Short answer: there is no single best way to remove body hair. Shaving and trimming are quick and gentle, waxing and threading last a few weeks, and at-home IPL gives long-lasting hair reduction over about 12 weeks for people with light-to-medium skin and dark hair. The right routine is the one that fits your skin, your hair and your week.
Why does hair removal feel so personal?
Whether you remove body hair, and how much, is entirely your call. Some people love smooth legs before a holiday. Others only care about their underarms in summer. Plenty of people don't bother at all. None of these is wrong.
What usually chips away at confidence isn't the hair itself. It's the routine around it: the parlour appointment you have to squeeze in every month, the sting of wax strips, the upper-lip regrowth that shows up right before a family function, or the rash after a rushed shave.
Choosing a method that suits you takes much of that stress away. This guide walks through the main options in India, what each one realistically delivers, and where at-home devices such as our IPL hair removal machines fit in.
What are your options, and how long does each last?
Here is a plain comparison of the methods most people in India use. Timelines are typical, not guaranteed. Hair grows differently from person to person and from one body area to another.
| Method | How it works | Smoothness lasts | How it feels | Good for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shaving | Cuts hair at the skin's surface | A few days | Comfortable when done gently; razor bumps are possible | Quick fixes and prep before IPL |
| Trimmer | Trims hair very close to the skin | A few days | Gentle when held flat | Sensitive areas, travel, touch-ups |
| Waxing | Pulls hair out from the root | About 3–4 weeks | Painful for many people | Any hair colour, instant results |
| Threading | Twists out small rows of hair from the root | A few weeks | A sharp sting | Eyebrows and upper lip |
| At-home IPL | Light targets the pigment in hair to slow regrowth | Long-lasting reduction with monthly touch-ups | A warm snap; adjustable levels | Light-to-medium skin with dark hair |
| Clinic laser | Stronger single-wavelength light, used under supervision | Long-term reduction with occasional maintenance | A stronger sensation | A wider range of skin tones and bigger budgets |
If you are weighing up the parlour against a clinic and a home device in detail, our guide to at-home IPL vs salon laser vs waxing compares cost, results and safety side by side.
Does shaving make hair grow back thicker?
This is one of the most common worries we hear, especially from people who grew up being told never to shave. Shaving cuts hair at the surface. It doesn't touch the root, so it can't change how thick or dark your hair grows.
What changes is the tip. A shaved hair has a blunt end instead of a naturally tapered one, so stubble can feel coarser as it grows out. The feeling is real, but the hair itself is the same.
Shaving does have genuine downsides: regrowth within a few days, and razor bumps or ingrown hairs if you shave dry or press too hard. A sharp blade, a little gel and shaving in the direction of growth on sensitive areas all help. A rechargeable trimmer such as the Sharp 5-in-1 body trimmer is gentler still for quick touch-ups on underarms and the bikini line.
Where does at-home IPL fit in?
IPL (intense pulsed light) is often called "laser at home", but IPL is a different technology from clinic laser. An IPL device sends a flash of broad-spectrum light that is absorbed by the pigment in the hair. The heat weakens the follicle, so over several sessions hair grows back slower, finer and patchier.
It isn't instant, and it isn't a one-time fix. The usual plan is one session every 2 weeks for the first 12 weeks, then about once a month to keep results. Many people notice finer, slower regrowth by session 4–6. Hormonal areas like the chin usually take longer. Results vary.
What IPL does offer is freedom from the monthly appointment. Sessions happen at home, on your schedule, and between them you only need a quick shave before each session. Our step-by-step 12-week IPL plan explains exactly how a session works.
Who is at-home IPL not right for?
IPL relies on contrast between your skin and your hair. That makes it a good fit for some people and a poor or unsafe one for others. Please be honest with yourself here:
- Best match: skin Types I–IV (very fair to wheatish or medium brown) with black or dark brown hair.
- Extra caution: deep brown skin (Type V). Patch-test on the lowest level and wait 24–48 hours before you continue.
- Not suitable: very deep brown to black skin (Type VI), and blonde, red, grey or white hair, which doesn't have enough pigment to respond.
- Never flash: tattoos, dark moles or birthmarks, tanned or sunburnt skin, broken skin, or anywhere near the eyes.
- Ask your doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, take photosensitising medication (such as isotretinoin), or have a skin condition in the area.
Not sure where you fall? The free IPL skin-tone checker asks three quick questions and tells you whether IPL is likely to suit you.
How do you build a routine that works for you?
Most people end up with a mix of methods rather than just one. Here is a simple way to work out yours:
- List the areas you care about. Legs, arms, underarms, bikini line, upper lip, chin. Be specific. You may only care about two.
- Check your skin tone and hair colour for each area. This decides whether IPL is an option at all. Facial hair is often finer or lighter than leg hair, and underarm skin is often darker than the rest of the body.
- Match a method to each area. For example: IPL on legs and underarms, threading for eyebrows and a trimmer for quick upper-lip touch-ups.
- Think about cost over time, not just today. A monthly parlour visit adds up. Our hair removal cost calculator lets you enter your own prices and compare 1, 3 or 5 years.
- Plan around the weather. In Indian summers, sun and sweat are the biggest irritants. If you use IPL, don't tan the area before sessions, and use sunscreen afterwards.
- Keep one gentle backup. Even with IPL, a trimmer or razor handles the odd stray hair before a wedding or a beach trip.
What does "results vary" really mean?
You will see this phrase on every honest hair removal product, including ours. It isn't small print to hide behind. Hair colour, skin tone, hormones, the body area and how consistently you follow the schedule all affect how quickly regrowth slows.
Someone with dark, coarse leg hair on wheatish skin who never misses a session may see a clear difference by session 6. Someone treating hormonal chin hair may need longer and ongoing touch-ups. Both are normal.
What IPL won't do is remove every hair for good, or work overnight. Any brand that promises that is overselling.
The bottom line
Confidence comes from a routine you can keep, not from the most expensive or most advertised option. Shave if that works for you. Wax if you like the results and don't mind the appointments. Choose IPL if your skin and hair suit it and you are happy to commit to 12 weeks.
Results vary from person to person. Not sure? WhatsApp us a photo. We'll tell you honestly.
