- Cold weather can irritate skin and make hair removal more painful.
- Using professional wax kits, exfoliators, and other treatments can make the process smoother.
- Some permanent hair removal tactics can take care of the problem long term.
Soft and smooth skin can be one of life’s simple pleasures. Few things feel as luxurious as when everything is clean and clear of hair. Whether you prefer to be smooth on your legs, arms, underarms, upper lip, or other areas, there are so many options to keep them clear of unwanted hair.
However, certain times of the year can make hair removal more difficult. During the winter months, hair removal becomes increasingly more difficult and sensitive. Tackle that with these five ways to make hair removal easier during cold weather.
Why does cold weather make hair removal irritating?
Before learning how to counteract the cold weather for hair removal, it’s essential to understand why the cold affects hair removal. Cold weather naturally makes our skin more sensitive. The wind can cause cold burns, and the skin is naturally less moisturized due to the dropping temperatures.
While it’s a myth that cold weather (or cold water) causes hair follicles to close up and hair to grow faster, we do tend to shave, or even think about hair removal, less during cold months simply because the skin is covered more, taking it off our minds and allowing hair to thicken.
Five ways to make hair removal easier
So, if the aforementioned facts make hair removal more difficult and irritating during the winter months, what are the best ways to counteract that? We will go over five ways below, but it’s important to remember everyone’s skin is different. Find what works best for you!
1. Invest in professional waxing
There’s a reason most people go to a spa or salon for their hair removal needs. These estheticians are experts in skin and hair health and have access to professional quality products.
Often they use wax kits specifically designed for target areas or skin types. Talk to your esthetician about using waxes specific for cold weather. This will reduce the risk of bumpy skin, which cold weather can exacerbate due to the skin being less moisturized, which leads to our next point.
2. Add exfoliating to your routine
The easiest and quickest way to make hair removal easier during winter is to add a few counteractive measures to your at-home routine. These steps begin with the all-important step of exfoliating.
When you exfoliate before shaving, you remove dead skin cells, clean off product buildup, and provide a smoother surface for your razor. This cuts down on razor burn, or the infamous “strawberry skin” that raises bumps after shaving. If you have sensitive skin, exfoliate the night before shaving.
3. Add moisturizing to your routine
Whether you exfoliate every time you shave, shave daily, or once a week, and whether you use high-end shaving cream or prefer to wax, you should always moisturize as soon as you get out of the shower or finish waxing.
The simple act of being in the water opens our pores. Shaving can irritate those areas, but if you moisturize soon enough, you’ll be in the window when your skin is most receptive to the product. Moisturizing is especially critical during cold weather months, when our skin is naturally more brittle.
4. Reset with extra services
Certain problem areas may need more professional help to handle, especially if you have sensitive skin or certain skin conditions. These trained technicians understand the biology behind our skin and how to treat different patients with different methods.
These salons can conduct several elevated treatments, such as exfoliating, deep cleansing, and long-term moisturizing. These are all steps that make the at-home hair removal process smoother and easier.
5. Consider laser hair removal
The best way to reduce irritating hair removal anytime is to simply not have to deal with it at all. Laser hair removal has become increasingly popular in recent years, available at salons. Now, it’s even possible to do it yourself at home with the right tools for smooth skin all year long!
Laser hair removal is a longer process at the outset, since targeted areas need to be hit with the laser several times over the course of a few sessions. The laser targets the root of the hair, taking away the possibility of any hair ever growing back in that spot.
Conclusion
Hair removal is a part of life. The process might be irritating at times, especially during the cold weather months, but the result is worth it, providing a smooth, clean, lavish feel that can’t be beat. Use these at-home techniques and spa treatments to achieve the soft skin of your dreams.