Hair Removal Cream - Depilatory Creams
Hair removal cream is an easy and effective way of taking care of body or facial hair. It can be used by both sexes and is simple enough for anyone to use. There are several choices of hair removal cream that can be purchased at your local drug store or department store. There are even creams formulated towards specific body areas including facial hair and bikini areas.

For a woman who has ever had to shave her legs every few days or a man with a bit too much hair on his back they both understand the convenience of hair removal cream.
The cream is simply applied to the area where you’d like the hair removed from. Then after waiting for several minutes you remove the cream the hair is removed with it. It’s effortless and it normally keeps the hair away for weeks at a time.

Hair removal creams contain chemicals which attack proteins found in hair. These chemicals break up the hairs which in turn allows you to simply wipe them off. The chemical responsible for this, is one ingredient in the cream. By itself it would be harsh on the skin and therefore hair removal creams normally contain conditioners, like mineral oil which work to protect the skin.

Primary ingredients common to hair removal creams are:
Water, Mineral Oil, Alcohol, Calcium or Sodium Hydroxide, Calcium or Sodium Thioglycolate, and Fragrances.

The active ingredient in hair removal creams (depilatory creams) is usually calcium or sodium hydroxide. Both compounds act similarly, but sodium hydroxide is much more soluble in water than calcium hydroxide. The hydroxide ion is a strong alkali, which is why hair removal creams can irritate the skin, and also why they cause hair to separate easily from the skin's surface.

Important note: The high pH level in depilatory creams dissolve the hair at the skin's surface. While it is completely painless, all of us with sensitive skin should patch-test any hair removal creams in advance. Hair removal creams work by penetrating the hair shaft, dissolving connective tissues and breaking down cellular matter which bonds the dead cells together.

When hair removal creams were first introduced one of the major drawbacks was their strong chemical scent. It had a very characteristic odor that seemed to linger on the skin of the person using it. For this reason it wasn’t used on a regular basis but was seen as more of a special occasion product to be used before a special event, like going to the beach for instance.

Today most hair removal creams have a pleasing odor and are used as part of a regular hair removal method for both men and women. They save time and energy and the fact that they don’t leave the person with cuts or rashes makes them a superior alternative.
One area that anyone who uses these products must be watchful of, is that they are extremely effective which means that if they come in contact with hair they will remove it. This includes eyebrows and hairs on the head. Therefore it’s important to be careful when using these products and sensible to keep them out of reach of children.