Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

Susie really needed to go to the bathroom. She had been enjoying a peaceful slumber until the urge hit. Quickly, Susie threw back the covers and sprinted to the bathroom. She reached for the doorknob and tried to turn it, but it would not budge. Her sister, Caroline, was locked in the bathroom.

"Well, Susie, if you could find a better way to get rid of the hair on my legs, then I would not have to occupy the tub for this long. Until then...leave me alone!!"

And with that, Susie gave up. She just decided that she would have to wait another half hour while Caroline finished plucking every single hair from her legs. Caroline had tried many different methods for hair elimination, but she still had not found one that suited her. All techniques of hair removal -- depilatory lotion, laser, wax, soap and water shave, and electric razor -- accomplish the same goal, but they do it in very different ways. However, I feel the best option for hair removal today is the electric razor. Now I will explain each form of hair removal and how they all have advantages, but I will prove why I feel the electric razor method is the best.

The first type of hair disrooting is depilatory lotion. It is fairly easy to use, but sometimes the strong odor of the lotion offends users. Consumers simply squeeze a small amount from the bottle and apply it to the designated area. After the lotion has been allowed to penetrate, it is wiped off and the roots of the hair are dissolved. The pain is minimal; usually none occurs unless the user suffers an allergic reaction. If that happens, the fault lies with the consumer. The directions should have been read by the consumer, and a test should have been performed also. The price is moderate; it is not as expensive as a different technique, but there are some methods that are cheaper. A bottle of lotion ranges from $5.00 to $6.00, and it would last for 20 to 25 applications. The effects also last a reasonable length of up to a week. However, the lotion needs to be applied every week to keep the desired effect.

The second method of hair removal is lasers. They can also be used effectively to dispose of hair. However, they can only be used by trained personnel. Many times consumers must travel a great distance to find a technician who can perform this procedure. The laser zaps the hair follicles by using heated strands in tiny pokers or pulsed light. Often a carbon lotion is used to absorb the beam so that only the follicles suffer the laser’s heat. Lasers are fairly painless, but burns can occur. Also, this method is very expensive. The price ranges from $350.00 to $1,050.00 for one treatment. However, the effects last for a long period of time. The results from lasers last eight weeks to two years.

Waxing is the third mode of hair removal that I bring to attention. This technique requires more intelligence to use. Waxing is not necessarily difficult, but it demands some time and patience. The wax strips must be heated and then applied to the desired area. After they have been allowed to dry, the wax strips are yanked off. The wax peels off and takes the hair roots with it. The "ouch factor" of this type of hair removal is high. However, the length of the sting can be minimized depending on how quickly the wax is pulled off. A slow tug causes more pain, while a quick jerk allows the pain to vanish faster. Frequently, the pain is made worse by the sight of the wax being ripped from the skin. The price is high for eliminating hair with wax. Waxing costs around $40.00 to have it done once at a professional salon. Home wax kits can also be purchased for around $10.00 to $20.00, but customers often prefer to have this type of hair removal done at many fine hair salons. Because this method withdraws the roots, the effects last for a longer period of time, such as three to four weeks.

The fourth type of hair removal is the soap and water shave. This is the most primitive means and probably the most simple. A small razor blade is inserted into a piece of plastic. This disposable razor is purchased for use with either soap and water or various other types of shaving lotion. The desired area is simply moistened, then soap or lotion is applied. Finally, the razor is run over this section to cut the hair. This system often results in pain because nicks frequently appear on the skin after a quick shave. Also, when this process is done and there is a slight breeze, goose bumps arise. Goose bumps typically result in a poor shave and even more razor burns. The soap and water shave is quite inexpensive, especially when compared to the other procedures mentioned earlier. A pack of disposable razors can be purchased for $3.00 to $5.00. And this single package often contains between four and eight single razors. However, the effects do not last for long periods of time, and stubble quickly reappears on the newly-shaven areas. A new shave is often required every day or two.

The fifth and final form of hair removal is the electric razor. Electric razors are very easy to use. Consumers simply plug the razor into an electric outlet and turn the power button on. These razors can either be used with or without water, and about the only thing the user can mess up is mixing electricity with water. The pain is minimal because the electric razor offers a smooth shave with very few nicks or cuts. An electric razor can be used for a long time--often from one to five years--so at around $60.00, it is an economical purchase. However, the effects of shaving with an electric razor do not last as long. This process needs to be repeated every other day to keep the desired smoothness.

Now I have given a brief overview of the various types of hair removal. As I study all of the different aspects of each option, I feel that the electric razor is the best form of hair removal. First of all, this method is very simple to use. Many other methods require a lot of reading or research to use, or else they cannot even be performed by the normal human being. Many of these methods would require the user to travel a large distance to the nearest hair salon or physician’s office where the special procedure could be performed. Secondly, the electric razor method often results in very little pain. With most of the other methods, a moderate if not strong pain tolerance is required for use. Users can be required to tolerate small things such as nicks, moderate pain such as a reaction or infected hair, or a large amount of pain associated with waxing. However, with an electric razor, the minimal pain that could occur would usually result in a slight nick while shaving.

The next area I will look at is the cost associated with the electric razor. For the original purchase of an electric razor, it can be a little expensive. However, this same appliance that one purchases can be used many times, so the cost becomes much smaller when associated with a single use. Many of the other forms of hair removal are very expensive, as can be seen in Figure A.

TYPE OF HAIR REMOVAL	INITIAL COST	COST PER USE	COST PER DAY EFFECTS LAST
Depilatory Lotion	$5.00 to $6.00	$0.20 to $0.30	$0.03 to $0.04
Laser	$350.00 to $1,050.00	$350.00 to $1,050.00	$0.48 to $18.75
Waxing	$10.00 to $40.00	$10.00 to $40.00	$0.35 to $1.90
Disposable Razor	$3.00 to $5.00	$0.04 to $0.13	$0.02 to $0.13
Electric Razor	$60.00	$0.03 to $0.16	$0.02 to $0.16

Finally, I looked at the length of time the effects would last. With the electric razor, the length of time seems to be the shortest. However, by needing to shave more often, one gets more use out of the electric razor. Also, many people feel more comfortable going out with a clean shave anyway, so these users often shave every day no matter what method they are using. By having to shave every day or every other day, it is really no different than many of the other types of hair removal.

Depilatory lotion, laser, wax, soap and water shave, and electric razor all remove body hair, but I strongly feel that the electric razor is the best form of hair removal. When ease, pain, cost, and effects are all weighed, I feel that the electric razor comes out on top. I would recommend to anyone that needs to remove body hair to purchase an electric razor from an appliance or discount store.

"If you do not leave me alone, I will take even longer. You know how I react to annoying little sisters."

"I said ‘Ouch!’ I just cut myself!! You do not need to shave your legs for a long time; you are only eight years old! Now go get me a band-aid for my cut!"

"But Caroline, which type of band-aid? We have the round ones, the square ones, or the circle ones. Also, we have clear, Winnie-the-Pooh, Disney, race cars, glow-in-the-dark..."