Hair removal methods compared: all options at a glance
Reading time: 7 min. · Updated: 11/2026
Razor, cream, epilator, wax, sugar paste, thread, flashes of light, laser or needle: none of these methods is painless, quick and long-lasting all at once. Here you'll find all the common methods at a glance – how they work, how long the result lasts and what suits which body area.
All methods at a glance
| Method | How it works | Lasts about | Can you feel it? | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaving | cuts the hair off at the surface | 1–3 days | no | any area, quick and spontaneous |
| Hair removal cream | dissolves the hair chemically | a few days, a little longer than shaving | no | legs, underarms; face and intimate area only with a suitable cream |
| Epilator | pulls the hairs out by the root | up to about 4 weeks | clearly at first | legs, arms |
| Waxing | wax pulls the hairs out by the root | up to about 4 weeks | clearly | almost all areas |
| Sugaring | sugar paste pulls the hairs out by the root | up to about 4 weeks | clearly | almost all areas |
| Threading | a twisted thread pulls the hairs out | 4–5 weeks | briefly | face, eyebrows |
| IPL | flashes of light damage the hair root | fewer hairs after many applications, touch-ups needed | noticeable | dark hair on light skin |
| Laser | laser light damages the hair root | permanent¹ reduction after several sessions | noticeable | dark hair, large areas too |
| Electrolysis | electric current destroys each hair root individually | each treated hair root is destroyed individually | a prick with every hair | light, red, grey hair, small areas |
¹ Permanent hair reduction requires several treatments, depending on the body area and the individual hair and skin type. Success cannot be guaranteed, even when the treatment is carried out professionally. On light, red, grey or white hair, the treatment is ineffective or only partially effective.
Shaving
Shaving is quick, cheap and doesn't hurt. Because the hair is only cut off at the surface, stubble appears after one to three days. The idea that hair grows back thicker afterwards is a myth.
Skin irritation, razor burn or spots are often caused by blunt blades and ingrown hairs. For a smooth, gentle shave, use a sharp blade that you change as soon as it pulls, shaving foam or gel on warm, damp skin, shave in the direction of hair growth and apply a mild moisturiser afterwards.
Hair removal cream: how does it work?
Hair removal creams contain active ingredients, usually thioglycolic acid, that dissolve the keratin in the hair. After the application time, the hair is removed with a spatula and washed off. It doesn't hurt and lasts a little longer than shaving.
Because the active ingredients attack hair, they can also irritate the skin or trigger an allergy – sometimes only after months. So: test on a small area first and wait 24 hours, stick to the application time, wash it off immediately if it burns, and never use it on mucous membranes or irritated skin. For the face and intimate area, only use creams intended for those areas.
Epilator
An epilator pulls the hairs out, root and all, with small tweezers; this lasts up to about a month. At first it's clearly painful, but the skin gets used to it over time. Epilating properly means: hairs about 2 to 5 millimetres long, skin pulled taut, the device held upright, and regular gentle exfoliation – at first, hairs tend to grow in.
What is sold as a "laser epilator" is not an epilator but a light-based device for home use – often IPL, sometimes with a laser diode.
Waxing and sugaring
Wax or a paste made of sugar, lemon juice and water removes the hairs by the root; this lasts up to about four weeks. The hairs need to be a few millimetres long. We compare the differences in the article Waxing, sugaring or laser?
Threading
In threading, a practitioner twists a cotton thread so that it catches several hairs and pulls them out. It's precise, causes little skin irritation and lasts about four to five weeks. Ideal for eyebrows and upper lip, unsuitable for large areas.
IPL
IPL devices work with flashes of light from a flash lamp, which are absorbed by the melanin in the hair. They are available in studios and as lower-power devices for home use. What home devices can do is explained in the article At-home IPL device or treatment in a salon?
Laser
The laser works on the same principle, but with precisely defined wavelengths. Because it only reaches hairs in the growth phase, usually 6 to 10 sessions, 4 to 6 weeks apart, are needed. The goal is a permanent¹ reduction: considerably less, finer and lighter hair. On light blonde, red, grey and white hair, it is ineffective or only partially effective. More about the treatment with us: Laser hair removal in Munich.
¹ Permanent hair reduction requires several treatments, depending on the body area and the individual hair and skin type. Success cannot be guaranteed, even when the treatment is carried out professionally. On light, red, grey or white hair, the treatment is ineffective or only partially effective.
Electrolysis
In electrolysis (needle epilation), a fine probe is inserted into each hair follicle and the root is destroyed with electric current. It also works on light, red and grey hair, but takes a lot of time, because each hair is treated individually. In detail: Electrolysis or laser?
Which method for which body area?
- Eyebrows: tweezing or threading. Never laser or IPL near the eyes.
- Upper lip and chin: threading or waxing for a few weeks, a cream for the face for a few days; for dark hair, the laser for less effort in the long run; for light and grey hair, the needle. More in the article Facial hair removal for women.
- Underarms: shaving in between, waxing or sugaring for a few weeks, laser for dark hair.
- Legs and arms: shaving or cream when you're in a hurry, epilator, waxing or sugaring for a few weeks; for dark hair, laser or IPL.
- Bikini line and intimate area: particularly sensitive skin. Shaving, waxing or sugaring in a studio, laser; cream only if intended for this area, never on mucous membranes. Details in the article Intimate area hair removal.
- Back and chest for men: cream or waxing for a few weeks, laser for less effort in the long run. The back is hard to reach on your own.
- Light, red or grey hair, anywhere: shaving, cream, waxing or sugaring in between, electrolysis for individual hairs. Laser and IPL don't work here.
If hair suddenly appears in new places or increases noticeably within a short time, please have the cause checked by a doctor.
FAQ
Epilators, waxing, sugaring and threading last about four weeks. Laser, IPL and electrolysis aim for treated roots to produce less hair or none at all – this takes several sessions.
Not as a rule, but it can cause irritation and trigger allergies. Do a skin test before using it for the first time, stick to the application time and never use it on mucous membranes or irritated skin.
Shaving is quick and doesn't hurt, but only lasts a few days. Epilating lasts up to a month, but is clearly painful at first, and hairs grow in more easily.
Book
Would you like to know whether laser is an option for your area and your hair? In the free consultation, we look at your skin and hair and test how they react on a small area.
Sources
- Stiftung Warentest: Haarentfernung – Glatte Beine gibts auf fünf Wegen. 03.06.2026. test.de/Haarentfernung-Fuer-immer-weg-1246658-0
- Stiftung Warentest: Epilierer im Test – Fünf weitere Varianten zum Haarentfernen. 02.05.2019. test.de/Epilierer-im-Test-1680642-1680637
- American Academy of Dermatology: How to remove unwanted hair (6 ways to remove unwanted hair). aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/remove-unwanted-hair
- American Academy of Dermatology: How to shave. aad.org/public/everyday-care/skin-care-basics/hair/how-to-shave
- Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz: Dauerhafte Haarentfernung (Epilation). bfs.de/DE/themen/opt/anwendung-medizin-wellness/epilation/epilation.html
- Asmuß M, Weiskopf D (Bundesamt für Strahlenschutz): Laser, IPL & Co – Anwendungen optischer Strahlung in der Kosmetik. UMID 1/2016. umweltbundesamt.de/sites/default/files/medien/2218/publikationen/umid_1_2016_bfs_laser.pdf
- DermNet: Electrolysis. Ngan V, 2003, last updated 2024. dermnetnz.org/topics/electrolysis
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