Smooth Sailing
Your guide to hair removal
by Danielle Eccleston

The weather in Boston is completely unpredictable. Even though the calendar says it's spring, unfortunately for us Bostonians, what’s going on outside rarely agrees. In fact, in the past few years, the month of April has seen many a snow storm. Fortunately for us, this year the spring is finally here.

So how do we prepare for the warm weather and short skirts? Well, there is definitely an aspect of the female anatomy that doesn't work with the warmer temperatures. Yes, we are talking about hair. I know this is an uncomfortable subject for many of us. In fact, it's hard for me to even write about it without a smirk or giggle coming across my face. Still, after spring comes summer – and soon you won’t have a choice but to deal with the variety of places where hair can grow on our bodies.

Women around the world have tried to find the least painful way of tackling the issue of hair removal. From waxing to lasers to threading, we spend thousands of dollars over the course of a lifetime trying to get rid of the most natural thing on our bodies. In Boston, there are a variety of places you can go to handle this "situation" every few weeks. But before we get into that, let's be upfront and honest about how these three options work.

Waxing

Waxing acts as a temporary way to remove hair. It can be used on any part on your body (minus, of course, the hair on your head). I have tried this method many times in my hair removal ventures and I have to say that the more you do it, the less painful it gets. During my first waxing experience, I thought that I was actually going to die or have one of my very crucial body parts ripped off of me. Afterwards, I was talking to a friend who recommended taking Advil, or some variation of pain medication, prior to going in for my appointment. It worked: the next few sessions were much less uncomfortable and I didn’t have any noticeable inflammation afterwards either.

Most people get waxed once a month. While this seems like it's not so often, you have to let your hair grow out for at least a week to be eligible to get it done. It makes sense if you think about it; your hair needs to be longer so that the wax has something to hold onto. The pricing varies from place-to-place depending on where you get it done, but it's very easy to walk out of a salon spending more than $70 if you want both of your legs to be as smooth as a baby’s bottom.

I would recommend starting with a small area when it comes to this service, and then see if it's something you want to continue doing. I will warn you that once you start, it's extremely difficult to stop.

***INSITE’S CHOICE***: Beaucage Salon (71 Newbury Street, Boston. 617-437-7171, www.beaucage.com). Located smack dab in the middle of Newbury Street, this luxurious salon and spa touts a comfortable and inviting atmosphere and offers surprisingly low prices, considering their über-upscale locale. The proof? The cost for an upper-lip waxing is only $12, while their super-duper eyebrow shaping goes for $23. Those daring enough to go the waxing distance can check out one of the most talked-about services in the biz – the Brazilian Bikini Wax. An upper leg wax with a Brazilian starts at $110 – and if you’re planning on wearing that itsy bitsy polka dotted bikini to the beach, let me tell you, it’s worth it.

Laser Hair Removal – Laser hair removal is definitely a newer fad on the hair removal scene. Those who pursue this option are serious about not wanting any of those pesky little strands on their body to come back. While it’s effective in removing hair, it is still extremely expensive and you need multiple sessions for it to work.

Basically, laser hair removal feels like a small needle pricking you over and over again in the same location. Most people only have to undergo four to six sessions per area, but some may need even more. The way I see it: if I'm spending all that money and going through something like that, it better work! Before jumping into laser hair removal I would be sure to talk to the technician to get the lowdown your personal situation.

***INSITE’S CHOICE***The Rockoff Dermatology Center (1101 Beacon Street, Brookline. 617-731-2390. www.rockoffcenter.com). A hop, skip and a jump off the C line, this small and yet quaint office has some of the best lasers in the biz, as well as a warm, friendly staff to compliment its amazing services. It’s also located in a dermatologist’s office, which will put those who remain a little skeptical about getting this treatment done at ease, considering there will always be an M.D. on hand.

Threading - An ancient method of hair removal - which originated in Persia - spread to the Middle and Far East, and is now gaining popularity in Western countries. Practitioners use a pure, thin, twisted cotton thread which is rolled over untidy hairlines, upper lip hair and so on, plucking at the follicle level. Unlike tweezing, where a single hair is pulled out each time, threading can remove an entire row of hair, resulting in a straighter line.

This treatment is usually used when you have sensitive skin or use certain skin care products like Retin-A or Accutane, so it’s a much safer way to get rid of those pesky whiskers without causing too much damage to your skin. Still, some say that it's more painful then waxing – so beware.

***INSITE’S CHOICE*** Gentle Eyebrow Threading (524 Harvard Street, Brookline. 617-277-0227). Run by a lovely woman named Rema, this little oasis is the crème de la crème when it comes to threading. This service is her expertise – she has been doing it for years and years, and boasts a large clientele that includes woman of all ages.