So I totally missed the Golden Globes this past weekend…sorry, the playoffs were on and as the woman of a football fanatic, that’s not even up for debate. Besides, I knew there would be plenty of photos, blogs and articles and tweets to keep me up to date.

Anyway, as I was checking on my twitter updates, I received the news about actress and comedian, Mo’nique’s big win as supporting actress for her role in the movie Precious. Everyone kept talking about how elegant and gorgeous she looked, but all I kept thinking was “I hope she shaved her legs”. For those of you who don’t know, Mo’nique doesn’t believe in shaving…odd, I know!

And of course I was deeply disappointed when I saw pics and headlines the next day. I guess to each, its own, but at such a prestigious and glamorous event, she could have least have kept the gown down…seems like she was trying to show those hairy legs off.

Needless to say, her hairy legs have been the talk of the town….beauty and fashion blogs have been debating and discussing it, even a local spa got in on the fiasco , D’Brows in D.C. is offering a “Mo’Nique Special” $9 off every body waxing service.

So I thought I’d join in too and list different techniques and products for hair removal

#1 Shaving – It’s the most temporary method of hair removal because it merely cuts the hair off at the skin surface. Shaving does not make the hair shaft thicker, darker, or grow faster or slower.

#2 Plucking – Plucking hair with tweezers is an effective way to remove hair but can be very time consuming. Great for eyebrows.

#3 Waxing – Waxing is an effective method of removing large amounts of hair at one time. In this method wax is warmed to allow it to be spread easily over the skin in the direction of hair growth.

#4 Sugar Waxing – Sugar waxing is a popular form of hair removal that works in the same way traditional waxing does. A thick sugary substance similar to caramel is spread on the skin in the direction of hair growth. The hair becomes embedded in the caramel. A cloth or paper strip is patted onto the caramel and then pulled off quickly in the opposite direction of the hair growth, pulling the hairs out of the follicles. The advantage of this method over traditional waxing is the clean up. The sugar substance is water-soluble and can be removed easier than wax by rinsing with water.

#5 Depilatories – Depilatories use a chemical called thioglycolate mixed with sodium hydroxide or calcium hydroxide to literally melt the hair away. Thioglycolate disrupts disulfide bonds, which are chemical bonds that hold skin and hair cells together. The disulfide bonds that hold hair together contain more of the protein cystine than do the disulfide bonds that hold skin cells together. Thioglycolate is more effective on disulfide bonds that contain cystine. The major side effect of a depilatory is skin irritation because the chemical can melt away skin cells.

#6 Electrolysis
Electrolysis involves inserting a fine needle into the hair follicle and applying an electrical current to the follicle root. This procedure actually burns the hair root theoretically preventing it from producing more hair. Each hair follicle must be treated individually and may take several treatments to destroy the follicle. Electrolysis is a permanent form of hair removal but it has several drawbacks. First, there are no standardized licensing guidelines for electrolysis so finding an experienced, effective technician is difficult requiring talking to clients who have experienced permanent results. Second, this method requires repeated treatments for up to 12 to 18 months.

#7 Laser
Laser treatment of various skin conditions has blossomed, as laser technology has become more understood. Hair removal is a common application of laser technology, but it is not permanent and not for everyone. Lasers work by emitting light at various wavelengths, energy output, and pulse widths. The wavelength used determines the skin structure it will affect such as veins, melanin, or water. Most lasers used for hair removal target melanin and are therefore designed to burn structures that contain melanin. The more melanin, the more damage. It makes sense that laser hair removal works best for light-skinned people with dark hair.

#8 Vaniqa
Vaniqa is a prescription-only topical cream that has been FDA-approved for reducing and inhibiting the growth of unwanted facial hair. The active ingredient in Vaniqa is eflornithine hydrochloride, which has been used to treat African sleeping sickness and certain cancers. Vaniqa works by inhibiting an enzyme that is needed for cell reproduction and other cell functions necessary for hair growth. Vaniqa is applied twice a day to areas of unwanted facial hair. Noticeable results are usually observed after 4-8 weeks of therapy. Application must be continued for as long as inhibition of hair growth is desired. Vaniqa continues to reduce facial hair growth for up to 8 weeks after discontinuing treatment.

At Home Products

Shaving
No!no! – no!no!

$175
It removes hair without pain and irritation, and if used consistently over time, reduces hair re-growth
Aveeno Ultra Calming Shave
$4.15
Aveeno’s Ultra Calming Shave Gel will reduce or eliminate redness and irritation, leaving behind smooth skin.
Gillette Venus Embrace
$12.99
Gillette’s update on the popular Venus razor has five blades, a ribbon of moisture to prevent nicks, and a spring-loaded head for ease of use.

Creams/Depilatories
Nair Pretty Soft Cream
$5.69
For Nair that doesn’t smell like Nair, try the Pretty soft cream , a pleasantly scented alternative that works on legs and bikini area.
Veet In-Shower Cream

$8.79
Veet’s In-Shower cream works really well on thick hair and only takes six minutes or less. Use it for the legs, arms, underarms, and bikini line.
Nair Shower Power
$7.99
Put on Nair before you get in the shower, wash as you normally do (it’ll stay on), then use the exfoliating sponge to remove the cream and hair after about 10 minutes.

Pull and Pluck

Salon Divine Body Wax Kit
$13.99
Though if you have a lot of area to cover, a better choice is the Salon Divine Body Wax kit . This microwavable wax doesn’t need a cloth strip—just smooth it on, let it cool off, and pull.
Braun Silk-epil Soft Perfection
$44
The Braun Silk-epil Xpressive for body also has interchangeable heads that epilate, massage, shave, and trim.
Bliss Poetic Waxing Kit

$45
The Bliss Poetic Waxing Kit is an easy-to-use kit with thick wax that doesn’t require strips and works very well on sensitive skin.