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It has been suggested that plucking be merged into this article. (Discuss) Proposed since September 2006.

Hair removal describes any method of removing hair, especially from the human body.

• Depilation affects the part of the hair above the surface of the skin. The most common form of depilation is shaving. Another popular option is the use of chemical depilatories, which work by breaking the disulfide bonds that link the protein chains that give hair its strength, making the hair disintegrate.

• Epilation removal of the entire hair, including the part below the skin. Some individuals may use waxing, sugaring, epilation devices, lasers, threading, intense pulsed light or electrology. Hair is also sometimes removed by plucking with tweezers.

Reasons for removing hair

Hair removal has been practiced for centuries in almost all human cultures. The methods used vary among times and regions, but shaving is the most common method.

Medical reasons

In Ancient Egypt, many people depilated their entire bodies to prevent infestation by lice, fleas, and other parasites. In the absence of insecticides, this custom seems less bizarre.

Patients' body hair was once shaved before surgery for reasons of hygiene; however, this turned out to be counterproductive; and, as a result, in many hospitals patients are no longer shaved. The shaving of hair has sometimes been used in attempts to eradicate lice or to minimize body odor due to accumulation of odor-causing micro-organisms in hair. Some people with trichiasis find it medically necessary to remove ingrown eyelashes. Of course, incorrect shaving (shaving against the grain) can often cause ingrown hairs.

Many forms of cancer require chemotherapy, which often causes severe and irregular hair loss. For this reason, it is common for cancer patients to shave their heads even before starting "chemo."

Social, cultural, or sexual reasons

Hair is normally removed for social and sexual reasons related to the social role of hair in human society. Many cultures have an aesthetic "ideal" amount of hair for males and females. People whose hair violates such standards may experience real or perceived problems with social acceptance.

Many men in Western cultures shave their facial hair, so only a minority of men have a beard, even though fast-growing facial hair must be shaved daily to achieve a clean-shaven or hairless look. Some men shave because they cannot grow a "full" beard (generally defined as an even density from cheeks to neck), because beard color is different from scalp hair color, or because it grows in many directions, making a groomed look difficult. Some men shave because their beards are very coarse, causing itchiness and irritation. Some men grow a beard from time to time to change their appearance.

In many cultures, particularly eastern European, North American , and Middle Eastern cultures, women frequently remove some or all of their body hair, believing it is unattractive and/or not feminine (see gender role and hirsutism), or as a matter of practicing good hygiene. Women may also remove some or all of their pubic hair for aesthetic or sexual reasons. Porn stars are well known for this practice. Men may also practice this, but not as commonly. In a sexual context, pubic hair removal is done to increase visual exposure of the genitalia and/or facilitate access to the genital area by removing the barrier of hair, and for the purpose of cleanliness.

Some men shave their heads, either as a fashion statement, to cover up male pattern baldness, or to attain enhanced cooling of the skull (particularly for people suffering from hyperhidrosis). A much smaller number of women also shave their heads as fashion or political statements. In art paintings or carvings from ancient times, one can often see women portrayed with no pubic hair: pubic hair was linked to sexual acts and desires in the general mindset, and thus it was deemed improper and impure in a public painting. This may have influenced aesthetic views regarding the matter as well.

Male-to-female gender reassignment

MtF Transsexual women who are preparing for Genital Reassignment Surgery (GRS) are advised to remove their hair from the pubic area prior to surgery. The neo-vagina is created using the skin of the penis and scrotum which usually has active follicles. So the hair is removed from these areas prior to surgery, in order for the genitals to be fashioned without the concern of hair growth inside of the neo-vagina.

For religious reasons

Head-shaving is a part of the Buddhist, Christian, Muslim, Jain and Hindu traditions. Buddhist and Christian monks generally undergo some form of head-shaving during their ordination; in Thailand monks shave their eyebrows as well. Brahmin children have their heads ritualistically shaved before beginning school.

In some parts of the Theravada Buddhist world, it is common practice to shave the heads of children. Weak or sickly children are often left with a small topknot of hair, to gauge their health and mark them for special treatment. When health improves, the lock is cut off.

The Bahá'í religion explicitly prohibits head-shaving. In Judaism, the shaving of certain parts of the head (peot) is forbidden. Sikhs take an even stronger stance, opposing all forms of hair removal. One of the Sikh "Five Ks" is Kesh, meaning "uncut hair". To Sikhs, the maintenance and management of long hair is a manifestation of one's piety.

In military institutions

A close-cropped or completely shaven haircut is common in military organizations. In field environments, soldiers are susceptible to infestation of lice, ticks, and fleas. Also, due to hectic operations schedules, time allowed for personal hygiene and grooming is highly curtailed or even absent. Some have also noted that the practice of head-shaving serves to remove exterior signs of individual identity, which can be helpful in the process of cultivating a team-oriented environment. In many militaries, head-shaving is mandatory for males upon induction training. However, even after the initial recruitment phase, when head-shaving is no longer required, many soldiers maintain a completely or partially shaven hairstyle (such as a "high and tight", "flattop" or "buzz cut") for personal convenience and an exterior symbol of military solidarity. Head-shaving is not required of females in military service, although they must have their hair cut or tied to regulation length.

In one dramatic scene in the movie "G.I. Jane", Lt Jordan O'Neill (Demi Moore), who is determined to get into an elite commando unit, sneaks into the base barbershop after hours and shears off her thick black hair with an electric clipper, then shaves her head completely bald. This is apparently to show her determination to face any challenge that male commando-trainees must face; it is also a mark of solidarity with the group she wants to join. She is explicitly giving up any expectation of chivalrous treatment by men.

Many military organizations also require males to maintain clean-shaven faces because facial hair can prevent an air-tight seal between the face and breathing or safety equipment, such as a pilot's oxygen mask, a diver's mask, or a soldier's gas mask. However, the concerns of personal hygiene apply as above. The face-mask argument is questionable, because most military organizations place a high value on conformity and are capable of rationalization to justify rules that outsiders might be tempted to question. One must remember that military regulations are not immune to fashion: In the American Civil War, many generals wore beards, some rather long. In the wars of the early 20th Century, soldiers, sailors, and airmen were all short-haired and clean-shaven, but were allowed a restrained mustache. After the Vietnam War, U.S. Navy regulations allowed neatly-trimmed beards on officers, and possibly on sailors, as well. (Maybe not on pilots, though.) The new uniform rules are generally attributed to Admiral Elmo Zumwalt, who was CNO after the Vietnam War, who implemented new rules to make the Navy more humane and equitable, racially, sexually, and otherwise.

As punishment

In some situations, people's hair is shaved as a punishment. Before World War II, the Nazis would cut off the beards of Jews as a prelude to other forms of abuse.

After World War II, head-shaving was a common punishment in France for women who had collaborated with the Nazis during the occupation, and, in particular, for women who had "collaborated" sexually.

During the Vietnam War, conservative students would sometimes attack student radicals or "hippies" by shaving beards or cutting long hair. One notorious incident occurred at Stanford University, when unruly fraternity members grabbed Resistance founder (and student-body president) David Harris, cut off his long hair, and shaved his beard. This didn't stop Harris's activism, nor did 18 months in a Federal Prison.

In Arab countries, shaving off beards and eyebrows is sometimes used to shame and humiliate male prisoners.

Body areas where hair is often removed

Hair grows on all areas of the human body except for the palms of the hands, the lips, certain areas of the genital structure and the soles of the feet. But hair is most noticeable in most people in a small number of areas that are most commonly waxed, trimmed, plucked, or shaved: namely, the

• Abdomen
• Armpits
• Back
• Chest
• Eyebrows
• Eyelashes
• Face
• Legs
• Head
• Pubic Area

Hair removal methods

Many products on the market have proven fraudulent. Many other products exaggerate the results or ease of use.

Permanent

Permanent hair removal involves several imperfect options. A number of methods have been developed that use chemicals, energy of varying types, or a combination to target the areas that regulate hair growth. Permanently destroying these areas while sparing surrounding tissue is a difficult challenge.

Permanent hair removal

• Electrolysis

Permanent hair reduction

• Laser (Does not permanently remove all hair, but does reduce the amount of visible hair)
• Flashlamp (also called Intense Pulsed Light or IPL)
• Epilight

Lasting hair inhibition for many (requires continuous use)

• Prescription oral medications
• A new method of epilation is to use enzymes that inhibit the development of new hair cells. Hair growth will become less and less until it finally stops, normal depilation/epilation will be performed during that time. Products include the presciption drug Vaniqa (active ingredient eflornithine hydrochloride inhibiting the enzyme ornithine decarboxylase).

Temporary

"Depilation" lasting several hours to several days can be achieved by

• Shaving or trimming (manually or with electric shavers)
• Depilatories (creams or "shaving powders" which chemically dissolve hair)
• Friction (rough surfaces used to buff away hair)

"Epilation" lasting several days to several weeks can be achieved by

• Plucking (hairs are plucked, or pulled out, with tweezers)
• Waxing (a hot or cold layer is applied and then removed with porous strips)
• Sugaring (similar to waxing, but with a sticky paste)
• Threading (also called fatlah or khite, in which a twisted thread catches hairs as it is rolled across the skin)
• Rotary epilators (devices that rapidly grasp hairs and pull them out by the root)

Experimental or banned, currently not available

• X-ray hair removal This method was an efficient, and usually permanent, hair removal method, but also caused severe health problems, occasional disfigurement, and even death. (illegal in the United States)
• Photodynamic therapy for hair removal (experimental)

Doubtful methods

Many methods have been proposed or sold over the years without published clinical proof they can work as claimed.

• Electric tweezers
• Transdermal electrolysis
• Transcutaneous hair removal
• Photoepilators
• Microwaves
• Foods and Dietary supplements
• Nonprescription topical preparations (also called "hair inhibitors," "hair retardants," or "hair growth inhibitors")

Advantages and Disadvantages

There are advantages and disadvantages to many of these hair removal methods. Many are not permanent and many can cause medical problems or the costs are very high. Many of these methods are still in the testing phase and the methods have not been clinically proven. One should seek the advice of a doctor supervised facility when choosing a hair removal method.

See also

• Bikini waxing
• Brazilian waxing
• Hairdressing
• Bearded women
• Pubic hair
• Trichotillomania

External links

• Hair removal facts for consumers
• WebMD article on Hair removal

• Articles to be merged from September 2006
• Human appearance
• Depilation