Only shave your stomach hair when your skin is wet, which can help soften the follicles, making removal easier. [2] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Only shave your stomach hair in the direction in which the hair grows. This can lessen irritation and the likelihood of cutting yourself. [3] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Use a clean razor with sharp blade to help prevent infection and likelihood of cutting yourself. [4] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Consider using an electric razor or clipper if your stomach hair is especially thick and copious. [5] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source
You can pluck stomach hairs with tweezers or make an appointment at a local salon or spa that offers hair removal services. [7] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Threading, which is an ancient form of hair removal, rotates a looped piece of thread across the skin to pluck hairs. [8] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Inquire with local salon or spa if they offer threading services. Depending on where you live, it may be difficult to find a trained threader. Be aware that plucking and threading can be painful and irritate skin, though threading may be a better option for sensitive skin. [9] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source
Waxing involves applying a thin layer of warm, melted or cold wax to your skin and then pulling it off in the opposite direction of the hair growth. This uproots hair at the follicle. [11] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Like waxing, sugaring entails the application of a thin layer of heated sugar mixture that is then lifted off your skin to remove the hair. [12] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Sugaring may be a better option for more sensitive skin. Choose to wax or sugar yourself or have a professional remove stomach hair using these methods. [13] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Trim long or thick stomach hair before waxing or sugaring for better results and less pain. You can purchase home waxing and sugaring kits at many pharmacies. Most salons and spas will offer waxing and sugaring services, which can be expensive, but effective. Be aware that waxing and sugaring can be very painful, especially during initial treatments and on very sensitive stomach skin. In most cases, you’ll need to undergo treatments every 4-6 weeks to remove your stomach hair. Do or have a small skin test with a wax or sugar mixture to ensure that you don’t have an allergic reaction to it. In addition, you should never use wax or sugar on broken or inflamed skin because it can exacerbate irritation. [14] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source
Depilatories come in various forms including gels, creams, lotions, aerosols, and roll-ons. [17] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Because you are putting a chemical on your skin, it is important to first do a patch test to see if your skin reacts. [18] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source You also shouldn’t use a depilatory on broken or inflamed skin. [19] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Apply the depilatory to the stomach hair you want to remove. Leave on the product for the length of time the packaging recommends and then wipe or rinse it off, along with the hair mass. [20] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source If your skin burns at any time, remove the product immediately. Depilatory creams keep hair growth at bay for anywhere from 1 day to 10 days. [21] X Research source
Laser hair removal is most effective on individuals with light skin and dark hair because it is easier for the laser to penetrate the hair follicle with these conditions. [24] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Laser hair removal is a medical procedure and should be done under the supervision of a doctor or trained professional for best results and to help minimize the risk of burning your skin. [25] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source The number of treatments you require depends on how much hair you have. You may need four to six treatments scheduled approximately six weeks apart. [26] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source Laser hair removal doesn’t always guarantee permanent hair removal and may require periodic maintenance treatments. [27] X Trustworthy Source Mayo Clinic Educational website from one of the world’s leading hospitals Go to source The Food and Drug Administration has approved at-home laser devices for hair removal below the neck. Talk to your doctor to see if this is a viable option for you, knowing that performing laser treatments at home comes with significant risks. [28] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source
Electrolysis involves a thin probe being placed under the skin and into the hair follicle. A pulse of shortwave radio is then sent through the probe to destroy the follicle. [31] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source You will likely require a series of treatments over a period of time to fully remove your stomach hair. [32] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source Have electrolysis done by a medical or trained electrolysis professional to minimize your risk of infection from unsterile needles or scarring from bad technique. [33] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source
Needle epilation involves inserting a fine wire close to the hair shaft under the skin. Your doctor or epilation professional will then send an electric current down the wire to destroy the hair at the base of the follicle. [35] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source After this, she may use tweezers to remove loosened hairs. [36] X Trustworthy Source US Food and Drug Administration U. S. government agency responsible for promoting public health Go to source You may also require a series of treatments with needle epilation to remove all of your stomach hair.
Hirsutism is a condition in women and some men that presents as unwanted male-pattern hair growth in women as a result of excess androgens including testosterone. [39] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source Hypertrichosis is a condition that presents with excessive hair growth on some part of the body that is not related to androgens. [40] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source There are few treatments available to persons with hypertrichosis and the results are often unsatisfactory. [41] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source In most cases, doctors suggest hair removal procedures to alleviate excessive hair growth associated with hypertrichosis. [42] X Trustworthy Source American Academy of Dermatology Professional organization made of over 20,000 certified dermatologists Go to source If the skin has scars because hair is picked repeatedly in the area, you can use hydroquinone or retinol with a steroid. [43] X Expert Source Heather Richmond, MDBoard Certified Dermatologist Expert Interview. 15 September 2020.