It’s spooky season, and that means trick-or-treating, scary movies, and telling ghost stories. As someone who has worked in the waxing industry for thirty years, I’ve heard my share of hair-raising tales. But nothing sends chills down my spine more than the terrifying methods that have been used to remove body hair throughout history (and even today)! That being said, everyone is different, so what works for one person may not work for another. Factors such as personal choice and skill influence these methods. If they work for you, don’t be scared to use them! Now…grab a cozy blanket, a pumpkin spice latte, and settle in for the scariest methods of hair removal that still haunt me to this day.
The Epilady Trio
If the name of this product sends shivers down your spine, I promise I won’t judge you! Hair removal methods have come a long way, and thank goodness for that. This product was introduced in 1988 and was marketed as a hair removal product; however, I think this relic belongs in a haunted house.
The Epilady removes hair by means of rotating coils that trap each hair and pull it out, with a feeling similar to tweezers. This product was not just painful, but also inconvenient. You could only use it after showering and only on your legs! While it was effective, there are far more comfortable and convenient ways to achieve smooth legs now. Although the Epilady Trio is no longer made, epilators are still a prominent hair removal technique.
At Home Waxing Kits
The 90s were great for many reasons, but hair removal wasn’t one of them (the real horror story is how thin we used to style our eyebrows). At-home waxing kits were advertised as a quick and easy way to achieve salon-ready results from the comfort of your own home. The wax usually came in a pot that was heated up on the stove, and cloth strips that stuck to everything except the actual hair. If this sounds like a nightmare waiting to happen, you would be correct! This hair removal method was messy, painful, and incredibly risky, often leading to burns or skin damage. These kits still haunt me!
Depilatory Creams
If you got flashbacks of the overpowering sulfur smell just by reading the title, you can understand why depilatory creams are on this list. Not only did these creams smell awful, but they often caused irritation, dryness, or uneven results due to their harsh chemical ingredients. Many people experience chemical burns, peeling skin, severe pain, and itching when using these products. They can also leave you with a “scab mustache”, which occurs when an allergic reaction to the cream results in scabs or scarring on the upper lip, leaving you with a scab mustache.
Even I was a victim of this horror! I slathered my legs in the bathroom at 15, leaving it on longer than said (because obviously longer is better), only to find it not only made my hair disappear like magic, but also my skin! As a waxing specialist, I think the scariest Halloween costume would be a bottle of this stuff.
Hair Removal Coils
If you hear screaming, it’s not someone being chased by Freddy Krueger. It’s most likely whoever decided to use a hair removal coil to pluck their upper lip hair. This product is exactly what it sounds like: a coiled spring that is rolled over the face, plucking hairs from the root with a pain similar to that of threading. This product is used for fine facial hair, and although it is somewhat effective, we recommend sticking to waxing.
Electrolysis
Despite sounding like something you would do to Frankenstein’s monster, electrolysis was a very popular method of hair removal in the 1970s and 1980s. This technique was often unreliable due to unregulated technology and a lack of training among practitioners. Although the technique has evolved immensely over the years, it can lead to pain, swelling, and skin discoloration. Despite being described as ‘permanent’ hair removal, the method is rarely a permanent solution, with many people spending years attempting to permanently remove hair and never achieving their desired results.
Happy Halloween!
This Halloween, don’t fall victim to these scary hair removal methods. You deserve a wax that’s all treats and no tricks…that means no burns, no mystery chemicals, and no bathroom disasters. Just long-lasting results and skin so soft, it’s almost supernatural!
