With a house full of girls, hair concerns have come up a time or 100. Thankfully by the time my oldest was ready to dip in these waters, I’d already tried many of the options available and could offer some honest advice.
Trying to find the best options of hair removal for teen girls takes some honest pros and cons and some experimentation. Because let’s face it, it’s not a one-size-fits-all.
We are talking about different comfort levels, more than one hair removal method to consider, multiple areas of unwanted hair and unique skin and hair needs.
So for this post, we are going to cover the hair removal treatments available for kids/tweens/teens as well as the pros and cons for each to help you and your teen make an informed decision.
(I sometimes include affiliate links, which means I might make a small commission off any purchases you make, at no additional cost to you. You can read my full disclosure here or at the end of this post.)
Shaving with a Razor
Shaving is the most common method of hair removal so it’s first on our list.
Most people start with a razor and then experiment with other options once shaving grows too tedious or they tire of the prickly stubble hours later.
And when you are a young girl, this may seem like the best, least painful option. But let’s cover some facts:
Pros
- Painless (unless you cut yourself)
- Relatively easy
- Cost effective
- Not very time-consuming
- Great results
- Better for coarse hair
Cons
- Risk of cuts/nicks
- Regrowth is fast and thicker
- Upkeep is more regular
- Blades need replaced often
- Can only do in bathroom or near sink
- Needs a medium like shaving gel, etc.
- Must keep out of reach of children
Shaving with an Electric Razor
This option was a bit intimidating for my girls so they never tried it. (Which I find funny because they both went with epilating first.)
But if you like the freedom of being able to shave anywhere, an electric shaver is a great option. And they have these really cute ones just for teen girls!
Pros
- Painless
- Easy to use
- Faster to use than a razor
- Portable in and out of bathroom
- No cuts
- Safe to have around younger children
- Better for sensitive skin
- Good option for coarse hair
Cons
- Can be intimidating for beginners
- Cost more than razors
- May need to use batteries if not rechargeable
- Will not give as close a shave as a razer
- Can nick if you don’t have a quality shaver
Depilatory Cream
I’m going to preface this part by saying I have never used a hair removal cream and neither have my girls. Mainly because I was with my best friend when she had a bad reaction to a cream and I’ve never wanted to try it.
But so many people use (and love) creams that I felt it needed to be included. I will say this, whether or not you have sensitive skin, you will want to test the cream on a small portion of your skin first.
I don’t feel comfortable recommending a specific cream as I’ve never tried them personally and don’t want to recommend something that might have an adverse effect, so here are Amazon’s top picks for hair removal cream; I’ll leave you to find one you are comfortable trying.
Pros
- Easy to use
- Painless if you use the right product
- Great and longer lasting results
- Results in appr. 10 minutes
- The formulas have improved much over the years
- Penetrates to the hair follicle
- Easily removes hard to reach body hair
Cons
- Can cause burning/skin irritation
- Can cause skin pigmentation problems
- Can be pricier to maintain than razors
- Can have a chemical smell
- In most tubes, you might get about four uses from each (legs and underarms)
- Unsuitable for facial hair except for the upper lip
- It is often messy
- Can leave skin sensitive to the sun
Waxing/Sugaring
I had been shaving with a razor for over 15 years before I finally had enough of the daily routine. (and I HATE the feeling of stubble!) But I have always associated waxing with pain so I refused to pay money for it.
But while researching I came across a few things that looked promising. First, sugaring.
Sugaring is like waxing but you aren’t using wax or strips. It’s a combination of heated sugar, lemon juice and water that you press against a patch of hair, rip off and repeat on another area until the mixture is no longer grabbing hair. Then you get a fresh glob and keep going.
This wasn’t as effective as I needed it to be so I started applying it like wax against the hair growth, added a strip of an old dish towel I cut up, then pulled it off.
This was very cost effective for me as the sugar mixture was super cheap and I rewashed my strips to use again later. I did this for over a year until I learned of epilating.
If you decide to try this route, PLEASE make sure the mixture is cooled enough. It’s a very painful realization when you apply it and find out it wasn’t as cool as you thought.
Pros
- Cost-effective
- Amazingly smooth skin
- Results last longer
- Hair regrowth is thinner and softer
- The sugar mixture washes off easily, unlike wax
- All natural products
- Easy to make
- Great option for upper lip (and eyebrow if done with precision)
Cons
- It’s painful, initially
- Risk of burns
- Time-consuming
- It’s a bit of a sticky mess
- Have to have a decent amount of hair growth
Epilating
Whenever I tell people I epilate, I usually get a weird look. Which I totally understand, because I was in my 30’s before I really knew what it was.
But now it’s my favorite means of hair removal and one that I have used exclusively for the past few years. (You can read my post about epilating for beginners here.)
Basically, an epilator is an electronic device that simultaneously pulls hair from the root. It looks like an electric razor but works like tweezers.
If it sounds painful, that’s because it is. But it gets better with every use and now it doesn’t bother me at all.
Two of my girls tried epilating before they tried shaving mainly because they liked the idea of not having to shave every day. After a few months, however, they tried shaving and liked it enough to switch.
Read: Epilating for Beginners
Pros
- Great results
- Longer lasting results
- Buy once and replace maybe every few years
- Less hair growth needed to epilate
- Hair grows back thinner and softer
- Most come with adjustable speeds which help with pain
- Less time than waxing
- No sticky mess
- No cuts or nicks
- You can epilate anywhere
Cons
- Can be pricy, initially
- Painful the first few times
- Takes longer than shaving (20-40 mins)
- Can cause ingrown hair if not properly exfoliated
Electrolysis Treatment
Electrolysis is another method I have not tried personally, but it is one that seems to be quite effective in combating unwanted hair issues, especially in areas of excess hair growth and hirsutism.
For some young girls, unsightly hair can be a result of a hormone imbalance which, in most cases, can be removed easily. But when it comes to facial hair, most especially the upper lip, teens want an option that is both effective and permanent.
(Contact a local Electrologist or your Dermatologist for more questions/concerns.)
Pros
- The only permanent hair removal option available
- Effective for all skin/hair types and hair color/types
- Effective for all areas of the body
Cons
- It can be uncomfortable to painful, depending on your sensitivity levels
- There is often redness/tenderness immediately following electrology treatments
- Electrolysis treatments are not covered by insurance
- Follow up treatments are more often
- Cannot cover large areas with one laser treatment
Laser Hair Removal
Unlike electrolysis, laser treatments are not permanent as they do not prevent new growth, only slow it down, allowing hair regrowth to come in softer and lighter.
Follow up treatments are about every six weeks. One thing to note here, laser hair removal uses mild radiation which might be of concern. Also, you cannot combine both laser and electrolysis treatments.
Pros
- Results last longer than most other options that aren’t permanent
- Most effective for lighter skin with darker hair
- Works well on most areas of the body
- Can cover larger areas of the body at one time
Cons
- It can be uncomfortable to painful, depending on your sensitivity levels
- There is often redness/tenderness immediately following treatments
- Can cause side effects like scars, skin pigmentation, etc.
- Not covered by insurance
Conclusion
When your daughter is ready to start considering her options, she is going to want to address a few things:
What is her comfort level?
What is her budget for this?
How much time does she want to commit to this?
Once she considers those three things, it should help narrow down some options. But if she still isn’t sure, it doesn’t hurt to try a few out. (I never thought I would love epilating as much as I do, until I tried it.)
*As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, but if I am recommending an item in my post, it is only because I have used it myself or have done enough research on the product to feel it is a good fit for my readers.
About the author
Kimberly McGraw is the founder of Life Worth the Living, a blog focused on helping mothers live their best life. Her desire is to help moms find purpose in who they are as a person, not just as a mom. Life Worth the Living has been featured in Making Sense of Cents, Outwit Trade and Believe and Create.
