Summer is a time for light dresses, tank tops, shorts, and of course, bikinis. These are beautiful and all, but it’s a real pain for people who like their legs and armpits to be hairless. Shaving causes irritation, ingrown hair, and results that only last 24 hours at most. Despite that, 77% of millennial women were still shaving in 2017, while the other 33% decided to go natural. It’s time to consider some alternatives!
Bright Side has collected 5 DIY ways to fight body hair so we can throw the razor away once and for all. If you’re really serious about it, check out our bonus tip at the end of the article!
1. Sugar + lemon juice
Sugar and lemon are well-known ingredients when it comes to fighting unwanted hair. They’re components of a sugaring paste — a wax-like substance that removes hair easily and for a long time. Though the process is painful, the results can last up to 4 weeks and don’t cause as much ingrown hair.
By the way, if you add honey, you can easily make it in a microwave. For this, you’ll need:
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1/4 cup of honey
- juice from 1/2 lemon (2 tbsp)
Lemon is acidic, so it also acts as a bleaching agent, making your hair light and almost unnoticeable while also slowing down hair growth. Here’s a remedy that can help you out with this:
- Take 2 tbsps of sugar and 1/2 cups of warm water.
- Add 2 tablespoons of lemon juice and stir well.
- Apply it to the armpits and leave for 20 minutes.
- Wash off with warm water using slight rubbing motions.
- Repeat 2 to 3 times a week.
If you use these 2 together, you won’t have problems in between your sugaring sessions, like when your hair is becoming visible but isn’t long enough to pull out.
2. Egg white + cornstarch
Have you ever tried a peel-off face mask? If the answer is “yes,” you probably know it’s more effective at removing body hair than it is at removing blackheads. So why not make this kind of mask for your underarms?
- Crack an egg, pour the white into a bowl, and put the yolk away.
- Add 1/2 tbsp of cornstarch, 1 tbsp of sugar, and stir thoroughly.
3. Milk + turmeric
Here’s another remedy to make your underarm hair grow slowly and to get thinner every time. All you need is:
- 3 tsp of turmeric powder
- 1 tsp of milk
Easy, right? Now mix these 2 into a thick paste and apply it to your underarms for 20-30 minutes until the paste is completely dry. When the time’s up, take a washcloth, wet it with warm water, and rub the mask off with circular motions. After that, wash what’s left and dry with a towel. Repeat regularly for a visible effect.
4. Papaya + turmeric
Yep, here’s an exotic one! Papaya contains papain — an enzyme capable of destroying the hair follicles, preventing their regrowth.
- Take 1-2 tablespoons of mashed raw papaya, mix it with half a tbsp of turmeric powder, and stir well.
- Apply it to the problem area, and massage it gently but thoroughly.
- Leave the paste for 15 minutes and wash off
5. Turmeric + baking soda
If you’d rather eat papaya than waste it on hair removal, here’s a less exotic remedy. It’s really easy to make, and the results come faster than you’d think.
- To make it, put 1 part turmeric, 2 parts baking soda and mix it with water.
- Add the water gradually while mixing the ingredients to form a thin paste.
- Apply it to the armpits and let dry.
- Rub the mixture away with your hands, then wash and pat the armpits dry.
Remember that turmeric has a bright orange color, and your skin may change a bit, so be patient and prepare for more rubbing.
