Generally, men tend to have more body hair than women. This leads to higher rates of depilation among men. Depilation is the removal of hair from the body and the term specifically refers to the process employed to achieve that result. It only involves the removal of a part of the hair found above the surface of the skin. The reasons for hair removal may be for religious, medical, personal or social reasons.
Hair removal can be achieved through various means. First, it can be done mechanically using various tools like razor blades and tweezers. It can also be done chemically, using depilating agents such as lotions, aerosols and other chemicals. Mechanical hair removal may involve shaving and plucking. In shaving, a sharp tool is used to remove hair from the skin surface. Examples of this tool are razor blades and electrical shavers. This is the most common method of depilation men practice nowadays. In plucking, a tweezer is used in order to pick out the hair from the skin. Despite its unwanted side effect, it is commonly employed by women due to its accessibility and inexpensiveness.
Chemical depilation utilizes various hair removing products in the form of lotions, creams and aerosols. Most of these chemicals contain thioglycolic acid which is a chemical capable of weakening the bond between the hair cells and the hair, thereby allowing ease in hair removal. These methods of depilation are temporary and may require regular practice. In most cases, hair may still grow and removal must again be done.
A permanent method of depilation, practiced especially among men, is electrolysis. Electrolysis works effectively compared to other methods, as it is the only method approved by the FDA for permanent hair removal. More and more men have already undergone facial electrolysis in order to achieve effects such as beard removal. In fact, many male-to-female transsexuals have already availed of this procedure.
Electrolysis poses several pros and cons to those who are considering it as an option. First, electrolysis is proven to be very effective and versatile. Many skin types can benefit from this procedure since it attacks the hair follicle and not the pigments which give the hair colour. It is also very convenient since the procedure only takes one session most of the time for results to begin showing. On the other hand, it has several disadvantages too. First, it can be very expensive. Electrolysis may cost as around $50-$125 for every hour of session with professionals. The final asking price for electrolysis may very well depend on the size of the area a person wants to get treated. For example, upper lip electrolysis may cost as much as $1000 or even more. The process itself can also be very painful. Side effects, such as itching and skin redness, may also be experienced.
The concept of hair removal came from the social construct wherein smooth and clear skin is considered as the gold standard for aesthetic beauty. In the current period wherein men can also be equal to women in terms of beauty and vanity, hair removal has risen as one of the most common denominator between the two sexes. Depilation in men is as observed as depilation among women in the current society. Gone was the era wherein bearded men with moustaches were heroes and handsome men. Today, the look is already limited to suspicious-looking individuals and fugitives with the need for disguise. The ideal charming princes nowadays are those with the sleek, clean-shaven and fresh boy-next-door looks. Rugged and bearded may still have a place, yes, but only to those with the taste for the bad boys at heart.