Men and women are affected by body hair. But men tend to get it on their backs which is a very unfavorable area to have it. Back hair removal has become a common occurrence among men and it has gained quite a bit of acceptance as a grooming practice.
Significance
Body hair in general is an annoyance to many men, especially when it is on the back. It can cause excessive sweating in hot weather, dirt and dust buildup and most of all, it has an unattractive appearance. These factors make it very uncomfortable to live with. Sometimes guys get so self-conscious that they refuse to take their shirts off in public places.
Function
It is a necessity for body builders to remove excess body hair when competing. The back is a very prominent area and this tactic helps to show more definition. Back hair removal is also sought after by men who are going to be at a beach or resort. This especially holds true for single men who don't want to feel self conscious about their back hair.
Types
With today's technology, there are several different ways of getting back hair removed. No matter which method is used, there is always a long process involved. Here are some of the types with their descriptions.
Shaving--This is one of the most common methods. The major drawback with it is it is very short-term and an assistant is always needed.
Waxing--This is performed by applying hot wax to the body, then laying a nylon sheet over it and pulling the hair out in chunks.
Sugar waxing--This is basically the same concept as regular waxing, except a sugary thick solution resembling that of caramel is used instead of wax.
Depilatories--These are creams and formulas that are available in pharmacies and drug stores. They are chemical compounds designed to melt away hair. This process will also require the help of an assistant.
Electrolysis--This method involves inserting a fine needle into the hair root and burning it out.
Laser Hair Removal--This process uses light at varying wavelengths to target the follicles and retard the growth of new hair.
Considerations
There are a couple of things that need to be taken into consideration when getting back hair removed. The first thing is price. Most of the procedures can be expensive and they often times require multiple treatments.
A lot of the procedures are time consuming. Make sure to set aside at least a few hours for anything other than getting shaved. The depilatory method is especially long. The cream is left on the skin for 10 to 15 minutes, and during this time, it dissolves the body hair and then is wiped off. Only a little bit can be done at a time and some missed areas may need to be gone over again.
Before getting waxed, it is a good idea to trim down the hair. This can be done with a beard trimmer or even a conventional scissors. This makes the extraction of the hair easier.
Warning
There are a few things to watch out for when getting back hair removed. First of all, the depilatories always have a very strong, pungent smell to them. This may not be harmful but it is definitely offensive.
There is a lot of pain involved with waxing. This especially holds true when the hair is thicker.
There are two common side effects that are seen with shaving. The hair grows back quickly and the skin has a tendency to break out. Always make sure to use new and clean blades.
None of the procedures are cheap. Even shaving gets expensive after a while because of all the razor blades and shaving cream that will be used. Some of the professional procedures require multiple treatments which also add up. Laser hair removal usually takes about four to seven sessions.
Tags: back hair, back hair removed, body hair, getting back, getting back hair, hair removal