Professional hair removal can be painful, time-consuming, and expensive. Several home remedies are available, however, for those who want to permanently remove hair on their faces and bodies.

The market has been bombarded with home-based laser hair removal products. An alternative to professional laser removal, home lasers are more cost-effective and provide permanent removal.

One such product, the Tria Laser Hair Removal System, is FDA-cleared and delivers long-lasting results. According to the Tria website, “The cost of professional hair removal on the legs, underarms, and bikini line only is upwards of $10,000 for a complete course of treatments. The $800 Tria system is a cheaper alternative that offers comparable results."

The Tria laser system should be used every other week for three months. At that time, treatments can be done once a month for the next three to five months. Users simply apply the laser to the skin and wait for a beep sound. After the beep, move the laser to a new treatment area and repeat until all areas are covered.

After six to eight treatments, hair will not grow back.

In addition to laser hair removal, electrolysis can be performed at home. During electrolysis, a probe is inserted into each individual hair follicle. The tedious and time-consuming process can cause scarring and harm the skin if performed improperly.

Because electrolysis can be difficult, it is not a widely recommended home-based procedure.

A popular and convenient option for facial hair removal in women is Vaniqua. Vaniqua is a topical cream applied to unwanted facial hair and is FDA-approved for use only by women.

Like laser and electrolysis hair removal treatments, Vaniqua works over time. The prescription cream slows the growth of hair rather than instantly removing it. Most women see results within four to eight weeks.

Vaniqua does not provide a permanent solution for unwanted hair, as growth resumes when use is discontinued.