Hair removal products chemically dissolve hair at the skin’s surface, and some products contain ingredients designed to slow down regrowth. These ingredients help inhibit or prevent hair regrowth after removal and primarily target unwanted hair on the face or body. Various mechanisms are used, such as hair follicle inhibition, stopping the hair growth cycle, and surface treatments.
Anti-hair regrowth agents are found in various cosmetic formulations, such as after-hair removal lotions, hair removal creams, and moisturizers with added benefits.
Depilatories are hair removal products which remove undesired body hair rapidly and painlessly in a chemical way. As a rule the product must act for about three to 10 minutes after the application. The softened hair can then be removed together with the depilatory cream by means of a scraper. The effect of the depilatory products lasts for approximately seven to 12 days. The active components of the depilatories are the thioglycolates. At a pH value of 10 to 12 they split the protein bonds of the hair keratin. Depilatories are commercially available as creams, gels or foams. For the treatment of larger body areas rollers with depilatory milk are likewise well suited. For caring purposes the creams often have substances such as apricot oil, Vitamin E or BISABOLOL added. In particular because of the high pH value, some ingredients of the depilatories can irritate the skin. This applies in particular to more sensitive regions such as the armpits. Reddening, itching and burning as well as allergic reactions cannot be excluded
Chemical depilatories act as reducing agents according to the principle of preparations for permanent waving. Peptide bonds and disulfide bridges of the hair keratin are split in the alkaline range, so that the pre-treated hairs can be completely removed. The pH value in chemical depilatories may not exceed 12.5 since otherwise the stratum corneum is attacked. The use of depilatory creams is particularly widespread. The term depilation also refers to several other procedures of hair removal during which only the visible part of the hair outside the skin is removed. The most common depilation method is shaving. With these two methods the hair regrows within a short period of time. As opposed to depilation, the hair is removed together with the hair root, either temporarily or permanently, in epilation.