With so many ways to remove hair, it's hard to know where to start. I offer two of them, sugaring and IPL, so here's how I explain the options to clients in Chilliwack, including the ones I don't do. For each one: what it is, how long it lasts, and what to keep in mind.
Understanding the different ways to remove hair
Shaving
Shaving cuts the hair at the surface of the skin. It's quick, it costs very little and you can do it at home. The hair is back within days, and it comes with razor burn, itchy regrowth and constant upkeep.
Depilatory creams
These creams dissolve the hair at the surface. They're quick and you can use them at home, but the hair comes back about as fast as after shaving. They can irritate the skin, so follow the label and try a small area first.
Epilators
An epilator is a handheld device that pulls hairs out from the root. You can use one at home and the results last for weeks. A lot of people find it uncomfortable, especially at the start.
Waxing
Wax removes the hair from the root, so you stay smooth for weeks instead of days. Traditional wax is resin-based, it's heated, and it's pulled off against the direction the hair grows. The hair needs some length before it can be waxed.
Sugaring
Sugaring also removes the hair from the root. The difference is the material and the method. Sugar paste is sugar, lemon and water, applied at body temperature and removed in the direction of growth. It sticks to the hair, not your skin, and most of my clients find it far gentler than traditional waxing.
With sugaring, most people stay smooth for 3 to 4 weeks, and with consistent appointments the hair grows back finer and slower. I wrote more about it in the benefits of sugar waxing, and you can see all my sugaring services.
IPL
IPL is intense pulsed light: a broad band of visible and infrared light. The pigment in the hair absorbs it as heat at the root. Because hair grows in several phases, it takes repeated sessions, and it works best when there's contrast between your skin and your hair. Results vary from person to person.
I started offering IPL hair removal in October 2026, as a single session or a series of three or six.
Laser hair removal
A laser uses a single wavelength of light instead of a broad band. It works on the same idea as IPL, it's also done as a series of sessions, and people often say “laser” for both. I don't offer laser. If you're comparing the two, read IPL vs laser hair removal first.
Electrolysis
Electrolysis treats one hair follicle at a time with a very fine probe and a small electric current. It's done by an electrologist, it's slow, careful work, and it's usually used for small areas like the chin or the upper lip. I don't offer it.
What is the most effective hair removal technique?
It depends on what you want it to do.
- Smooth today, at home. Shaving or a cream. Expect to do it again within days.
- Smooth for weeks. Sugaring or waxing, because the hair comes out from the root. Sugaring is not permanent hair removal: the hair grows back, finer and slower if you keep a regular schedule.
- Less hair over time. A light treatment, IPL or laser, done as a series. How well it works depends on your skin and your hair, so ask before you pay for a series.
There isn't one method that's right for everyone. The one that suits you is the one that fits your skin, your hair, your budget and how much time you want to spend on it.
Tips for choosing the right hair removal method
- Skin sensitivity. If your skin reacts easily, tell whoever is treating you. Sugaring is gentle for most skin types, and I adjust for medications like Accutane and for retinol.
- Pain tolerance. Anything that removes hair from the root is felt more than shaving. Everyone's tolerance is different, and the first visit is the one you'll notice most.
- Budget. Shaving costs the least per week and never ends. Sugaring is paid by the visit, every 3 to 4 weeks. Light treatments cost more per session and are usually done as a series.
- Time. Count the upkeep, not only the appointment. Underarms take me about 15 minutes, once every few weeks.
- Hair and skin colour. This matters for IPL and laser, which work on contrast. It doesn't matter for sugaring.
Hair removal options for different body areas
- Face. I sugar the full face, brows and the hairline, and the face is on my IPL list.
- Legs and arms. Full or half legs and arms with sugar, or as an IPL series.
- Underarms. One of my fastest appointments: underarm sugaring.
- Bikini area. Basic bikini, French bikini or a Brazilian. Brazilians are for women only.
- Back and chest. For men: sugar waxing for men, or IPL.
Maintaining smooth skin after hair removal
What you do afterwards matters as much as the method. After sugaring, I ask for 24 quiet hours: no workouts, no pools or hot tubs, and loose-fitting clothes. Between visits, exfoliate gently to help keep hairs from getting trapped as they grow back. The full list is on my aftercare page.
With IPL, tell me about a recent tan or self-tanner, any medications you take, and any tattoos or moles in the area before your first session.
How to choose
- You want to be smooth this week. Book sugaring.
- You want to work on reducing the hair itself. Ask me about an IPL series, and whether it suits your skin and hair.
- You're not sure. Call me. I'd rather talk it through than have you book the wrong thing.