From Top to Bottom: Women's Hair Removal

By Emily Stewart.

Published on September 28th, 2017

Evidence points to women shaving their delicate areas as far back as the Egyptian times. In the Western world, a woman's propensity for smooth skin is attributed most often to 16th century Italian and Renaissance art showing women with hair only on the head. While it's evident that the lack of readily-accessible shaving mechanisms render such hair-free epidermis unlikely, the desire for a body without hair became the norm. Although many women choose to wax, the most used methods of body hair removal are shaving and trimming.

Woman with hair trimmed.
Photo by David Sedrakyan on Unsplash.

One common misconception is that using a lady shaver will cause hair to grow back coarser. While it is true that the hair will grow back with an unnaturally tapered edge, the hair is of the same dimension. This article details what to use, where, and how.

Facial Hair Removal for Women

While it's possible to use men's facial hair trimmers on women's skin, precision hair trimmers are created specifically for women's needs. A woman's facial hair trimmer tends to be smaller, more rounded in shape, and often demarcated in more “feminine” colours, like pink. The face trimmer is intended for use not on the wide expanse of the cheeks, where women rarely find unwanted hairs, but on the upper lip, jaw line, and eyebrows. Ever use a public bathroom, then notice an unprecedented and garish hair growing out of your nose or chin? The women's facial trimmer is offered in compact shapes and sizes that can be stowed in a purse for quick and easy access. While a battery-operated hair trimmer often comes with tweezers included in their set, these hair removal machines for ladies are intended for safe and painless use (unlike plucking individual hairs).

Women's Nose Trimmer

A nose trimmer is a particularly useful machine for shaving any facial hair, as it can be rotated around to reach small spaces. Keep in mind that facial hair does serve a role! Nostril hair keeps harmful pathogens from getting into the nose. Alas, super long strands sticking out the nose are not required for lung health. The best way to use a nose hair trimmer is by creating a “pig's nose:” push the tip of the nose back, toward the eyebrow. Use the nose trimmer to lightly circle inside the nostrils, allowing the blades of the trimmer to touch the skin directly.

The All-Over Women's Hair Clippers

Whether being used on the facial lips or...other lips...women's hair clippers are designed to smooth delicate corners and crevices without water or cord. They're most often used on the head, but can also be used on the legs and other long-haired regions requiring a tight trim. To shave, send the clippers down the skin in the direction of hair growth. Move slowly; a fast brush will tug the hair or scrape the skin. The biggest difference between hair clippers and other shaving mechanisms is that they cannot be used with water or soap. In fact, not only will this render the clippers useless but will also cause the blades to rust. If a clipper is not operating optimally the blade will become noisy, leave track marks, or miss fine hairs completely. Solve the problem by keeping the clipper clean and lubricated with a specially-made colourless and odourless oil.

The All-Over Body Hair Trimmer

Recognising a woman's need to trim whatever, wherever, marketers have created all-over-use body hair trimmers that offer general grooming. The women's hair trimmer has rounded edges and are hardy enough to handle all body part shapes. To avoid ingrown hairs, warm the skin with a wet cloth or even your fingers before trimming. If you do get ingrown hairs, use an organic disinfectant to kill bacteria like tea tree oil or coconut oil. Then, cover the infected area with a coating like aloe vera.

The Bikini Trimmer

On the day after
Photo by Yoann Boyer on Unsplash.

Any lady who's attempted to shave her delicate areas with a normal trimmer understands that run-of-the-mill razors are not suited for curves and tight sides. The result is ingrown hairs, red bumps, chaffing, and nicks. While most razors are meant to cut through the course, short hair of the face, legs, and armpits, bikini trimmers are intended for the softer hair or a woman's nether regions. Look for a bikini shaver that is versatile in shape and size, waterproof, rechargeable, and hypo-allergenic. It's true that some razors operate under wet/dry functions, but this area is best served warm: hot and dry hair is much more pliable!

About the author

Emily Stewart calls herself a “Pi-Fit-Yogi,” teaching yoga, Pilates, and blended classes all around the world. You can reach her at ahumandoing.org

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