The deal: Intense pulses of laser light target the hair's melanin and kill the follicle with heat. You'll need six to eight sessions ($200-$350 a pop). Note that it doesn't get rid of all your hair in the lasered area. The bonus: Can completely eliminate ingrowns and reduces overall hair growth. Plus you can shave between sessions. Best for: Those whose everyday life is affected by hair. "If you won't go on a date or go to the beach because you have hair growth, consider laser," Barshop says. Avoid if: Your hair is lighter than your skin color, because the laser can't discern your hair from your skin. Also, consider your pain threshold; if waxing tortures you, laser will too.
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GROWTH INHIBITORS
The deal: "Shave-minimizing lotions" claim to slow growth so you shave less often. Some use botanical/plant extracts (Bliss Get Out of Hair!, $35 (pictured) and Completely Bare Completely Smooth, $42). Others use soy Aveeno Positively Smooth Moisturizing Lotion, $7.99). The bonus: They moisturize, which is key to a close shave, something Barredo, Vanoosthuyze, and Barshop all agree on. And many exfoliate using ingredients like willow bark, which can prevent ingrowns. Best for: Reluctant shavers. Avoid if: You're not a gambler, as many experts and consumers are skeptical of these creams' effectiveness. But since moisturized skin equals closer-shaved skin, they can't hurt.
The Art of Shaving After-Shave Mask, $50 is a soothing three-minute clay mask to prevent razor burn, ingrown hairs and irritation. In convenient single-use vials.
Razor burn. Ingrown hairs. Those ouchy little nicks you get on your kneecaps. Does hair removal have to be such, like, medieval torture? Turns out no. So here's our guide to getting better results with shaving and alternative hair removal, with help from industry experts Cindy Barshop, owner of Completely Bare Spas, Janette Barredo, brand manager for The Art of Shaving and Kristina Vanoosthuyze, senior scientist for Procter and Gamble.
