Shaving does not make the hair grow back quicker or coarser, according to Dr. Haberman. Still, some women are hesitant to shave their faces for fear of a thicker stubble, he says. Strip it off. For defuzzing arms, legs, bikini areas or toes, wax stripping is smoother and longer-lasting than shaving and may produce softer and finer hair with repeat waxings, says Dr. Haberman. As hot wax hardens, it traps hairs that can be pulled out as the wax is stripped off.
Cold wax involves wax bonded to strips of paper and is best for smaller, downier areas.
To learn the painless way to wax, go to a salon for your initial waxing and pick up pointers, suggests Dr. Haberman. Burn it off. You can use a chemical depilatory cream to remove hair anywhere on the body, except around nipples or eyes. Regrowth is less bristly, but the chemicals can be irritating, says Dr. Haberman. Try a test patch first.