How do you ditch your disposable razors for good? You are tired of buying new disposables every month and want to give zero waste hair removal a go? When you stop using disposable razors, what do you use instead? Are you uncertain if you want to switch to a zero waste hair removal routine at all?
I have tried several hair removal techniques through the years (reviews below) and landed on 2 techniques that work well for me.
Note: This post is NOT sponsored.
I was starting with thick dark hair (armpit, bikini line, legs) which means I would have to shave almost daily. In my world, things have to be quick and easy, and shaving every day is just really time-consuming.
Depending on personal preference and your environment, not shaving at all might be an option. Removing hair in some form or another has always been a thing for humans, however, since the invention of a razor for women in 1915, things got out of hand. Products were (and are) sold to women via shaming, degrading, and pseudoscience of hair being somehow unclean. Nowadays, removing hair gets marketed more from an attractiveness perspective, but in reality, a lot of men just don’t care as much as we think they do. Hair removal is sold to us with images of luxury, long legs, and silky plum skin, though I have to say I rarely look or feel that way when it’s just me, razor, and privacy of my bathroom.
Long term low (zero) waste hair removal: permanent hair removal laser
Trying to reduce my time shaving, I invested in a home permanent hair removal laser. I was really skeptical at first but decided to give it a go.
Laser hair removal stuns hair growth, and making them thinner and in my case a tad lighter. I followed instructions religiously and had visible results in about 2 months.
3 years later, with minimal touch-ups, I have still have about 80% less hair growth than before treatments (my rough estimate, I sadly do not have photos). This also means I can go longer between shaving or waxing.
The downsides of using a laser remover:
- does not work well if your hair and skin are a similar color
- depending on your pain levels, it can hurt (it was moderate for me)
- you have to use a gel (in soft plastic) and I went through very fast (I tried a DIY version, but it was a lot more painful – do not recommend)
- it’s time-consuming – several treatments are necessary, over several weeks
- this hair removal method isn’t suitable for all body areas – face, vaginal area, other sensitive areas, I wouldn’t use it around scar tissue…
- DIY version might not be appropriate if you are in any way motorically challenged
You can get it done professionally in a salon or DIY at home. Option for a home version was a fair bit cheaper where I live (though not cheap) and it was worth the time/money spent for me.
IMPORTANT: I consulted some people on the safety of using this type of laser on my skin (and eyes). Do your own due diligence and decide based on what you are comfortable with, not based on what sb. online says (including me).
If your hair and skin are too similar for a laser removal treatment, you can look into electrolysis for hair removal. Results are faster, permanent, but also more expensive (not suitable for home treatments, always with a highly trained professional).
Hair removal with an electric epilator
Electric epilators were a fail in my books. I got one after a friend recommended it. She was really happy, so I got the same model, but it was tedious and too painful for me. I also kept getting ingrown hair so I abandoned this method altogether.
Note: Many manufacturers nowadays design and built products to die just a bit after the warranty expired to encourage a new purchase. Reviews online are normally done after a couple of uses, so I can’t ever be sure of the longevity of these things.
Removing hair naturally with sugar: 2 methods
Zero waste hair removal with sugar wax + strips
Nowadays I mainly use sugar wax as my main hair removal method. I was skeptical at first, but it works much better than regular wax strips (I sometimes used on my legs before starting a more zero waste lifestyle).
The process is the same as with regular wax. What I really like is that the wax dissolves in water, so the mess is easier to clean. There is no need for oil strips to remove the wax residue. I just wash it off my skin. The strips are washable and reusable. I normally soak them for a minute or two, and the wax just rinses off.
The stips are in good condition even after several uses (I have about 1/4 of the pot left) and they still do the job well. I cut some of the strips into smaller ones so I can use them on my face.
There is a plastic pot, but it’s actually lasting me pretty well, even with the initial learning curve. When getting the temperature just right, the pain is minimal. I do it every 3-4 weeks, which is huge for me.
The only thing I don’t like with this method is that it’s hard to tell when the wax is hot enough (my indicator stick is not accurate). There is a perfect sweet spot between temperature, the amount applied and speed, which is a bit hard to achieve at home. In the summer, when the inside temp was higher for several degrees, it noticeably affects the temp. of the wax too.
Oriental waxing/sugaring
Another method of removing hair with sugar is oriental waxing or sugaring. This method was meh me, at least the home version.
Essentially, you remove hair with a caramel-like substance, my set had me warm and prep the sugar wax by folding it several times. You do not need strips or any other equipment, the wax functions as a strip as well. You just apply and pull the same one several times. It worked great when I got the consistency of the wax just right, and it did absolutely nothing if I failed at prep. I found it time-consuming and harder to get it right at home. Regrowth was also faster than the sugar wax+strips method above.
If you are wanting to try it, make sure that the skin is absolutely dry and clean before removing hair. In the end, I finished the pot, but didn’t rebuy.
Natural way to make hair removal hurt less??
The pain threshold is a subjective thing, no person is alike. What might be painless for me, could be uncomfortable for you.
Timing hair removal right
According to research, the menstrual cycle alters our pain perception, depending on the levels of sex hormones. Women rated higher pain sensitivity just before and during menstruation and lower in the midmenstrual and ovulatory phases. This means that if you schedule your treatments (or DIY) around your ovulation, the pain should be less.
Perception of pain is dependent on many things, not just hormones. I have been testing the theory and but I can’t say for sure. What do you think?
Do not soften the skin prior to treatments
If you are epilating or waxing, do it before you have a shower/bath. Water softens the skin, which makes hair removal more difficult. It can damage the skin and has the potential to be more painful.
Getting your skin ready for hair removal
I try to do scrub the day before, to eliminate dead skin and expose ingrown hair. I also avoid lotions and oils the day or two before. I want my skin to be exfoliated and ready for some rougher treatment.
Zero waste hair removal the old school way – reusable razer
I use my partners old plastic razer and purchase inexpensive Wilkinson blades. If you can’t find them in the women’s section with other disposable razors, waxes and depilation creams, have a look in the men’s section.
I also tried Bic blades which produced razor burn (with using the same technique).
I can’t say I had issues switching from disposable to reusable razor. I actually cut myself more often on the disposables (and have a scar or two to prove it) than a reusable one. It could be that I am more careful, or the blade is better.
I do not use shaving gels or shaving soaps anymore. I use whatever soap bar I am using at the time (a creamier soap works best, so it stays on the skin better).
I also do not use aftershave lotions. Oil-based lotions can clog newly opened hair follicles which can result in little pimples or a breakout. Because I use a gentler soap, my skin doesn’t get dry after shaving anymore. I apply alum water on potential cuts and wait with a moisturizer for a day.
To recap: I use sugar wax removal on all nonsensitive parts plus a old reusable razor in a rush or sensitive areas and quick touch-ups. I do not use a shaving cream or aftershave. My skin reacted really well to these methods, but you might have to adapt to your skin type.
What do you think? Which one of these zero waste hair removal options do you think you would be most successful at? Do you see any problems ahead?
