By Yoon Ja-young
Now that summer weather is suddenly here after a short spring, women are taking miniskirts, shorts and sleeveless shirts out of their closets. With those garments, however, come concerns over how best to cope with hair on the legs. Women usually shave their legs using razors, but many are in fear of causing dense hair growth following this.
This idea is prevalent in Korea — that’s why moms take babies, less than a year old, to the hairdresser and shave them completely bald. Many people believe that this will increase their baby’s hair growth.
However, this widely held belief is groundless, according to Dr. Kim Ji-hyun, a dermatologist at Grand Dermatology Clinic. “Shaving doesn’t increase hair or make it thicker. It just looks as if it is becoming so,” the doctor said.
Our hair follicles go from thick to thin, from the root to the tip. When we shave, the thin part of our hair is cut while the thicker part near the roots rise above the skin’s surface as the hair grows. Thus, it makes the hair look thicker and feel tougher after shaving, according to the doctor.
To manage hair on the legs, the options available at home include razors, plucking hair with tweezers, or using wax or cream. These, however, can cause problems for people with sensitive skin. Those who experience dermatitis due to exposure to metal should refrain from using razors, Kim said.
“If you continue shaving the wrong way, it can cause skin trouble, including pigmentation. It can hurt the skin. I recommend that such people seek professional help for safer, more effective shaving,” the doctor said. The top choice among dermatologists is laser treatment, which is used to destroy follicles.
After shaving, moisturizing is essential. If hair is removed from the roots using shaving cream or wax, the doctor recommends massaging with an ice pack first to tighten the pores. Then apply lotion.