Tried And Tested: Hair Removal Products

Posted: 01/06/11

Ruth Doherty

Follow: Hair Removal, Intense Pulsed Light Therapy, Razor, Tried And Tested, Waxing

From the virtues of waxing, razors and hair removal creams to testing out the latest in hair-busting systems - we took on the (sometimes messy) task of testing out the top products on the market... Razor nicks? Anything for you...

Tried and tested: Hair removal products

Boots Smooth Naturally Sensitive Hair Removal Kit
 Fill me in: A chamomile and honey infused cream that promises to leave you hair-free for up to five days. Easy to use? Just apply the cream to areas that you want smooth - simple. End result: No redness or reaction showing on face, and happily hairless for the five days it promises. <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Boots-Smooth-Naturally-Sensitive-Hair-Removal-Kit_24035/">Boots Smooth Naturally Sensitive Hair Removal Kit</a>, £4.07
Gillette Venus Spa Breeze Razor
 Fill me in: The Spa Breeze razor has built-in shave gel bars with a lovely white tea fragrance, containing skin-conditioning olive and avocado oils. Easy to use? Extremely. The gel bars are flexible so bend round intricate curves, and we loved the way you don't need to use separate shower gel or shaving cream. Those times when you're running out the door and realise you've forgotten to shave your underarms (come on, girls, we've all been there), will never be as annoying again. End result: A close, smooth shave with soft-feeling skin - and not an ankle or knee nick in sight. <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Gillette-Venus-Spa-Breeze-Razor_1042807/?CAWELAID=456200394&cm_mmc=Shopping%20Engines-_-Google%20Base-_---_-Gillette%20Venus%20Spa%20Breeze%20Razor" target="_blank">Gillette Venus Spa Breeze Razor</a>, £9.99
Nair Easy Wax Roll-On
 Fill me in: A roll-on wax kit that comes with cloth strips and Smooth Touch wipes. Easy to use? Yes and no. It's obvious what you need to do, but it's a little bit messy and a little bit fiddly. End result: The packaging says you don't need to heat the wax, but we found it actually works better if you do (pop it in the microwave for a few seconds). But, we're sorry to say, limbs were left with hairy patches, and, despite its name, it's not all that easy. <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Nair-Easy-Wax-Roll-On_17549/" target="_blank">Nair Easy Wax Roll-On</a>, £8.67
Veet EasyGrip Ready-to-Use Wax Strips
 Fill me in: The Veet wax strips are designed to make at-home waxing as clean and easy as possible. Easy to use? Yes. The strips make life simple, and less messy than other at-home wax kits - no goo to contend with. End result: Legs were left quite smooth, but there were a few little patches of hair left. Regrowth is slower than shaving: it might take a little longer than a razor, but the effects also last longer. A razor probably offers a smoother fast-fix. <a href="http://www.waitrose.com/shop/ProductView-10309-10001-30442-Veet+wax+strips+ready+to+use.html" target="_blank">Veet EasyGrip Ready-to-Use Wax Strips</a>, £4.40
Veet In-Shower Silk Extracts Hair Removal Cream
 Fill me in: A handy hair removal cream that you can apply before stepping in the shower, wait while you wash, then step out hair-free. Easy to use? Couldn't be easier. Apply the cream with a sponge, and leave for one minute before stepping in the shower. End result: A nice soft, safe way to remove hair (and that awful eggy smell seems to have disappeared), but there were a couple of patches that had to be tided with a razor. <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Veet-In-Shower-Silk-Extracts-Hair-Removal-Cream_21601/" target="_blank">Veet In-Shower Silk Extracts Hair Removal Cream</a>, £6.20
Wilkinson Sword Quattro for Women Bikini Travel
 Fill me in: This two-in-one summer travel kit boasts a razor on one end and an electric waterproof trimmer on the other, for all your bikini and leg hair needs. Easy to use? As easy as A, B, C. The razor, with its conditioning strips, ensures your legs are beach-ready and the battery-operated, water-proof trimmer ensures you're bikini-ready! End result: Rash-free, smooth finish. Another bonus? It comes with a handy travel pouch, too. <a href="http://www.boots.com/en/Wilkinson-Sword-Quattro-for-Women-Bikini-Travel-Razor_1042805/" target="_blank">Wilkinson Sword Quattro for Women Bikini Travel</a>, £9.99
Philips Lumea
 Fill me in: Philips Lumea touts itself as a pain-free way to keep skin baby smooth with zero stubble. Easy to use? Impressively fuss free. Lumea has five settings, which adjust according to your skin and hair colour. It's also pretty versatile and can be used on legs, under the arms and the bikini area. When we used it, there was a slight tingle but no pain. A certain amount of perserverance was required at the start as you need to use Lumea once every fortnight over an eight-week period - but the results were well worth it. End result: We could really see (and feel) the difference just three sessions in. With each session, the hair grew back slower and finer, and by the third session, about 80% of hair had given up completely. It might be the most expensive product trialled, but the results are genuinely long-lasting, with no ingrown hairs or stubble. <a href="http://www.philips.co.uk/c/lumea-shaving/171060/cat/" target="_blank">Philips Lumea</a>, £399