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can become costly. Also, scarring can sometimes occur and for thatreason, electrolysis isn’t a good fit for women of color as it can leadto scar tissue and spots.If you’re patient and cost isn’t a factor, try Vaniqa ® , a topicalprescription cream of eflornithine applied twice a day. Althoughnot a hair remover, Vaniqa stops hair from growing back by blockingan enzyme. It can be used by itself, which could take monthsfor results, or with other hair removal methods like lasers. “If youapply it after laser treatments as an adjunct, it can help retard andthen stop hair growth,” says Joel Schlessinger, MD, president of theAmerican Society of Cosmetic Dermatology and Aesthetic Surgery.White hairs got you down? Since laser treatments aren’t thesolution for white and non-pigmented hair, Vaniqa can be the answer,according to Dr. Schlessinger. Safe for all skin types, Vaniqacosts around $80 to $225 per tube, but isn’t recommended for hairremoval of large areas because of its steep price tag and practicalityof coverage.Laser hair removal is one of themore costly methods of removinghair, but it lasts longer thandepilatories. Pulsed light or lasersactually destroy the hair’s root, andthis technique is safe for all overyour body.Another popular hair removal method is waxing, a techniquethat can be used all over, even your bikini area. Even though itmust be repeated every two weeks or so, this versatile method canbe done in the comfort of your own bathroom or at a salon. Creamlikewax is applied to the hair you wish removed and cloth strips areplaced over the area. After the wax hardens, the strips are removedand with them, unwanted hair!Gone are the painful, honey-based pastes of the past. “Todaywe use a soy-based compound that does not stick to the skin, bondingonly to the hair,” said waxing technician Michelle Serniuk ofBeyond Day Spa at the Hackensack University Medical Center.Michelle shared that waxing has become less painful, but shouldbe followed up with an antibacterial lotion as the follicle is exposedafterwards, and could result in an infection. Costs run about $10 to$70, depending on the area to be waxed.Whatever option you choose, the good news is that there’s amethod to suit everyone’s budget, time and comfort level. So getout there and show off your carefree legs and hair-free upper lip! ■Sources for this article are modernmom.com and webmd.com.HERLIFEnewyork.com 13