The sun is finally out again, and with it the chance to jump back into our short-sleeved summer wardrobes.
Sadly, for many women, that notion inspires a sense of dread. Why? They hate their arm hair. Indeed, many of us still see downy forearms as yet another thing we need to ‘fix’.
Dr Mihaela Gulyas, an aesthetic doctor and founder of London’s SKNCode (skncode.co.uk) clinic, says that the issue is both physical, and one of perception.
‘Some women naturally have very fine, almost invisible hair. Others have darker, thicker hair,’ she says.
‘But whether it bothers you is very personal. Some patients don’t think twice about it, others feel quite self-conscious, especially if the hair contrasts with their skin tone.’
Dr Gulyas says genetics is the main factor dictating how hairy your arms are.
‘Your ethnicity and family traits will largely determine how much hair you have, how thick it is, and how dark it appears,’ she explains.
‘Hormones also play a role. Even small variations in androgen [male hormone] levels can influence hair growth. In some cases, conditions like PCOS (polycystic ovary syndrome) can lead to thicker or more noticeable hair. Then there’s visibility – darker hair on lighter skin will always stand out more, even if the amount of hair isn’t actually higher.’
She urges those who have recently noticed excessive or unusual hair growth to check in with their GP, in case there’s an underlying hormonal cause that needs to be investigated.
And for those ready to defuzz? Here is Dr Gulyas’s expert verdict on the best options available.
Laser hair removal
‘This is the one I recommend most in clinic as it’s the closest we have to a long-term solution,’ says Dr Gulyas. Lasers use light energy which is converted into heat to damage the hair follicle and stop it growing. SKNCode uses the Soprano system by Alma, which Dr Gulyas says is quick and more comfortable to use than older lasers.
Dr Gulyas says genetics is the main factor dictating how hairy your arms are. ‘Your ethnicity and family traits will largely determine how much hair you have’ she explains
Creams have long been a quick and easy home solution and, as they dissolve hair just below the skin, you don’t tend to get any blunt regrowth
‘It works best on darker hair and reduces hair growth long-term,’ she says. ‘It does require a course of between six and ten 30-minute treatments (four to eight weeks apart depending on hair growth) at between £80 and £200 a session – the price depends on whether you buy a one-off treatment or a course – as well as the occasional maintenance session.
‘But in the long run, it’s more cost-effective than waxing.’
However, she does warn that the quality of the device and practitioner are important, to avoid complications such as burns or pigmentation. It’s advised to avoid sun exposure for two weeks before and after laser treatment and, if you must be in the sun, use high-factor, broad-spectrum protection (minimum SPF 30) and reapply regularly.
At-home intense pulsed light (IPL)
If you prefer to do the removal at home, there are devices that use similar technology. IPL is pulsed light rather than the constant light of a laser – but you can expect comparable results. Ulike Air ten (£269.99, ulike.com) is a hand-held device that is mains powered and comes with a cooling head that makes zapping virtually painless. It has an auto-glide mode that means you can just move it up and down your arm and it will keep zapping as long as it’s in contact with the skin.
Ulike claims after two weeks’ use on alternate days, users had a 92 per cent reduction in forearm hair (based on a trial of 32 women aged 19 to 54).
Waxing
‘This is still a very popular option as it removes hair from the root, costs as little as £20, results can last three to four weeks and hair often grows back softer and finer over time,’ says Dr Gulyas. However she points out that the downside is discomfort and she also sees a lot of ingrown hairs.
Dr Gulyas says that shaving is not something she would normally recommend for arm hair due to irritation risk
She recommends maintaining a good exfoliation and hydration regime, saying: ‘A lot of issues that I see with hair removal, such as ingrown hairs, are actually skin-related rather than hair-related.’
Grown Alchemist’s new Resurfacing Body Cleanser (£32) and Lotion (£42, both grownalchemist.com) contain a blend of gentle acids that help exfoliate skin.
For a more budget option, check out The Ordinary’s Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Toner (£10) or go low-tech with a pair of exfoliating gloves (£2, Boots).
While exfoliating doesn’t affect hair growth, it does help prevent skin growing over the top of hair regrowth, which is what can cause bumps, ingrown hairs and folliculitis, where a follicle becomes inflamed or infected.
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Hair removal creams
Creams have long been a quick and easy home solution and, as they dissolve hair just below the skin, you don’t tend to get the blunt regrowth you can get from shaving.
Veet Hair Removal Cream for Sensitive Skin (£13, Boots) is an inexpensive option but, says Dr Gulyas, while products such as these can work well in the short term, she doesn’t recommend them long-term as they can irritate the skin.
Epilators
Like waxing, devices such as the Philips 2000 Series Epilator (£22, Amazon) remove hair at the root. While they give longer-lasting results than shaving, a lot of women find the process painful as hair is yanked out from the root. It also comes with the risk of ingrown hairs.
Shaving
Dr Gulyas says this is not something she would normally recommend for arm hair because, though it’s quick, ‘the results are very short-lived, it can cause irritation or folliculitis and it doesn’t address the underlying growth’.
And, as the cut ends grow through, they can feel stubbly.
Bleaching
‘This isn’t ideal for sensitive skin as it can cause irritation, but if the hair is fine and just appears dark, it can be a simple and inexpensive solution as it makes the hair less visible,’ says Dr Gulyas.
Jolene Mild Cream Bleach (£4.40, Boots) is a long-standing favourite among women.
