Whether you decide to remove or not is a personal choice. But if you prefer to be hair-free, the beauty admin can be intense. It’s estimated that those who shave spend eight weeks of our lives removing body hair. Imagine what you could achieve with that time back (or, y’know, how many episodes of Below Deck you could get through.)
We spoke to three Cosmo staffers about their hair removal histories and how they've streamlined their routines with the help of at-home IPL.
‘I know my worth isn't tied up in my body hair’
“Growing up, I developed body hair before a lot of my peers, especially on my upper lip, and it was something I was really self-conscious of. It’s a stereotype that South Asian girls are hairy and I was teased for it at school, so I was desperate to start removing the hair as soon as possible.
My attitude has changed over time – I'm more confident, and I know my worth isn’t tied up in my body hair. In my culture, it was something you grew up believing you had to get rid of and you almost internalise this ‘shame’ around it. But as an adult, I know it's completely normal and natural, and whether you choose to remove it or not is up to you. As you get older, you start to realise how politicised body hair is, but it’s just… hair
I decided to try at-home IPL because it meant I wouldn't have to find time in my schedule to go to a salon — I used to spend a few hours on hair removal every few weeks, including threading and waxing appointments, as well as quick in-shower shaves. But the biggest positive for me was the long-lasting results. I now wonder why it took me so long to try it.
I use the Philips Lumea IPL 9000 Series and it takes out all the guesswork for you. It has a SmartSkin sensor, which tells you the best setting to use for each area of skin (and means you're not setting it too high.) I used to see my leg hair growing back in little tufts of stubble after around three days. But with IPL, the regrowth has been minimal. I slot sessions in around my schedule and it’s become a little slice of ‘me time’ within my beauty routine.” Hanna Ibraheem, Deputy Beauty Editor
‘Hair removal has always felt like a slog’
“I have thick, dark hair and, for me, it just makes me feel more put together to be hair-free. There have been times in the deepest darkest depths of winter when I've been a bit more lax. I've been known to just remove the hair around my ankles and armpits/anywhere that will be visible, and leave the rest.
I was about 10 when I started shaving my legs. I used to be so embarrassed about any form of body hair, but I now realise that was nonsense. Although I prefer to be hair-free, I'm more chilled about it. Take me as I come.
Hair removal has always felt like a slog, and I've been somewhat resentful of it. I was desperate for a way to keep on top of it and make my life easier. I tried the creams but hated the scent; I tried waxing but found I looked like a plucked chicken, and it made me prone to ingrown hairs. I now do a mix of epilating and at-home IPL. The epilation makes me less stubbly, and the IPL reduces regrowth (I wait 24 - 48 hours between epilating and IPL for the best results.) I love the flexibility of not having to rely on salon appointments. I can IPL when and where I want – I often do it in bed while watching Netflix.
I wish I'd taken before and after pictures, because my legs are so much less hairy now. I still get the odd bit of growth, but if I keep using the IPL regularly, it's minimal, and I spend way less time on hair removal generally. I could take up a new hobby or learn a language with all the spare time I have.” Sarah Coleman, Digital Design Lead
‘I feel more in control of my body hair’
“Hair removal is something I’ve never felt quite on top of. My approach is best described as inconsistent. Shaving has been my go-to method for most of my life, and I’ll often quickly run a razor over my skin at the end of a shower, invariably leaving me with missed patches and irritation.
My somewhat lazy approach means the long-lasting nature of IPL has always appealed to me. Before trying it, I was worried it would be uncomfortable, but I found it painless – you just feel a warm sensation on the skin.
It worked really well on my underarms – I saw a significant reduction in hair growth within eight weeks. It was great to be able to get super-smooth results, which isn’t always possible with a razor. It’s not as effective on some areas of my legs where my hair is lighter, but I've noticed a difference in density and thickness.
The variety of attachments you get with the Philips Lumea IPL 9000 Series make the device easy to use on different areas of the body. Plus, the fact it’s cordless is a dream – I can keep on top of my hair removal anywhere in the house while catching up on TV shows or listening to a podcast. At-home IPL has made me feel much more in control of my body hair.” Rosie Cole, Head of Video
Find out more about the Philips Lumea IPL 9000 Series at philips.co.uk
Alison is head of content for the Good Housekeeping Institute, responsible for product reviews across homes, beauty, wellness, family and food & drink. She lives by the William Morris quote that you should “have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.”
Alison has over 15 years' experience as a lifestyle editor and has written features on everything from misophonia to how to dress like Claudia on The Traitors. She has also interviewed everyone from Dame Joanna Lumley to the Kardashians.
In her spare time, you'll find her hanging out with Monty the cocker spaniel and refreshing the Sezane website every five seconds.
