), that which it is recommended to keep (the beard), and that which is the object of limited recommendation (foot, hand, back, and chest hair). Removal of armpit and pubic hair is a hygienic practice which was taught by Muhammad and which was enumerated as having been part of practices conforming to man's premortal (Fitrah) nature. On the other hand, shaving or removing part of the eyebrows is forbidden as the "modification of the creation of Allah and obedience to Satan in his work to fool men and bring them to modify the creation of Allah." Stray hairs between the eyebrows may be removed, but not the hairs of the eyebrows. A male may trim or cut hair on his head—however shaving of the head is forbidden in some branches of the religion. A male may trim hair on the chest and back but may not remove it, as this is considered to be imitating women. In contrast, women are permitted to remove hair from these areas. In the 9th century, the use of chemical depilatories for women was introduced by Ziryab in Al-Andalus.

In military institutions

A close-cropped or completely shaven haircut is common in military organizations. In field environments, soldiers are susceptible to infestation of lice, ticks, and fleas. Also, due to hectic operations schedules, time allowed for personal hygiene and grooming is highly curtailed or even absent. In addition short hair is also more difficult for an enemy to grab hold of in hand to hand combat.

The practice serves to cultivate a group oriented environment through the process of removing exterior signs of individuality. In many militaries, head-shaving is mandatory for males upon induction training. However, even after the initial recruitment phase, when head-shaving is no longer required, many soldiers maintain a completely or partially shaven hairstyle (such as a "high and tight", "flattop" or "buzz cut") for personal convenience and an exterior symbol of military solidarity. Head-shaving is not required of females in military service, although they must have their hair cut or tied to regulation length.

Many military organizations also require males to maintain clean-shaven faces allegedly because facial hair can prevent an air-tight seal between the face and breathing or safety equipment, such as a pilot's oxygen mask, a diver's mask, or a soldier's gas mask. However, the concerns of personal hygiene may also apply as above.

Alternatively, Foreign Legion Sappers have traditionally worn beards as a sign of their rank and experience, similarly the Imperial Guard of the Grande Armee were allowed to grow beards as a sign of their prized position. European armies before (and to some extent during) the Napoleonic wars allowed soldiers to grow and lacquer pigtails, sometimes held in place by bone combs or regimental colour ribbons or bows. In the pre-Napoleonic era, the wearing of wigs, even within the ranks was commonplace, though impractical in such places as India and the Americas. Selous Scouts, once through training and induction, were expressly forbidden from cutting their hair in any way that might indicate that they were soldiers, allowing them to engage in anti-insurgency warfare amongst the rural population of Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe). Tolerance of Sikh religious beliefs with regards to hair and beards has for some time been commonplace in most armies of former British colonies.

As punishment

In some situations, people's hair is shaved as a punishment. Before World War II, the Nazis would cut off the beards of Jews as a prelude to other forms of abuse.

After World War II, head-shaving was a common punishment in France, The Netherlands, and Norway for women who had collaborated with the Nazis during the occupation, and, in particular, for women who had "collaborated" sexually.

In the United States, during the Vietnam War, conservative students would sometimes attack student radicals or "hippies" by shaving beards or cutting long hair. One notorious incident occurred at Stanford University, when unruly fraternity members grabbed Resistance founder (and student-body president) David Harris, cut off his long hair, and shaved his beard.

In Arab countries, shaving off head-hair is sometimes used to shame and humiliate male prisoners.

During the witch-hunts the alleged witches were stripped naked and their entire body was shaved to discover the so-called witches' marks. The discovery of witches' marks was then used as evidence in trials.

In North American residential and industrial schools head-shaving and short haircuts were given to the Indigenous children on entry into the schools to force them to adopt the Western tradition. Head-shaving was also a form of punishment for the Indigenous students of the schools, and was particularly traumatizing as many Indigenous cultures place a social, cultural, and/or religious importance on hair.

Body areas where hair is often removed

Body hair on an unusually hirsute male

Hair grows on all areas of the human body except for the palms of the hands, the lips, certain areas of the genital structure and the soles of the feet. But hair is most noticeable in most people in a small number of areas that are most commonly waxed, trimmed, plucked, or shaved: namely, the

Abdomen Armpits

Back Chest

Eyebrows Eyelashes

Face Legs

Head Pubic Area

Hair removal methods

Many products on the market have proven fraudulent. Many other products exaggerate the results or ease of use.

Temporary

"Depilation", or removal of hair to the level of the skin, lasts several hours to several days and can be achieved by

• Shaving or trimming (manually or with electric shavers)
• Depilatories (creams or "shaving powders" which chemically dissolve hair)
• Friction (rough surfaces used to buff away hair)

"Epilation", or removal of the entire hair from the root, lasts several days to several weeks and may be achieved by

• Plucking (hairs are plucked, or pulled out, with tweezers or with fingers)
• Waxing (a hot or cold layer is applied and then removed with porous strips)
• Sugaring (similar to waxing, but with a sticky paste)
• Threading (also called fatlah or khite, in which a twisted thread catches hairs as it is rolled across the skin)
• Burning off with hot wax can damage the cells and prevent hair from ever growing in the unwanted spot again.
• Use of Turmeric along with other ingredients like besan powder and milk
• Epilators (mechanical devices that rapidly grasp hairs and pull them out)
• Prescription oral medications
• Enzymes (fx. the Epiladerm-Complex) that inhibit the development of new hair cells. Hair growth will become less and less until it finally stops; normal depilation/epilation will be performed until that time. Hair growth will return to normal if use of product discontinued. Products include the prescription drug Vaniqa (active ingredient eflornithine hydrochloride inhibiting the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase).

Permanent

Permanent hair removal involves several imperfect options. A number of methods have been developed that use chemicals, energy of varying types, or a combination to target the areas that regulate hair growth. Permanently destroying these areas while sparing surrounding tissue is a difficult challenge. Methods include:

• Electrolysis (electrology)
• Laser
• Intense Pulsed Light (Flashlamp, EpiLight) The terms IPL and EpiLight are trademarks of Lumenis Ltd.

Currently unavailable (Experimental or banned)

• X-ray hair removal was an efficient, and usually permanent, hair removal method, but also caused severe health problems, occasional disfigurement, and even death. (illegal in the United States)
• Photodynamic therapy for hair removal (experimental)

Doubtful methods

Many methods have been proposed or sold over the years without published clinical proof they can work as claimed.

• Electric tweezers
• Transdermal electrolysis
• Transcutaneous hair removal
• Photoepilators
• Microwaves
• Foods and Dietary supplements
• Non prescription topical preparations (also called "hair inhibitors," "hair retardants," or "hair growth inhibitors")
• Finally free - despite marketing claims, does not appear to work

Advantages and disadvantages

There are several disadvantages to many of these hair removal methods. Many are not permanent, can cause medical problems, or have very high costs. Some of these methods are still in the testing phase and their methods have not been clinically proven. One should seek the advice of a doctor-supervised facility when choosing these hair removal methods.

One issue, that can be considered an advantage or a disadvantage depending upon an individual's viewpoint, is that removing hair has the effect of removing information about the individual's hair growth patterns due to genetic predisposition, illness, androgen levels (such as from pubertal hormonal imbalances or drug side effects), and/or gender status.

See also

• Alopecia
• Bikini waxing
• Hairdressing
• Head shaving
• Hirsutism
• Trichotillomania

References

• Aldraibi, M.S., D.J. Touma, and A. Khachemoune, Hair removal with the 3-msec alexandrite laser in patients with skin types IV-VI: efficacy, safety, and the role of topical corticosteroids in preventing side effects. J Drugs Dermatol, 2007. 6(1): p. 60-6.

• Alexiades-Armenakas, M., Laser hair removal. J Drugs Dermatol, 2006. 5(7): p. 678-9.

• Eremia, S., et al., Laser hair removal: long-term results with a 755 nm alexandrite laser. Dermatol Surg, 2001. 27(11): p. 920-4.

• McDaniel, D.H., et al., Laser hair removal: a review and report on the use of the long-pulsed alexandrite laser for hair reduction of the upper lip, leg, back, and bikini region. Dermatol Surg, 1999. 25(6): p. 425-30.

• Wanner, M., Laser hair removal. Dermatol Ther, 2005. 18(3): p. 209-16.

• Warner, J., M. Weiner, and K.A. Gutowski, Laser hair removal. Clin Obstet Gynecol, 2006. 49(2): p. 389-400.
• rootsherbal various herb & oils good factor [1]

External links

• Beauticianworld.com, Hair removal getting fairer and more...
• HairFacts.com, with information on several methods of hair removal
• WebMD article on Hair removal
• "Bleaching, Shaving, Plucking, Waxing, and Sugar Waxing" from About.com
• Laser Facts (US Food and Drug Administration)
• American Academy of Dermatology, Public Resource Center, Laser Hair Removal
• American Society for Dermatologic Surgery: search for: "Laser Hair Removal Fact Sheet"
• American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery
• Information about Hair Removal at home.
• Permanent hair removal by normal-mode ruby laser, from the Archives of Dermatology