Depilatories – Answers to frequently asked questions

depilatories they are a very popular method of hair removal, as they are quite inexpensive and easy to use at home. Would they follow you? Check out this fact sheet to help you decide.

What are depilatories?

A depilatory is a liquid or cream preparation used to remove unwanted hair from the body. The word depilatory, pronounced “di-pila-toree”, literally means “to deprive of hair” (from the Latin pilus, hair).

What is the difference between a depilatory and an epilatory?

Depilatories remove hair from the surface of the skin. A depilatory, such as waxing or tweezing (plucking), removes hair from below the surface of the skin and extracts the hair follicle.

How do depilatories work?

Depilatories contain chemicals with a high degree of acidity (low pH) such as sodium thioglycolate or calcium thioglycolate. They react with the protein structure of the hair breaking it down.

Depending on the coarseness of the hair, within 5 to 15 minutes, the hair dissolves into a sticky mass that can then be washed.

Why does the skin feel so smooth after applying depilatories?

Depilatories act as exfoliants, which means that they remove dead cells from the surface of the skin. These dead skin cells build up every day and often feel rough. After removal, the skin feels softer and smoother.

Many depilatories contain moisturizers such as baby oil, almond oil, green tea extract, and aloe that contribute to softer, smoother skin.

What is better, a depilatory cream or a liquid?

A depilatory lotion or liquid is designed for larger areas of the body, such as the legs, underarms, and bikini area.

A depilatory cream has a thicker consistency so it can be applied to specific areas without the risk of it running onto skin you don’t want treated. Therefore, a cream is ideal for the face.

How long does results last?

This varies by individual, but usually for many days, even up to around two weeks.

Results generally last longer than with a razor. The chemicals in depilatories reach the pores of the skin, thereby removing hair below skin level. As a result, hair takes longer to grow back.

Conclusion: Depilatories can be harsh on the skin. However, each individual is different when it comes to skin sensitivity and what works well for one may not work well for another. Also, some depilatories on the market now have ingredients to greatly minimize skin irritation. Check the resource box below for the latest hair removal resources.

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