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 into 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 teenage 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.
Some of the links in this post may be affiliate links, you can read my full disclosure here or more information at the bottom of this post.
Best Hair Removal for Tweens and Teens
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
>>Best Razor for Tweens<<
This is one of the best razors for tweens, in my opinion. I bought these for each of my girls when they first started shaving and they loved how smooth their legs felt afterward and they weren’t as worried about knicks and cuts with this razor as they were with others they’d tried over the years.
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 when I was a teenager, I remember this being the ideal way to shave. The freedom of being able to shave anywhere was such a novel concept, we all wanted one.
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
>>Best Electric Razor for Teenagers<<
If your daughters are anything like mine, then they will love these really cute ones made for teen girls! It’s a great beginner razor for them to try out and see if they prefer this method of hair removal. They can always upgrade as they get older if they choose.
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.
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
>>Best Hair Removal Cream for Teenagers<<
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 the best hair removal creams for teenagers.
With their sensitive formula and added Aloe Vera and Vitamin E, this hair removal cream has some of the best ratings on the web. Again, please remember, everyone’s skin is different and what might work for one daughter could burn for another. Always read reviews and try on small areas of skin first.
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
>>Best Waxing Kit for Beginners<<
If your daughter would like to try waxing but isn’t up for DIYing it, there’s a kit that’s perfect for beginners. It comes with everything you’ll need to get started and has the best reviews for those just starting out.
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
>>Best Epilator for Beginners<<
If your daughter has never tried epilating, you don’t want to spend too much on one in case she doesn’t want to continue down the road. This epilator is a great starter as it is both cost-effective and efficient.
Hair Removal Pads
Depilation pads, as they’re sometimes called, have been around forever. But for those unfamiliar with them, the concept is simple. You rub pads made of fine sandpaper in circular motions over your legs, etc., buffing the skin until the hair breaks down.
It sounds super simple and a no-brainer for young girls but there are quite a bit of mixed reviews on this option.
Pros
- Painless, especially compared to epilating.
- Exfoliates skin in the process.
- Less intimidating option for young girls.
- Leaves skin feeling exra soft.
Cons
- Can leave skin extra sensitive or with burning sensations.
- Doesn’t alwasy work as well as advertised.
- Takes longer to do.
- Results are surface deep so would have to do more often.
>>Best Hair Removal Pads<<
If you are looking to try this option, this set here has the best reviews. Keep in mind, hair removal pads, in general, have mixed success rates so keep that in mind when/if you order some.
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.
Pingback: Epilating for Beginners: Tips and Best Practices - Life Worth the Living