Shaving is the practice of removing body hair with either a straight or disposable razor. Some individuals are prone to razor burn, which is a rash that develops from using a razor. Razor burn may turn the skin red, cause bumps and present a burning sensation. Alternative hair removal methods are available that allow individuals to shave without a razor. These shaving alternatives vary in speed and effectiveness; some methods are ideal for removing small patches of hair, while others can be used over large portions of the body.

Waxing is a method of hair removal that allows individuals to remove both large and small patches of hair. To wax your legs or other parts of your body, heat the wax up in a bowl of hot water or the microwave, then spread the wax over the hair you would like to remove. Place the strips that came with the product over the wax and allow it to set. When the wax has cooled, pull the strip quickly away from the skin to remove the hair.

Plucking is a method of hair removal ideal for small patches of hair, such as the eyebrows. Plucking is often performed using tweezers. To pluck hair, grasp one or more hairs with a pair of tweezers and quickly pull them from your skin. Some individuals may find plucking painful, depending on the location of the hair being removed.

Hair removal creams such as Nair, Veet and Vaniqa are depilatories designed to dissolve hair using chemicals. A depilatory cream may cause irritation in sensitive or allergic individuals, but is painless for most users, making it preferential over waxing. To remove hair with a depilatory, spread the cream over the hair you want removed, then immediately wash your hands. Allow the cream to sit for no longer than 15 minutes. Wash the cream and hair off using a cloth and warm water.