Spotlight Magazines Spotlight on Stenson Fields and Sinfin May 2015 | Page 6

Spotlight Magazine D Depilation epilation is the term used to describe hair removal. It is a procedure which has been popular since ancient times, and encompassed some amazing fashions. In Egyptian times for instance it was popular to remove all bodily hair, even that on your head with tweezers, pumice stone, beeswax or sugar based waxes. Hair removal was seen as a sign of class in Roman Times and hair removal and was popular with high society men and women. In the Middle Ages, Queen Elizabeth set a trend for removing eyebrows so that the forehead looked bigger. Now, we tend to follow the fashions of Hollywood when it comes to hair removal, and new techniques often emerge from the States. In the UK, many salons now offer the following: Waxing, either using strips or free running wax. For women all areas can be covered, including face, arms, legs and intimate areas. In recent years there has been a considerable increase in male waxing, with more men opting to have their chest, abdominal area or shoulders waxed. Plucking using traditional tweezers is generally less common now, but is still used for the removal of facial hair, particularly eyebrows. specialist salons and private clinics, and suitability can depend on skin tone and hair colour. In recent years there has also been an increase in barbers offering hot towel shaves to their customers. Outside the salon there are many ways we can remove hair at home. Kits for waxing and bleaching and many depilatory creams can be found at most pharmacies and supermarkets. Manufacturers continue to develop their products adding new fragrances and additional benefits such as moisturising. We can also buy electrical products to help. In addition to wet razors a vast range of electric razors can also be purchased along with epilators for personal use. There is a growing industry in male grooming products too which includes post shaving balms and moisturisers for men. Despite the fact that all depilation methods seem to have some pain attached we seem as keen as ever to be fuzz-free. By Susan Brookes-Morris Threading is one of the safest, quickest and easiest ways to remove unwanted facial hair. It is an ancient art which removes the whole hair, including the follicle, and can last up to six weeks. A cotton thread is pulled along unwanted hair in a twisting motion, to trap it in a mini lasso before pulling it out. Bleaching and treatments using washes or sugar bases are also available. More sophisticated treatments which aim to reduce hair growth include electrolysis and laser hair removal. They are offered at 6 www.spotlightlocal.co.uk • 01332 416 121 • [email protected]