Hair Removal

1. Home Waxing
Do-it-yourself kits have made waxing from head to toe easy and no more painful than having a pro do it. New at-home waxing kits contain professional-quality wax to minimize post-treatment bumps. Results last as long as salon waxing—about four to eight weeks, depending on your hair's natural growth rate.

How-To Wax
* Don't wax if you take Accutane. It can make skin sensitive and prone to scarring. For the same reason, pass on any skin areas where you apply Retin-A or Renova.
* Trim your hair first. Trimming bikini-line hairs to one-quarter inch before waxing will help minimize discomfort.
* Use enough wax. Apply in a banana-peel thickness against the hair growth for best results.
* Hold on to your skin. Hold skin taut as you rip away wax. This seems to help hairs slip out more easily.
* Be quick. The faster you rip it off, the sooner it's over.
* Soothe post-waxing irritation. To soothe post-removal redness and bumps, apply a 1 percent hydrocortisone cream (available at drugstores), which is an anti-inflammatory

2. Creams
Vaniqa is the only cream that slows hair growth. In clinical trials, Vaniqa, a FDA-approved prescription cream, slowed the growth of facial hair in 60 percent of women when applied twice every day. But it has only been approved for facial hair. And don't expect miracles: Vaniqa doesn't get rid of hair permanently; it only slows its growth by impeding the enzyme that makes facial hair grow. Once you stop using it, the hair grows right back.  Vaniqa is bet for women with excessive facial hair—not those who have to wax only every once in a while. Results can be seen after two months of use. Possible side effect: skin irritation.