Because so many people prefer a smooth, hairless appearance, there are many different ways to remove hair. One method of hair removal that is readily available is hair depilatory creams. These products seems to offer several different advantages: they’re inexpensive, easy to use, and can be found in most drugstores, making them easily accessible. However, there are several reasons why depilatory creams aren’t worth it, and may even be harmful to your skin.
How depilatories work
First, to understand the problems with depilatory creams, you need to understand how they work. The word “depilatory” is really a term for hair removal in general. Depilatory creams such as Nair or Veet are chemical depilatories, and may also come in gel, lotions, or aerosols. They use alkaline chemicals, such as calcium thioglycolate and strontium sulfide, to cause a chemical reaction to eliminate the hair. Once applied to the skin, these chemicals break down the chemical bonds of keratin, the protein in hair. When the keratin dissolves, the hair becomes weak and loose from the follicle. It turns your hair into a gel-like substance, which you can then rub off with a damp cloth or wash off in the shower.
The problem with depilatories
If you have ever used one of these products, one of the things you probably remember most about them is the smell. The smell of hair depilatory creams comes from the chemical reaction, so even products that try to address the smell problem with added fragrances cannot mask it entirely. Many people find it difficult to breathe when faced with this intense scent, which often limits where it can be used (i.e. upper lip, or any larger surface areas). Additionally, both the chemicals and fragrances in these products can cause severe allergic reactions. The manufacturers of these products warn that you should test a small patch of skin 24 hours before full application so that if you do have an adverse reaction, it isn’t as bad as it would be if you had applied it over a large patch. Some side effects that people have reported from using these creams include burns, stinging, peeling, itching, or blisters.
If that’s not enough to scare you off depilatories, consider how messy they make hair removal. In order to completely remove hair, the cream must be applied perfectly evenly. If you don’t, you end up with patchy hairs. Even if you do successfully apply the cream evenly, removing both the cream and the broken-down hair can be difficult. After all of that work, for some people with more stubborn hair, depilatory creams simply don’t work. If you have coarse or thick body hair, a depilatory cream probably won’t be effective for you.
In short, despite their apparent convenience, depilatory creams are not worth the investment because they are potentially harmful, messy, and ineffective. If you’re looking for a method of hair removal that actually works, try our waxing services from Brazils Waxing Center. You can book an appointment with our waxing salon online today!
