Since time immemorial women have craved for smooth, flawless skin. Over the years, with the blessings of technology this has turned into a reality. However the word permanent hair removal could only mean that it can last for a few weeks, months or even a year. Hair removal techniques reduce the growth of the hair. They usually work towards complete destruction of hair follicle's ability to grow hair yet again. There are several methods used for hair removal.

Electrolysis has proved to be both effective and clinically safe. In this method a hair-like metal probe is inserted into a hair follicle and an electric current is delivered to it through the probe. As a consequence it causes damages to the areas that generate hair. However it is painful, tedious and expensive.

In laser hair removal methods a light is delivered at a specified wavelength from a hand piece into the skin. By targeting the pigment in the hair it causes damage to the hair follicle while sparing the surrounding tissues.

Flash lamps or Intense Pulsed Light is another hair removal method. In this process filtered light is delivered from a hand piece into the skin and causes damage to the hair follicle. It has delivered fairly proper results but has been found to be unsuccessful on un-pigmented hair and also on red and blonde hair. If the treatment is not done properly it might have adverse effects like skin burns, discoloration etc.

Home electrolysis is another method which saves money. It can be done in privacy. One can treat oneself in one's own convenient time. It is an option for those who cannot afford the other expensive processes of hair removal. However there are a lot of side effects like one might suffer from skin damage, swelling, temporary redness that may last for a longer period of time. Moreover some areas are difficult to treat alone.

There are several other methods like shaving with metal blade. Though its effect lasts for a short time it is inexpensive, fast and usually painless. In cream depilatories a chemical dissolves the hair from the skins surface. The effect is for a few days only. It can be a skin and eye irritant for some. Hot wax is applied to skin and a strip of cloth or paper is pressed into the preparation. The strip is pulled away thus taking hairs with it. Tweezing, threading using of rotary epilators sugaring are all home methods.