As I sat in the aesthetician’s chair waiting for my hairy eyebrows to be slathered with hot wax, I realized I was forking over $10 each visit for smooth brows. The thought was as painful as when she ripped off the waxy strip.

For most women hair removal is a weekly if not daily battle that quickly adds up. What’s a lady on a budget to do to tame unruly eyebrows and get smooth legs? Consider this:

Waxing – At a salon waxing can be very expensive, about $50 plus tip for legs or a Brazilian. If you’re brave, waxing can also be done at home to minimize costs. Waxing can be very painful depending on the area being waxed but after doing it for some time the pain is practically nonexistent and you’ll be hairless for about four to six weeks. I buy wax from a health food store for $10 and wax my entire legs for a fraction of the cost of going to a salon. Cost: $10 – $25 per month at home, $50 – $90 per month at a salon

 

Shaving – Many women prefer to shave and I did too, until I nicked myself and got a scar. Ouch! If you don’t nick yourself this method should be painless and keep you hairless for two to three days depending on the person. Some women need to shave just once a week. Try an old fashion safety razor to cut down on waste and expense. The initial expense will be around $30 but it should last you a lifetime. The replacement blades cost about 50 cents when bought in bulk. Try using hair conditioner instead of fancy shaving gel. Depending on the razor, you may get by with just wetting your legs in the shower. Find coupons online for razors and shave creams if you can’t give them up. Cost:  $20 – $30 per month

 

Laser Hair removal – This method is pricey upfront but equals roughly 12-24 months of shaving or waxing expenses. Also, the hair removal may not be permanent and hair may come back, but it will be thinner and more sparse. The best candidates for laser hair removal are those with dark hair and light skin because the laser targets melanin which is found in dark hair. Lasers aren’t as painful as waxing, but are more painful than depilatory creams or tweezing. You’ll need five to six treatments spaced four weeks apart. Cost: $150 – $200 per session

Depilatory Creams – Creams are easy to use. Just slather it on and wait a couple minutes and voila! No hair. Creams are smelly and contain harsh chemicals that may irritate your skin. The cream removes the hair above the skin and leaves the follicle, which means you may have tiny blacks dots where your hair used to be. Hair growth is visible in two to three days. Cost: $20 – 30 per month

If you can’t fork over money for hair removal go au naturel or buy tweezers and pluck the stray eyebrow hairs and skip the salon. To look your best on the cheap, learn to do your own mani and pedi and check out the make up secrets from a pro that Bargain Babe got when she did her Better Homes and Garden photo shoot. Drop a comment and let us know how you save money on hair removal.