Overview
This lesson covers the theory of hair removal, including temporary and permanent methods, their benefits, techniques, and important considerations for professionals.
Categories of Hair Removal
- Hair removal services are divided into temporary and permanent categories.
- Temporary methods provide quick, affordable results but must be repeated regularly.
- Permanent hair reduction requires specialized training, equipment, and often additional licensing.
Hair Types and Growth Conditions
- Vellus hair: fine, soft hair covering most of the face.
- Terminal hair: longer, darker, and coarser (e.g., eyebrows, beards).
- Hirsutism: excessive, male-pattern hair growth in women, often on the face, arms, legs, or back.
- Hypertrichosis: genetically determined excessive hair growth anywhere on the body in both men and women.
Temporary Hair Removal Methods
- Shaving: removes hair at skin level; regrowth occurs within hours or days.
- Chemical depilatories: dissolve hair with thioglycolic acid derivatives; always perform a patch test for sensitivity.
- Tweezing: removes individual hairs from the follicle; best for small areas like eyebrows and chin.
Waxing Techniques
- Soft (strip) wax: used for large areas; removes hair for 4–6 weeks; adheres to both skin and hair.
- Hard (non-strip) wax: used for small or sensitive areas; causes less redness and adheres only to hair.
- Pre-waxing considerations: area to be waxed, client needs, sensitivities, contraindications, and budget.
Sugaring and Threading Methods
- Sugaring: uses a paste of sugar and lemon juice; removes very short hair (as short as 1/8 inch).
- Methods: strip (like soft wax) and rolling.
- Threading: uses twisted cotton thread to remove hair; methods include mouth, neck, and hand techniques.
- Both sugaring and threading results last about 4–6 weeks.
Permanent Hair Reduction Methods
- Requires additional licensing and carries higher liability.
- Electrolysis: a needle delivers electric or galvanic current to destroy the papilla and prevent regrowth; not recommended for pregnant clients or those with heart conditions or diabetes.
- Laser hair removal: treats many follicles at once; best for coarse, dark hair and light skin; not effective on gray or non-pigmented hair.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Depilation: removal of hair at the skin surface (e.g., shaving).
- Thioglycolic acid: chemical in depilatories that dissolves hair protein.
- Hirsutism: excessive, male-pattern hair growth in women.
- Hypertrichosis: excessive hair growth anywhere on the body due to genetics.
- Papilla: structure at the hair root destroyed during electrolysis.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the complete hair removal methods chart in the coursebook (page 14).
- Check local licensing requirements for permanent hair reduction.
- Complete Check What You Know questions for self-assessment.