How to Remove Hair Naturally

Co-authored by Karina Villalta and Amy Bobinger

Last Updated: November 3, 2022 References

If you're looking for a natural solution to getting rid of excess body hair, you're in luck! Traditional approaches like shaving, plucking, and waxing can help remove hair right away. On the other hand, some pastes and scrubs might help gradually decrease your hair while stopping it from growing back. Keep in mind that some natural methods will give you less dramatic results than chemicals like depilatory creams, but if you're trying to live a greener life, they might be worth trying!

Here are 10 natural ways to remove unwanted hair, no harsh ingredients required.

1

Sugar wax

Make an all-natural wax at home out of sugar. If you're looking for a vegan or chemical-free alternative to beeswax-based waxes, sugar wax can be surprisingly effective.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Expert Interview. 19 August 2020.} Even better, you can make it yourself at home by heating 1 cup (200 g) of sugar, 2 US tbsp (30 ml) of water, and 1 ¹⁄₂ US tbsp (22 ml) of lemon juice in a small pan. Let the mixture cool, then spread it onto your skin, cover it with a fabric strip, and pull the strip away. As with any wax, this can be a little irritating to your skin, but most people find it gentler than traditional wax.^{[2]
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- Sugar wax works best if you're removing hair that's at least ¹⁄₄ in (0.64 cm) long—about the length of a grain of rice.
- Don't skip the lemon juice in this mixture—it helps keep the wax spreadable.^{[3]
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- Remove any leftover wax residue with oil. Then, clear away the oil with liquid dish soap.^{[4]
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  Expert Source
  
  Melissa Jannes
  Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator
  Expert Interview. 30 August 2019.}

2

Lemon and sugar

Scrub away unwanted hair with this paste.^{[5]
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Expert Source

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Expert Interview. 19 August 2020.} Blend 1 tbsp (21 g) of white sugar and 2 US tbsp (30 ml) of lemon juice, then smooth it onto your skin. Let it dry for about 10 minutes, then gently rub it away with a damp cloth. You may notice that your hair seems thinner after the first time you do this, but for the best results, repeat it 1-2 times a week until you get the results you want.^{[6]
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- The lemon juice in this mixture may also help lighten your skin.

3

Papaya and turmeric

Blending these ingredients might help slow unwanted hair growth. Peel a papaya and cut it into pieces, then mash the fruit up in a bowl with the back of a spoon. Mix in 1 tbsp (9.5 g) of turmeric powder so you have a thick paste. Massage the paste into your skin, then let it sit for about 15-20 minutes and wipe it away with a warm, damp towel.^{[7]
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- This works because papaya contains a compound called papain, which helps break down hair.^{[8]
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  Research source} In India, turmeric is also traditionally used for hair removal.^{[9]
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  PubMed Central
  Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health
  Go to source} However, you'll likely need to repeat the treatment every other day for at least 2 weeks to start seeing results.^{[10]
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4

Oatmeal and banana

Create your own gentle exfoliant out of oats. Make a chunky paste by mixing 2 tbsp (20 g) of oatmeal with 1 mashed banana. Apply a thick layer over the area where you want to remove your hair. Rub it into your skin with circular motions, then let it dry for about 15 minutes. When you rinse it away, your skin will be exfoliated, and your hair may become gradually thinner.^{[11]
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- You can use this on any type of skin—it's gentle enough that it shouldn't cause irritation.

5

Lemon and honey

Try this to potentially slow the growth of your hair. Mix 3 US tbsp (44 ml) of honey with 1 tsp (4.9 ml) of lemon juice, then smooth it onto your skin. Let it sit for about 10-15 minutes, then wipe it away with a warm, damp towel. If you do this 2-3 times a week, the combination of lemon juice and honey may help to stop new hair from growing.^{[12]
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- You can also add about 1 tbsp (21 g) of white sugar if you'd like to make the paste stickier—this might help remove more hair when you wipe the mixture off after it dries.^{[13]
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6

Egg white mask

Make an all-natural peel out of egg white and cornstarch. Separate the white from 1 egg, then whip it with 1/2 tbsp (3.75 g) of cornstarch and 1 tbsp (21 g) of white sugar. When the mixture becomes a sticky paste, smooth it onto your skin in the direction that your hair is growing. Let the paste dry for about 20 minutes, then peel it off in the opposite direction that you applied it.^{[14]
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- When you peel off the dried paste, a little hair should come along with it. If you repeat this 2-3 times a week, you should start to notice the hair in that area looking thinner—although you won't get the same dramatic results as you would from shaving or waxing.^{[15]
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- This mask is fine for most skin types, but keep in mind that it might aggravate acne or irritate sensitive skin.

7

Gelatin and milk

This is another peel that may remove hair. In a microwave-safe bowl, mix 1 tbsp (9.25 g) of plain gelatin with 3 US tbsp (44 ml) of milk and 3-4 drops of lemon juice. Microwave the mixture for about 15-20 seconds and let it cool until you can comfortably touch it. Rub the mixture onto your skin and let it dry for about 5 minutes, then simply peel the gelatin off with your fingers and rinse your skin.^{[16]
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- This might irritate acne-prone or sensitive skin, but otherwise, this is gentle enough to use every day.

8

Pumice stone

Buff away hair with a pumice stone. Some people have good results with using a pumice stone to gently buff away the hair on their arms and legs. Start with clean, dry skin, and gently rub the pumice stone over your skin in small circles. Make 2-3 circles in one area, then move to the next one—if you rub too hard in one spot, you might irritate your skin. The results will likely be gradual, but if you keep exfoliating every other day for about 2 weeks, you may start to notice results!^{[17]
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- This can be drying to your skin, so be sure to moisturize every day throughout this process.^{[18]
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- Don't use a pumice stone on sensitive skin, like on your face, bikini area, underarms, or thighs.
- You can use any type of pumice stone, but try to find one with smaller holes, since that's likely more effective.

9

Shave

For quick results over a large area, go with this classic standby. When you think about removing hair, shaving is probably one of the first things you think about, and for good reason. It's quick, easy, and you get immediate results. You can even reduce your footprint by avoid plastic-handled or disposable razors. Instead, try using a safety razor with replaceable blades. Store your used blades in a safe container, like an old coffee tin with a hole cut in the lid. When it's full, tape it securely closed, clearly mark it, and recycle it at a place that accepts razor blades.^{[19]
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- If you prefer, you can use organic soap instead of shaving gel or cream. However, soap may dry out your skin, so be sure to moisturize afterward.
- Keep in mind that the results from shaving will usually only last from 1-3 days.

10

Tweeze

Pluck out single stray hairs. If you just need to remove a few hairs—like you want to tidy up your eyebrows or you have a couple of unwanted hairs growing under your chin—tweezing is a quick and easy way to take care of them.^{[20]
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Expert Source

Melissa Jannes
Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator
Expert Interview. 30 August 2019.} Just remember to always pull the hair in the direction it's growing, and never yank hard. If you pull against the direction of the hair growth or you jerk on the hair, tweezing will be a lot more painful, and the hair could break, leaving you with stubble or even ingrown hairs.^{[21]
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- Always keep your tweezers steady and pull the hair in a quick, clean motion. This way, you can remove the hair root without breaking the hair.^{[22]
  X
  Expert Source
  
  Melissa Jannes
  Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator
  Expert Interview. 30 August 2019.}
- Tweezing is a little painful, but most people get accustomed to it after a while. Since you're removing the hair at the root, the results are longer-lasting than shaving. However, be careful when you're choosing which hairs to tweeze, because some hair may not grow back at all.
- Tweezing can leave your skin a little red and inflamed, but it should go away in a few hours.

Expert Q&A

Question

Do hair removal creams really work?

Melissa Jannes
Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator
Melissa Jannes is a Licensed Esthetician and the owner of Maebee's Beauty Studio in Philadelphia, a single practitioner space providing quality services with individualized attention. Melissa is also a National Educator for Universal Companies. She received her esthetics degree at The Beauty School of Middletown in 2008 and is licensed in both New York and Pennsylvania. Melissa won the "Best of Beauty" award from Allure magazine in 2012 for the quality of her bikini waxing.

Melissa Jannes

Licensed Esthetician & Brazilian Wax Educator

Expert Answer

Definitely! These creams dissolve the hair at skin level, making it comparable to shaving.
Question

How can I make my arm hair thinner?

Karina Villalta
Certified Esthetician
Karina Villalta is a certified Esthetician and Owner of Oh Sweet and Sugar and Shears, a skincare and hair removal service located in Seattle and Kirkland, Washington. With over eight years of experience, Karina specializes in eyebrow shaping, a hair removal technique called sugaring, and organic facials. Karina started her career and was trained at Benefit Cosmetics Brow Bar. Since opening her own business, Karina ensures her clients are educated about their skin and helps them implement personalized skincare routines.

Karina Villalta

Certified Esthetician

Expert Answer

The best tip to make arm hair thinner and lighter is to do sugaring. With sugaring the hair is removed from the root each time. Over time this makes the hair much finer and sparser. Some people have seen great results after only 2 treatments. Sugaring is a service you would want to maintain every 6 weeks or so.
Question

Will pumice hurt and will it really work?

Community Answer

It might hurt at first, and you'll need to get used to the feeling. It will work if you use it correctly.