-Hairy and Curious

Depilatories cause hair to disintegrate while leaving the roots intact. Depilatories thus permit hair regrowth. By disintegrating chemical bonds in the hair shaft, a depilatory turns your hair into a gelatinous mass, which is then wiped away. Because these agents dissolve protein, they also affect the skin and can irritate if left on too long. Two types of depilatories are available-- the sulfide types are more effective, but their odor is pungent and they are more irritating. The thioglycolate types must be left on longer, but they are more easily perfumed and are not so irritating. There are also wax depilatories, which are comparable to widespread tweezing. Warm wax is placed on the skin, allowed to dry, and then peeled off with the hairs attached.

Shaving is a quick, easy and effective method of hair removal, and it is not true that it causes hair to grow back more abundantly or rapidly. However, it does leave the cut shaft of hair in place, as does trimming with a pair of scissors, so regrowth is inevitable. Tweezing can be painful, but is effective in hair removal. Each pluck starts another growing cycle in the hair root, so this is not a permanent method either.

Electrolysis is the only permanent method of hair removal. With this procedure, the hair bulb is destroyed by an electric current so that hair cannot regrow. However, electrolysis may be complicated by temporary irritation from the procedure or later, by pitlike scarring. Also, incomplete destruction may allow hair to grow back. As with everything, the quality of the results depends on the skill of the operator; both cost and skill vary, but not necessarily in tandem.

Alice

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