Whether a woman wants to let her body hair grow freely or get rid of it completely is her prerogative. But if the latter is her preference, using the best at-home hair removal products shouldn’t feel like a chore. It also shouldn’t be an expensive routine to keep up with. And as someone who almost always passes on a Brazilian (one word: ouch) and eyebrow wax, I co-sign it all, especially now that the weather is warming up and I want my gams to flourish in the summer sun.
At-home hair removal isn’t always the most comfortable or convenient option, but it does save money and afford the utmost level of privacy for those who’d rather skip the salon or spa. Regardless of the body part you’re targeting (even those nether regions), ingrown hairs are inevitable. So before you peruse the best at-home hair removal products, here are four things to do when ingrowns attempt to steal your joy.
1.Leave them alone. First, “don’t try to pluck, pull, shave, wax, or cut hair in the area where you’ve got ingrown hairs,” says Karen Young, CEO and founder of Oui Shave. “You’ll only make your skin angrier and possibly introduce an infection. (Though, see #3.)
2. Apply a warm compress and gently exfoliate. We’ve waxed poetic about the benefits of exfoliation for the face, and the same applies to your body. When you’re dealing with irritation, continue by using a soft washcloth soaked in warm water to soften the area for 10 to 15 minutes. “Then use slow, circular motions to gently exfoliate with a salt or sugar scrub. This will remove dead skin cells and help skin regenerate. Exfoliating before shaving will help prevent razor burn and lift the hairs away from the skin, allowing for a closer shave,” says Young.
3. Free the trapped hair. You should only do this if you can see the looped hair growing into your skin. “If you can’t see the tip of the hair, skip to step 4,” says Young. “If you can see the hair, use pointed tweezers to extract it.”
4. Apply an exfoliating and antibacterial oil. Once you’ve dealt with the hair, use a topical exfoliating oil to calm and soothe the skin while helping to prevent more irritation.
With all of this in mind, here are 17 products that’ll make getting silky-smooth from head to toe easier than ever.
Flamingo Face Wax Kit
With 10 ready-to-use wax strips, 6 post-wax cloths, and a roll-on calming serum included, you’ve got all you need to handle peach fuzz and unruly eyebrow hairs for weeks at a time.
Nair Leg Mask
This new 3-in-1 beauty treatment removes hair and stubble, puts moisture back into the skin after, and leaves it with a summer-ready glow.
Completely Bare Don’t Grow THERE Body Moisturizer & Hair Inhibitor
A lemongrass- and green-tea-scented cream that helps gradually reduce hair growth, density, and length after 28 days.
DeoDoc 3-Step Shaving Kit
The coconut oil in the pre-shave oil, shaving foam (pictured above), and after-shave intimate balm ensure that your skin stays smooth and irritation-free after a close shave.
Dermaflash 2.0
Dead skin cells and peach fuzz are no match for this gentle exfoliator, which comes with a cleanser and moisturizer.
Finishing Touch Flawless Painless Hair Remover
The overwhelming amount of positive reviews for this pain-free, quick-acting hair remover are never-ending.
Schick Intuition F.A.B. Razor
Behold, the first-ever razor to shave in both directions, leaving you with the closest shave of your life at a discounted price.
Venus Face Perfection
This new device gently removes unwanted facial hair from the root, using 10 micro-openings for super-efficient epilation. with ultimate precision for up to four weeks of salon-smooth skin. A convenient left and right mode also changes the rotation of the device to remove hair against the growth on either side of the face.
Oui Rose Gold Razor Set
This luxe razor comes with an ultra-smooth blade engineered to glide along your curves and leave the skin irritation-free.
No Mo-Stache Portable Lip Waxing Kit
This portable kit includes 24 hypoallergenic, mess-free waxing strips for removing peach fuzz along the lip.
Nad’s Sensitive Hair Removal Cream
Allow this blend of natural extracts to sit on the skin for four minutes to safely and gently remove the most stubborn of hairs.
Venus Bikini Precision
This new tool includes a unique precision head complete with rounded tips for gentle hair removal along bikini lines.
Tria Hair Removal Laser Precision
This at-home laser is powered by the same technology used by dermatologists for a fraction of the price.
Shobha Sugaring Kit
This affordable, all-natural kit allows you to bring the professional waxing experience home for whenever your schedule gets too busy.
Shobha Rosewater Freshening Cloths
Swipe these soothing wipes across the skin in between shaves to ensure that ingrown hairs don’t leave you with unwanted irritation.
Shaveworks The Cool Fix
This all-in-one cooling gel, made with glycolic acid, salicylic acid, phytic acid, and a Boerhavia root extract help to exfoliate and calm the skin after shaving.
eos Sensitive Shave Cream
A fragrance-free cream, made with aloe, wild oats, and lavender butter provides a satisfying shave for sensitive skin types.